UFC 281: Zhang Weili submits Carla Esparza to reclaim strawweight title, Alex Pereira stuns Israel Adesanya
- Chinese superstar becomes two-time champ with a ruthless masterclass in Madison Square Garden, on a night of wild action
- Pereira’s power proves too much for Adesanya, stopping the reigning middleweight champ with a standing TKO in the fifth round
Zhang Weili’s long road back to the title came to a sweet conclusion, with the Chinese MMA superstar submitting Carla Esparza in the second round of a ruthless Madison Square Garden masterclass on Saturday night.
There also was a dramatic finale in New York, with the long-reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya dethroned in dramatic fashion by his personal boogeyman, the Brazilian Alex Pereira, in the fifth round.
Mercilessly booed 18 months ago in Florida when she lost the belt to Rose Namajunas, Zhang was cheered to the rafters on US soil this time – even despite fighting another American.
“I have come back for my belt,” Zhang told UFC commentator Joe Rogan, through a translator. “This is the best moment. I want to say thanks to all my supporters, family members and my friends all around the world.
“Last time I won the belt, it was in China. This time I came to the US, and I felt the same level of support from all of you guys.”
With the difference in striking massively in favour of the 33-year-old “Magnum”, she also showed off her vastly improved ground game, honed at her new Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA base in Phuket, Thailand, with jiu-jitsu icon and black belt Josh Hinger in her corner.
