Zhang Weili vs.Valentina Shevchenko is finally happening.
Dana White has officially confirmed that Zhang Weili vacated the UFC Strawweight title and is scheduled to challenge Shevchenko for the flyweight belt at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden.
The two-time UFC Flyweight Champion will defend her belt for the third time. Her first reign saw Shevchenko successfully defend her belt eight times before she dropped it to Alexa Grasso via submission at UFC 285. Grasso and Shevchenko went to war for the belt three times, with the 37-year-old regaining her title at UFC 306. Shebchenko is fresh off a unanimous decision win over Manon Fiorot at UFC 315. Before her loss to Grasso, the UFC Flyweight Champion went five years without a single loss. Her professional record is 25 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.
Zhang Weili hasn’t lost a fight in three years. Since recapturing the Strawweight title from Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 275, the 36-year-old has beaten Carla Esparza (by submission at UFC 281), Amanda Lemos (by unanimous decision at UFC 292), Yan Xiaonan (by unanimous decision at UFC 300), and Tatiana Suarez (by unanimous decision at UFC 312). Other than her losses to Rose Namajunas, Weili dominated the strawweight division and it was time for her to fight new challenges. She comes in with a record of 26 wins and 3 losses.
Weilli made it clear back in July that she would rather go up and fight Valentina then defend her belt against Virna Jandirova. She has mad respect for Shevchenko and understands that she needs to be on her A-game in order to topple the UFC Flyweight Champion.
"I need to be very well-rounded," Weili told MMA Junkie. "I need to prepare all my techniques. It really depends on who gets the right chance and who has the right mentality."
Shevchenko was very welcome to the idea of fighting Weili is she wanted to move up.
"Flyweight right now is the most exciting weight class – so many good and talented fighters," Shevchenko said on the post-fight show after the UFC on ESPN 68 broadcast. "But from the other side, you can see the champion. She built up her career. She deserves so much because of her title defenses. I feel at this point, she deserves this fight. Everyone deserves it."
We’ll see who’s the best on November 15. This is shaping up to be a can’t miss card as it already has two potential fight of the year candidates.