Weili Zhang e Valentina Shevchenko They are UFC strawweight and flyweight champions, respectively (Photo: Montagem/SUPER FIGHTS)
Living his second reign in the strawweight division (up to 52,1kg) after dethroning Carla esparza No. UFC 281, in November, could be the right name to end the dominance of Valentina Shevchenko in flyweight (up to 56,7kg). At least that's what Josh Hinger, the Chinese coach's coach, believes.
jiu-jitsu trainer Weili Zhang, Hinger believes that Weili Zhang be the only fighter on the Ultimate roster capable of posing a real challenge to the Kyrgyz-Peruvian, flyweight champion with seven belt defenses to her name.
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“There is no one that I think is a big threat to Valentina (Shevchenko) in her category right now. I think Weili (Zhang) is the only one who can step up and give Valentina a good fight”, said the coach during his appearance on the “Fruiting Body” podcast.
Fighting at flyweight wouldn't exactly be something new for Weili Zhang, who already played in the division a few times at the beginning of his career in professional MMA. In Hinger's opinion, the tendency is that, without going through the arduous weight-cutting process, the Chinese woman's level of performance will be even higher.
“Weili cuts a lot of weight to 52kg. She suffers a lot, and from the perspective of a guy who's been cutting weight for 20 years, I've always acted terribly when I've cut weight. When I come in as the smaller but healthier fighter, I perform much better and no one takes a point away from me. (…) I'm confident that, if Weili doesn't need to cut weight, she will perform better. She would still need to diet for 57kg, but I believe she would perform better in that category. I think she will be a better, faster, stronger, healthier athlete. She is already an incredible athlete, a monster at 52kg. Daniel Cormier says she’s the best athlete of all time and it’s hard to argue with that,” he concluded.
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