Weili Zhang Believes She Can Come Back ’To Become a Legend’ After Stunning KO Defeat

One bout removed from a five-round battle that was 2020’s “Fight of the Year,” Weili Zhang saw a 21-bout winning streak end in stunning fashion at UFC 261.

Zhang relinquished her strawweight crown when she was stopped by a Rose Namajunas head kick and follow-up hammerfists just 1:18 into the opening round of Saturday’s co-main event at Vystar Veteran’s Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. It was Zhang’s first appearance since defeating Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision in an instant classic at UFC 248 in March 2020.

Though Zhang initially protested the stoppage, she later released a statement on Instagram congratulating Namajunas and expressing belief in her own ability to bounce back from defeat.

“I want to congratulate Rose on her victory,” Weili wrote. “She bounced back from her defeat. I believe I will also come back, only beat a great champion, to become a legend, and beat a legend, I will become a new me. Before, my goal was to win the UFC championship, but today, I have a higher goal than that. Thank you! It’s normal to lose and win. That’s the UFC. Andrade, Joanna, Rose have all lost and they all come back and try again. I have deepened my understanding of UFC today. So I believe I can come back. Hopefully the UFC will schedule a rematch soon.”

Zhang began her promotional tenure with victories over Danielle Taylor, Jessica Aguilar, Tecia Torres, Jessica Andrade and Jedrzejczyk. Now she will have to follow in the footsteps of Namajunas, who on Saturday became the first woman in UFC history to recapture a championship belt she had previously lost.

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