Zhang Weili Dominates at UFC 292

Zhang Weili defended her strawweight title at UFC 292, dominating Amanda Lemos in a unanimous decision victory.

The win marked Weili’s first title defense of her second reign as champ, and her performance was a set to behold. The difference in significant strikes was stunning, with Weili outlanding Lemos, 163 to 24, during the five-round fight.

“The only opponent is myself,” says Weili, speaking through a translator. “I want to be better today than I was yesterday.”

#AndStill @MmaWeili #UFC292 pic.twitter.com/26spqvHxwl
— danawhite (@danawhite) August 20, 2023

Weili also held a distinct advantage on the ground, with over 16 minutes of control compared to only 34 seconds for Lemos. Despite all the damage she absorbed, Lemos’ submission attempts provided a possibility of victory. She tried to lock in a rear naked choke on two different occasions, but Weili was able to break free both times.

“She never really got my neck,” says Weili. “I just stayed calm and escaped.”

Weili did everything except get the finish. Somehow, despite the onslaught of strikes, she could not put Lemos away.

“I respect her,” says Weili. “There were so many times she was almost out, but she kept going.”

The next goal for Weili is a successful second title defense. That is a feat she did not accomplish in her first run as champ. There is no definitive upcoming opponent, though Tatiana Suarez and Yan Xiaonan both make compelling cases as to why they should receive the next title shot.

For now, however, Weili is focused on life back home in China.

“I’m thinking about a break, then we’ll see what happens next,” says Weili. “I’ve been training since March. The only thing in my mind is returning home to be with my family.”

While it was quite a distance from her hometown in China, Weili found a home away from home in Boston, which played host to UFC 292. She found an instant connection with fight fans in the city, and she even had support from Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.

“Boston is amazing,” says Weili. “I love this city. I was here in 2019, and I’ve always wanted to fight in Boston. It was a dream come true. It’s unbelievable that the people in the city give me such massive support.

“The fans in the arena gave me such energy. Because of them, I could have fought even more rounds.”

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.