Zhang Weili gave Boston fans something to remember at UFC 292, where she put on a dominant display to retain her strawweight champion title over opponent Amanda Lemos.
Zhang sailed through the five rounds, keeping a balanced pace between tactical wrestling and her unrelenting, sanda-influenced striking style.
At one point in the first round, Lemos managed to snatch up a D’Arce choke that could have been trouble for Zhang — but the champ’s wrestling carried her through, taking her out of the choke and into position to deliver a quick beating on the ground.
But in the end it was business as usual for Zhang, who nearly ended the fight with a knockdown in the final round, and finished as the unanimous victor with a scorecard of 50-43, 50-44, and 49-45.
Some fans, meanwhile, wonder if the UFC might return to China for a championship bout between Zhang and fellow top-tier Chinese fighter Yan Xiaonan.