Zhang Weili vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk Preview and Prediction
Zhang Weili vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship.
The two 115 pound champions will face off inside the UFC octagon on March 7, 2020. The fight will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This title fight will be the co-main event at UFC 248.
There is normally added buzz surrounding a championship bought, and the co-main event on Saturday night in Las Vegas is no different. Both women have demonstrated phenomenal striking skills throughout their careers, and both Weili and Jedrzejczyk always show up and put on exciting fights.
Odds
The betting line for the fight suggests that Weili Zhang will retain her strawweight belt. The current betting line odds have Zhang favored -185. The odds makers have the former champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, as the underdog at +170. The over/under for this matchup has been set at 4.5 rounds. The Over is favored here at -127, with a +112 comeback on the Under. Bettors can lay the price on ‘Fight goes to decision’ at a cost of -125, or on ‘Fight doesn’t go to decision’ for -105.
Joanna “Champion” Jedrzejczyk
The challenger, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, also known as Joanna Champion because of her difficult-to-pronounce last name, is always spoiling for a fight. She is the consummate trash-talker, and never shies away from a chance to get in her opponent’s face. So good is she at talking trash, that it has become apparent that trash-talking figures largely into her game plan for each fight.
The former 115 pound Strawweight Champion herself, she has no shortage of confidence. In fact, Jedrzejczyk was the person who anointed herself Joanna Champion. And it is not false bravado either. Joanna has been so bold and brash for so long, she makes it look like it comes naturally to her. Rather, it is more likely the result of a life-long dedication to martial arts.
Joanna Champion fighting background
Jedrzejczyk started training Muay Thai when she was 16 years old. She soon began competing in national and European tournaments, and she enjoyed great success. Jedrzejczyk competed in Muay Thai and kickboxing for 10 years, and she won over 60 matches. Her amateur Muay Thai accomplishments include six IFMA world medals (five gold, one silver) and four IFMA European championships with a record of 37 wins and 3 losses.
During her professional kickboxing career Jedrzejczyk won five world titles including the WKN World Championship, J Girls Championship, WBKF Championship, WKF European Championship, and the WMC Championship. Her professional record is 27-3.
Joanna fought her first MMA match in 2012. In fact, she had her first two amateur bouts in one night. She turned pro the next time she stepped into the cage, two months later.
Jedrzejczyk made her UFC debut in 2014, and after a controversial split decision over Claudia Gadelha, she went on to claim the UFC Strawweight belt in her third UFC fight. She finished Carla Esparza quite handily in the second round via TKO.
Joanna went on to defend the UFC Strawweight title in five consecutive fights. Ultimately, after running up a record of 14-0, she lost the belt when she was stopped by punches in the first round of her fight with Rose Namajunas in 2017.
Zhang Weili, Reigning UFC Champion
The current UFC Strawweight Champion, China’s Zhang Weili, takes a very different approach when it comes to facing opponents – she is always very respectful towards her opponents. In this way she displays the class of a traditional martial artist.
Interestingly, Zhang did not grow up training in the martial arts as might be expected of a fighter who exhibits such respect towards others. She only became interested in martial arts after becoming a fitness instructor at a gym where jiu-jitsu was practiced.
Zhang was born in Handan, Hebei, China. Zhang’s background is in Sanda, Shuai Jiao, and jiu-jitsu. She is listed as a purple belt in jiu-jitsu under Pedro Jordao.
20 fight win streak
Zhang made her professional MMA debut to a losing effort via decision to Meng Bo in 2013. However, after dropping her first pro fight, she has since amassed an impressive 20 fight winning streak. Coming in to Saturday’s contest, her record stands at 20 wins and 1 loss.
Zhang had quite the stressful camp for her first title defense. Due to the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak, she had to move her fighting camp from China to Thailand, and eventually Dubai. She also arrived in the states a full week before her team due to visa restrictions placed on individuals coming from, or who had recently visited, China to the US.
However, Zhang looked like an absolute killer hitting the pads at open workouts just days before her first title defense.
World class striking skills
No matter how you look at it, the UFC Women’s Strawweight Title Fight on Saturday, March 7, 2020, promises to make for an exciting fight. Both the reigning champ, Zhang, and the former champ, Jedrzejczyk have world class standup striking skills. Both looked to be in top shape at the weigh-ins on Friday.
Respect and the Shaolin Temple
There has been a bit of back and forth jawing between the two champions, begging the question is Joanna Champion inside the head of Weili Champion? I don’t think so, and here’s why: Zhang let it be known that this fight is more than an individual championship for her.
At the peak of a chaotic coronavirus outbreak, Zhang is carrying the weight of her nation in both fists. China has risen up in support of the first ever Chinese champion in the UFC. When the bell rings on Saturday night, Zhang will be fighting for far more than personal glory. She will be fighting to uplift the people of the most populous country on earth.
And don’t forget the significant history of the martial arts in China. Zhang feels that Joanna has disrespected her people and disrespected the Shaolin Temple. Nobody disrespects the Shaolin Temple and gets away with it.
Prediction
Emotions and international controversies aside, it seems like Zhang packs more power into her punches than Joanna does. After winning 20 fights in a row, and with the power of all of China behind her, the momentum in this fight all points East. Zhang will successfully defend her title and return to China to pay her respects to the Shaolin Temple with the UFC Strawweight belt in her hands.
Joanna’s striking speed and precision, although great, will be outclassed by Zhang’s striking speed and power. Zhang will win the fight by TKO in the second round.
I hope you enjoy the all the fights on Saturday night! See our prediction in the Main Event at UFC 248 Israel Adesanya vs Joel Romero. Make sure to check back in to MatMartial.com for more on the UFC, MMA, and JIU-JITSU.
