Zhang Weili prefers Valentina Shevchenko title fight over title defense at strawweight
LAS VEGAS – Zhang Weili has her eyes on the UFC women's flyweight belt.
Weili (26-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), UFC titleholder at strawweight, has long been rumored to fight Valentina Shevchenko in a champion vs. champion, and now she wants to make that a reality. Speaking to MMA Junkie at UFC X, Weili said that she's more interested in moving up a weight class than making a title defense against top contender Virna Jandirova.
"I want to go up," Weili said.
In recent fights that involve a champion moving up a weight class to challenge for a second belt, the champions have been forced to vacate their belt by the promotion, contrary to years prior. When asked what would happen to her strawweight belt, should she move up, Weili wasn't too sure what the promotion would want.
"I don't know – let me see what happens," Weili said.
Weili respects Shevchenko and stayed away from making any bold predictions on the potential bout with Shevchenko. What she does assure is that she'll need to be ready in all facets of the game.
"I need to be very well-rounded," Weili said. "I need to prepare all my techniques. It really depends on who gets the right chance and who has the right mentality."
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