We’re so proud of our team! Find out how they’ve been doing, as well as what else has been going on at our gym lately.
LAS VEGAS – UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili was surprised at the reception Carla Esparza received ahead of their title fight.
The two fought earlier this month in the co-main event of UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Esparza was the defending champion, while Weili (23-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) was the challenger. Yet, despite defending the title in her own country, Esparza was booed by fans – and Weili cheered.
That caught the Chinese fighter off guard.
“Yes, I was so surprised,” Weili told reporters at UFC Fight Night 215 this past Saturday. “I don’t know why. Maybe more fans like my fight style. I don’t know. Poor Carla.”
Weili would go on to submit Esparza in the second round of their fight and reclaim the UFC strawweight title. Weili believes her popularity and fan base are growing a lot.
“Yeah, I think in world too much fans supporting me,” Weili said. “Why I think it’s me, (because) I’m world champion.”
Although Weili has become an established figure in the UFC, the 33-year-old doesn’t want to see herself as a celebrity.
“I don’t think I’m a celebrity. I see myself as an MMA fighter,” Weili said. “More and more people are getting into this sport. I believe in the future. MMA sport in China will thrive.”
The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday’s card, rewarding four main card stoppages. After UFC on ESPN 55, four fighters took home an extra $50,000 for their performances at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out the winners below.
See The Fight Results, Watch Post-Fight Interviews With The Main Card Winners And More From UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs Perez, Live From UFC APEX In Las Vegas Read the Full Article Here
We want to make sure that Ludus MMA is the right fit for you before asking you to commit to a membership.
That’s why we’d like to offer you a FREE ONE-DAY PASS to our gym.
With your FREE PASS, you can: