Weili Zhang became the first Chinese UFC champion with an impressive TKO victory over Jessica Andrade in Shenzhen, China at UFC on ESPN+ 15.
Both fighters went to work immediately and after trading shots, Zhang landed a right hand that hurt Andrade and allowed her to punish her in the cliché with knees and elbows. Andrade eventually crumbled to the canvas where follow up strikes forced referee Leon Roberts to call the bout 42 seconds into the first frame.
With the win, Zhang made good on her intentions to capture the title back at UFC Fight Night 141 in 2018 after a win over Jessica Aguilar.
“Last time, when I was in Beijing (for UFC Fight Night 141), I made a commitment: I’m going to be the first Chinese champion,” Zhang said in the post fight interview with Michal Bisping. “And I made it.”
It was a tough result for Andrade, who did not get a chance to use her vaunted grappling to get the fight to the ground.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
MAIN CARD
WU YANAN VS. MIZUKI INOUE
🗣 By split decision! #UFCShenzhen @Fighter_Mizuki pic.twitter.com/FkfuiQjILu
— UFC (@ufc) August 31, 2019
WINNER: MIZUKI INOUE VIA SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: WU YUNAN VIA UD
Andrews: A good win for Inoue. She was busier and even out-struck Yunan, plus took 30 per cent of her purse for missing weight.
KENAN SONG VS. DERRICK KRANTZ
Kenan turning it on in round 3! #UFCShenzhen pic.twitter.com/CpWlB8JBOv
— UFC (@ufc) August 31, 2019
WINNER: KENAN SONG VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KENAN SONG VIA TKO
Andrews: Give Krantz credit. He brought the fight early but Song as predicted still picked him apart late to get the win.
KAI KARA-FRANCE VS. MARK DE LA ROSA
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1167763986604969984?s=20
WINNER: KAI KARA-FRANCE VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KAI KARA-FRANCE VIA UD
Andrews: Kara-France brought the fire as expected.
ELIZEU ZALESK DOS SANTOS VS. JINGLIANG LI
The Leech does it in front of the home crowd! @UFCJingliang stops Capoeira by TKO! #UFCShenzhen pic.twitter.com/4IgYYhFbRz
— UFC (@ufc) August 31, 2019
WINNER: JINGLIANG LI VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R3 4:51
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ELIZEU DOS SANTOS VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! Li’s best win in the octagon and he used the home crowd to his advantage.
MAIN EVENT
JESSICA ANDRADE VS. WEILI ZHANG
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION! CHINA YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST UFC CHAMPION!#UFCShenzhen pic.twitter.com/lRAhcEFC0J
— UFC (@ufc) August 31, 2019
WINNER: WEILI ZHANG VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R3 0:42
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JESSICA ANDRADE VIA UD
Andrews: I thought Andrade would use her experience and get the fight to the ground, but she got excited and traded with Zhang and got caught. Tough lesson but she will be back. In the meantime, congrats to Zhang!