SafeBettingSites.com has compiled exclusive odds for a host of fighters who could be next-up for the two-time to fight Zhang Weili. After snatching back the Strawweight title in November of last year, last weekend’s UFC 292 presented the first opportunity for Zhang Weili to defend her title in her second stint as champion.
Zhang Weili next opponent odds:
- Yan Xiaonan – EVS
- Tatiana Suarez – 7/4
- Valentina Shevchenko – 5/1
- Alexa Grasso – 10/1
- Carla Esparza – 16/1
- Rose Namajuna – 20/1
Voted as the official performance of the night, Zhang registered the largest striking differential for a women’s fight in UFC history (296-29), eventually seeing her sweep aside Amanda Lemos to successfully defend her title. This is something bookies and bettors on UFC has picked up on as is evident.
With four title fight wins now under her belt, she moves level with record holder and strawweight legend Rose Namajunas.
Zhang Weili was in good spirits after defending her title, even joking that she wanted to fight the new men’s bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley next.
She welcomed whoever may be next in line however, with many members of the press hinting that number-four ranked American Tatiana Suarez could be the top contender.
She stretched her record to 10-0 at the beginning of August after a mightily impressive guillotine choke submission to stop Jessica Andrade, indicating that she is ready for a shot at the title.
However, UFC president Dana White has previously hinted that an all-Chinese bout – hosted in the champion’s homeland – between Weili and compatriot Yan Xiaonan would be an intriguing prospect.
Weili also confirmed that she sees Xiaonan, along with Suarez, as one of two likely challengers in her next title defence.
Elsewhere in our exclusive odds, there have been suggestions that Weili could attempt to break into the flyweight division after dominating the strawweight class.
Speaking after UFC 292, she responded to a question about the flyweight division, saying: “So that was what I was thinking about, was to move up to flyweight division. But let’s see what happens next in the 125lb division”
Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso is the next big title fight in the flyweight division, with the former attempting to snatch back the belt she successfully defended a total of seven times until Grasso came along.
Both are listed in our exclusive odds at 5/1 and 10/1 respectively, and depending on who prevails with the title at the beginning of September, it could well set up Weili’s next fight.
Commentary
SafeBettingSites.com’s Head of News Lee Astley commented on the odds; “Zhang Weili was in good spirits after defending her title, even joking that she wanted to fight the new men’s bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley next.
“However, UFC president Dana White has previously hinted that an all-Chinese bout – hosted in the champion’s homeland – between Weili and compatriot Yan Xiaonan would be an intriguing prospect. Weili also confirmed that she sees Xiaonan, along with Suarez, as one of two likely challengers in her next title defence.”
