Dana White Praises New Strawweight Champion Weili Zhang
There were some questions leading into UFC Shenzhen, about why Weili Zhang was fighting Jessica Andrade. However, Dana White sheds some light on to why that happened.
Weili Zhang managed to shock the world, by finishing Jessica Andrade in 42 seconds, at UFC Shenzhen over the weekend. In doing so, she became the UFC’s first Chinese champion. Additionally, she helped a market in China, that the UFC is trying to grow.
However, there were questions leading into the fight, as to whether or not Zhang was being pushed too soon. Although she was quite accomplished before making it to the UFC, this was only her fourth fight under the promotion’s banner. Whereas her opponent was far more experienced in the UFC, fresh off a win over Rose Namajunas.
UFC President Dana White decided to address those concerns at the post-fight press conference. He explained why Zhang got that title shot, after such a short UFC tenure.
“Everybody in line, up to Weili Zhang, had fights or couldn’t fight or didn’t want to fight. I said it at the (pre-fight) press conference: Nobody wanted to fight her.
Everybody can say what they want. I called a lot of people that said no, they don’t want to fight Weili Zhang. Jessica Andrade said, ‘I’ll do it, and I’ll come (to China),’ reciprocating after Namajunas went down to Brazil when she had the title.”
White went on, praising the new champion.
“She literally just came into my dressing room in the back and said, ‘I’ll fight as much as you want me to. I’m ready to go.’ You know I love that attitude. She’s going to make a massive impact (in China). She’s obviously very good, and a very talented woman. Her personality, everything.
I already have people from WME calling me with deals for her. she’s already getting offers for deals. So it’s big. It’s really big. And she’s a Tom Brady fan. just when you think she can’t get any more perfect, she’s a Tom Brady fan.”
All joking aside, Weili Zhang is a fearsome new champion. It is not surprising, if what Dana White says is true, that people were hesitant to fight her. However, now that she is champ, she will have people knocking on her door.
