New York, 12 Nov (Xinhua) -- On 12 November, UFC 281, the ultimate fighting championship kicked off at Madison Square Garden in New York. China's Zhang Weili finished women's strawweight current champion Carla Esparza naked to regain the belt.
China's Zhang Weili (right) matches America's Carla Esparza during a match on November 12. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Guo Ke)
The two were slightly nervous after the start of the match, Zhang Weili tried several times through the low sweep of the front leg, while Esparza kept trying to hold and fall in close quarters. The two then engaged in a long ground fight, but neither had a chance to finish.
In the second round, Zhang Weili dodged Esparza's back-to-back pounces and formed a suppression, and finally submitted to Esparza, who is known for wrestling and grappling, becoming the third fighter to regain the UFC women's strawweight title after Ross Namayunas and Esparza.
"I'm back!" Zhang Weili said in a post-match interview, "I want to say to all my family and friends who supported me and encouraged me, and fans around the world - thank you. ”
China's Zhang Weili (center) celebrates after the match on November 12. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Guo Ke)
"I got the belt in China before, I am a Chinese Weili. Now coming to the United States to get a belt, it means a completely different thing to me, I feel that I am the beauty of the world. ”
In April 2021, Zhang Weili lost to the American Ross and failed to defend her title. A few months later, Zhang Weili returned to the top. In this regard, she said: "When you go through difficulties and setbacks, don't give up. Stick with it and you'll definitely get what you want again. ”
China's Zhang Weili (top) competes with Carla Esparza of the United States on November 12. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Guo Ke)
In comparison, the main event of the night's headlines was slightly lackluster. Five-time defending men's middleweight champion Adisaya faces Alex Pereira's challenge. Pereira was shaky at one point in the third round, but he turned against the wind and unleashed a wave of consecutive punches in the fifth round, defeating Adisaya by TKO (technical knockout) to win the middleweight title.
In another highlight of the day, two lightweight hits, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, faced the pinnacle of attacking fighters. In the third round, Chandler made a mistake when he tried to get into the ground grappling, instead allowing Poirier to get the back position, and finally submitted Chandler to the naked hang.