Zhang Weili failed to make history at UFC 322 as she fell short. Weili tried to capture the flyweight title against Valentina Shevchenko by moving up from strawweight, but Shevchenko’s wrestling and size were simply too much for her. She cruised to an easy decision win in New York. CityShevchenko had a clear size advantage as the fight started, but Weili appeared to be using her speed and movements to get into and out of the fight. Weili’s aggressiveness proved to be a problem in the first round. Shevchenko scored a takedown after her charge to strike, and ended up in the top position on the floor. Weili scrambled to her feet, but without suffering much damage. She then tried to assert her will against the cage, before Shevchenko took her down a second. Shevchenko then controlled the action up until the horn signaled the end of the first frame. Shevchenko scored another takedown within the first minute of the second frame, by grabbing Weili in a clinch. Shevchenko, unlike the first round was able advance his position by moving to side control. Shevchenko managed to hold the top position the entire round.
Weili was able to gain some ground in Round 3 by avoiding takedowns, and forcing more striking interchanges. Shevchenko was successful in delivering a powerful blow to Weili’s body. This caused her pain and forced a temporary retreat. Shevchenko quickly scored another takedown. This took Weili out of her solid frame, and he continued to grind the challenger to the end. Weili was hesitant in Round 4 knowing that her previous attempts to charge forward have led her to end up on her stomach against the bigger champion. Shevchenko pushed the fight to the floor with just over a minutes left in the third round. He then continued to grind on Weili, bringing the round to a close. Weili’s team urged her to go for takedowns in the final round. Weili, who had been outgrappled all throughout the fight, tried to lock a clinch but was unable to hold Shevchenko in the clinch. Shevchenko used a double underhook to force Weili into submission the second time. Weili could not answer Shevchenko’s high-powered game. She was pinned down on the mat until the end.
Shevchenko tied the record of UFC title defences for a female champion with two reigns. Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes are the only two women to have won 10 UFC championship bouts.Shevchenko declared after the match, “I was prepared to this fight as the toughest challenge of my lifetime.” “I knew that I couldn’t rush Weili, because of her super punch knockout powers. This is why I used my wrestling and distance.
Weili’s position was that she did not say whether or not she would remain at flyweight and/or move back to her previous strawweight division. She said, “I will probably take a break and think about it.”
2025-11-16 05:17:33
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