MMA Preview – Weili Zhang vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk 2 at UFC 275
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WEILI ZHANG VS JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK FACTS
When is UFC 275? Sunday 12th June, 2022 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 275? Singapore Indoor Stadium, Kallang, Singapore
Where can I get tickets for UFC 275? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 275
What channel is UFC 275 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 275? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
WEILI ZHANG VS JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK LOWDOWN
Not many people expected Weili Zhang (21-3) to lose two in a row after dispatching Jessica Andrade (2019) in less than a minute to claim the strawweight title. However, she met her kryptonite in Rose Namajunas who gave her a taste of her own medicine with a quick and clinical knockout. Six months later in November last year she got her rematch and gave a much better account of herself but fell short again, this time in a split decision. Prior to those losses she made the first defence of her title in what turned out to be the best female fight of all time, going to war and coming out on top in a split decision with the former Queen of the division.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) could have easily got the nod from another judge that night in 2020 which was gutting for her and gutting for the fans, she has not fought since. Since the last defence of her belt, she has gone 2-4 which includes four title fights – two against Namajunas (2017 and 2018), one against Valentina Shevchenko (2018) at flyweight and her most recent scrap with Zhang. Now, she walks out to prove there is still gas left in the tank.
WEILI ZHANG VS JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK PREDICTION
Although this will not live up to their first battle, we still expect an exhilarating scrap. This is only three rounds which will create an even faster pace, but both fighters are at a different spot now.
Zhang is in the unfamiliar territory of a two-fight skid which has to dent the confidence, but she is still in her prime and taking on a fighter who has been flirting with retirement and not fought in over two years. Zhang is understandably the favourite and although she is coming off two losses, she has remained active and gained priceless experience.
They are still very evenly matched. In the first fight they exchanged a colossal number of blows with Zhang landing 165 significant strikes to Jedrzejczyk’s 186. Zhang swayed the final judge by landing more powerful shots as well a takedown.
We do not expect them to land as much damage, but they will still carry a high output, switching stances and landing a variety of technical strikes with all eight limbs. Jedrzejczyk is obviously still elite and we expect her to have a lot of success on the feet finding the chin, but over three rounds, Zhang’s power advantage grappling should be enough to convince enough judges again.
Jedrzejczyk excels in five rounders, but she will need to start quickly, remain elusive, and keep up a furious pace for 15 minutes. She is more than capable of this, but we feel Zhang will counter with power shots and only needs a couple takedowns to steal a round.
Jedrzejczyk is worth a punt for a decision with good odds, but we question her motivation and rustiness compared to Zhang who still has room to grow and desperate to get her belt back.
Prediction: Zhang via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Jedrzejczyk via Decision
