Zhang Weili wants to ‘be like water,’ take Valentina Shevchenko’s belt
UFC 322 co-headliner Zhang Weili spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at media day for her women’s flyweight title shot vs. Valentina Shevchenko
NEW YORK – As she gears up for her next title fight, there’s something different about Zhang Weili.
For starters, she’s not the champion. That would be Valentina Shevchenko, whom Weili challenges Saturday in the UFC 322 co-main event (ESPN+ pay-per-view) at Madison Square Garden. And the belt they’re fighting for is not the strawweight strap; Weili vacated that earlier this year. It’s for Shevchenko’s women’s flyweight title.
And that means a heavier and happier Weili, whose training camp for this superfight felt better knowing she wouldn’t have to cut 10 more pounds this week.
“I feel very good, everything very good,” Weili told MMA Junkie and other reporters during Wednesday’s UFC 322 media day. “Camp, my weight, stay strong, stay healthy, everything’s good. I’m so excited for this Saturday.”
She continued, “I feel very different. … I can eat. I eat a lot. I have a lot of energy training, so this camp was training a lot.”
On paper, Shevchenko (25-4-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC) vs. Weili (26-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is a dream matchup that pits the current top-two fighters in the official UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings. Shevchenko, a two-time champ at 125 pounds, is going for her ninth title defense and 11th title-fight victory, which would tie Amanda Nunes’ record.
Weili will enter UFC 322 on a five-fight winning streak, which includes her regaining the 115-pound title from Carla Esparza in November 2022 and then defending it three times. Weili only vacated for her shot to become a UFC two-division champion.
As the naturally smaller fighter, Weili figures to be at a disadvantage, although her strength has never been questioned. After all, she once picked up Francis Ngannou with relative ease. So for anyone doubting her heading into UFC 322, Weili has only one message.
“I just want to say: This Saturday we can see.”
