On November 7, UFC 268, Zhang Weili stood in front of "Rose" Ross-Namayunas for the second time. Compared with Zhang Weili, who was knocked down by 78 seconds in UFC 261 and was not willing to cry after the game, this time boxing fans saw the 2.0 version of "Magnum". Zhang Weili showed a new tactical system, with heavy punches and wrestling methods to bring trouble to Rose, although in the end with differences to determine regrets, but this time Zhang Weili did not shed tears, frankly accepted the defeat, the performance is more mature.
The first time he lost to Rose, he really couldn't accept it. I haven't experienced failure for a long time, and how to face failure also needs to be experienced. This failure, I don't think there's anything I can't accept, because I really tried. I really learned too much this time, and the loss was nothing compared to what I learned.
Go to the United States to prepare for war and make up for tactical shortcomings
Zhang Weili's change began with the "heart", she unloaded the burden of the championship, as a challenger, to try a new preparation training. In the past, she usually came to the United States two weeks early to reduce the time difference, but this time she came to the United States seven weeks early, joined the Feather Ready boxing gym training, and with the help of former UFC doubleweight champion Henry Sehudo, opened her mind and increased her tactical awareness.
This time in foreign countries is mainly training tactics, in the country has not been much practice tactics, the last time joanna is to fight inside. I told them I didn't have an MMA coach, they thought you didn't have an MMA coach and you won the UFC championship, how did you do it? Crazy. The tactic this time was mainly to move, because Rose is tall, move more, cut the angle to fight. But this time I had a problem, the tactics were too much to think about, and I couldn't spell it out. Both tactics and fighting in, the combination of the two is the best.
In order to avoid being affected by the atmosphere of the scene, Zhang Weili will simulate the real arena during the actual combat training, arrange the host, and put a boo recording when entering, which allows her to focus all her attention on the octagonal cage.
You can't control the audience, the referee, and you can't control your opponents, you can only control yourself. You can't control what's going on, but you can control how you think about it. I had a lot of boos when I came out, but they didn't hate me, it was just because my opponent was native. I take a deep breath on the field, imagining sucking good energy in and spitting out bad energy.
Due to the different training concepts of Chinese and foreign teams, and the fact that foreign teams cannot fully grasp zhang Weili's situation in a short period of time, everything needs to be run-in, and trust has become the basis for cooperation between the two sides.
This preparation, all for the first time, only tried to know whether it is suitable or not. I chose to believe and do as they were taught. They taught me a lot of techniques, but the time was a bit tight, and many of the techniques they taught were not mastered and were not used in the game.
Thrilling, the story behind the failure of the first round of weight loss
In this game, Zhang Weili was in a physical condition, and the latter part of the game was weak. After the game, Rose also believed that Zhang Weili was not active enough and aggressive enough. Many boxing fans have linked this performance to Zhang Weili's failure to weigh in the first round before the match. In fact, Zhang Weili did have a situation in the weight reduction link and experienced a painful lesson.
Zhang Weili tried dehydration and weight reduction for the first time at the suggestion of the American team. The night before the game, Zhang Weili had to lose a full 4 kilograms of weight through dehydration. For Zhang Weili, who has no experience, this night is like a long torture.
I started the sauna at 9 p.m., soaked in the hot tub for 20 minutes, then lay down wrapped in tin foil, and after 2 hours, I was tired and soft, and then I dropped 2 kilograms. It's really not ok, another round, so tossed until 5:30 a.m., there is still a difference of 1 pound. At that time, people could not sweat, blood pressure also came down, headaches. This weight reduction was a physical and mental torture, and it had never been so uncomfortable. The first round weighed down and exceeded 0.1 pounds. I thought about it, I can't get down my weight, and I may have to deduct the appearance fee to my opponent. The coach told me to spit, spit a little more, and it was good to be able to come down at zero point zero.
Fortunately, after some effort, Zhang Weili barely passed the pass with nakedness. However, because the dehydration was too fierce, coupled with the lack of hydration before the game, Zhang Weili had cramps on the field, and her physical strength dropped rapidly.
In the second round, my triceps cramped, and in the fourth and fifth rounds, my arms were too weak to do. After being knocked down, I really can't push it, and my physical strength drops very quickly. After the game, the urine test directly urine blood, I was frightened, thinking it was myolysis! Fortunately, it was found that there was only a lack of water. In the future, we should not only pay attention to weight reduction, but also pay attention to recovery.
With a grateful heart, fight for your dreams
Fighting is a contradictory sport, just as when we show the aesthetics of violence in the octagonal cage, what we want to convey is the courage of human beings to overcome themselves, to overcome prejudice, and to overcome difficulties.
Zhang Weili lost a game, but did not lose the fighting spirit to continue to strengthen. What she has experienced has made her more professional, more focused, and more courageous.
After this U.S. preparation, I have a more professional understanding of the sport, how to treat this job, and face it with a more positive attitude. I used to be very entangled, thinking about rest when training, thinking about training when I was resting, thinking about losing weight when eating, and thinking about eating when I lost weight. Now I'm not going to stay focused. If you think too much, you will consume yourself, and the more relaxed you are, the better. Don't be nervous when you're ready. Just focus on yourself.
As the first Chinese to fight at Madison's Garden Square in New York, Ms. Zhang was incredibly proud, especially when she heard cheers from the scene.
There were 28,000 people on the scene, with a history of more than 100 years, and I had played many legendary games, and I was very excited to play there. The sound of cheering Chinese on the spot is small, but I can clearly capture it. Regardless of winning or losing, it is very happy to have the opportunity to stand here, many people do not know their dreams in their lives, I feel very lucky, there are so many people to help me work together.
Zhang Weili still conducted basic training under the online guidance of american coaches during the quarantine period to prepare for the next game.
This time in the United States to prepare for the war is too tight, next time to go early, probably most of the next year will be in the United States training. I want to play with Carla, I think she's a wrestling department, and I want to improve my wrestling and the ground by playing against an opponent like this. But Carla will have to wait until next May.
In addition to Zhang Weili, Rose also threw an olive branch to Carla. Although the future opponent has not yet been determined, Zhang Weili knows where her direction is, as long as she keeps moving forward, she will eventually reach her destination.
The UFC does not have an easy champion, and the octagon cage finally speaks with strength. The series is like this, without foreshadowing, how can there be a perfect ending? I will still try to chase my dreams and our battle will continue to be staged. The excitement has only just begun.