The much-anticipated UFC 300 has entered the final countdown, and all Chinese fans are eagerly awaiting this "Chinese derby" between Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan, and it is clear that everyone can't wait to witness this fight that will go down in the history of Chinese martial arts.
UFC 300 will be played this Sunday, April 14, Beijing time, when Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan will compete in the co-main event, and the main event will be the light heavyweight champion Pereira vs. Hill, the defending champion gold. In the BMF Title bout, former featherweight champion Holloway vs. former interim lightweight champion Gage, the second main event of Oliveira has just knocked out Darius' Arman.
The tournament brought together a number of UFC champions and top stars, and being able to co-host at the superstar-studded UFC 300 is enough to prove that the UFC attaches great importance to the championship fight between Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan.
Before the game, we also interviewed Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan with a number of media colleagues under the coordination of the official, and today we will bring you the interview content of Zhang Weili.
Both are among the best of the women's rankings, with Zhang Weili as the current champion and Yan Xiaonan as the No. 1 in the UFC rankings. So for Zhang Weili, where will her own advantages be compared to Yan Xiaonan?
Zhang Weili responded, "I think my advantage may be to play a little more five-round fights, because I have played championship defenses, championship challenges, more, and everything else." ”
For the first time in the UFC, two Chinese fighters will fight a championship, how is the mentality different from that of a foreign fighter?
In Zhang Weili's opinion, there is no difference, because every time she treats her opponents as teachers, and then goes to learn from them. You can learn a lot from different types and styles of opponents, and you can test your training through preparation and competition.
For this game, what kind of changes does Zhang Weili hope Yan Xiaonan will have?
"I definitely want her to be the best in the Octagon so we can put on a really good show. ”
In the past two years, Yan Xiaonan has also been training in the United States, on the same team as Song Yadong. So in Zhang Weili's eyes, is there any new change in Yan Xiaonan?
In this regard, Zhang Weili said: "She has better physical ability than before, and she has been practicing physical fitness with the rugby coach, so her physical ability is very good now, and her strength has become great." The body lines and muscle shapes are also different from before. It used to be slender, but now it's strong, and it's relatively large in the strawweight class. ”
In Zhang Weili's view, every game is a process of learning from each other. This "Chinese Derby", through the usual preparations, this analysis of each other is a test to see who will play better on the field and be in better shape.
Defending the title against her compatriots, Zhang Weili actually has no other ideas, she is more happy, and at the same time very proud, MMA developed very late in China, but so soon two Chinese fighters can compete for the UFC championship, this is a very breakthrough stage. She also firmly believes that with everyone's continuous efforts, there will definitely be more "derbys" in the future, and China will definitely become a martial arts power.
The field is always changing rapidly, so in Zhang Weili's opinion, what is the most likely outcome of this competition?
Zhang Weili also replied: "I think anything can happen on the field, just to see who is in better shape, and I never predict the game, especially my own game. I think it's about playing out what you usually train and expressing yourself authentically. ”
"I would also like to thank everyone for their support and love for me. I can also see a lot of comments from me, but now I want to focus more on my competition and training, thank you very much for your support for me and Xiaonan, in fact, athletes are not easy, thank you!"
At the end of the interview, Zhang Weili also talked about her opinion of Yan Xiaonan, in her heart Yan Xiaonan is a very hard-working person, very strong and persistent, and it is precisely because of this that she is also looking forward to this big battle!
With the final countdown to the tournament already in place, Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan have already made their way to the venue for a series of preparations, and we wish them all the best before the match, showing their best in the octagon, and writing the most colorful stroke in the history of mixed martial arts in China.