China's Zhang Weili cemented her status as the queen of the UFC's women's strawweight division with a dominant victory over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312.
China's UFC women's strawweight champion Zhang Weili solidified her dominance in the UFC 's 115-pound division with a masterful performance against previously undefeated challenger Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312. The two elite strawweights clashed in the co-main event of a thrilling night in Sydney, Australia, with many experts and even some bookmakers predicting Suarez would emerge victorious. However, Zhang's performance served as a stark reminder of her unparalleled mastery of mixed martial arts.
Her well-rounded game proved too much for Suarez to handle at Qudos Bank Arena.Suarez started strong, securing an early takedown on the champion. Despite holding a dominant position, she was unable to capitalize, and Zhang easily defended a brief guillotine choke attempt. Perhaps emboldened by her ability to neutralize Suarez's threat on the ground, Zhang became more aggressive in Round 2, dominating the majority of the round with her striking. The turning point arrived in Round 3. A thunderous punch from Zhang staggered Suarez, showcasing the champion's lightning-fast speed and devastating power. Suarez managed to survive, but she found it increasingly difficult to mount any offense. Her takedown attempts fell short, and Zhang relentlessly punished her with vicious knees and elbows in the clinch.Zhang's dominance continued into the championship rounds. She relentlessly pressed the pace on the tiring challenger, becoming the first fighter to secure a takedown on Suarez in the UFC. She even threatened with an arm-triangle choke, but Suarez, displaying remarkable resilience, managed to escape. Unable to regain her footing or establish a dominant position, Suarez was controlled by Zhang on the mat throughout the penultimate round. As the final round commenced, Zhang seized the opportunity presented by Suarez's desperate attempts to take her down, reversing the attempt and finishing on top. The fight ended with no suspense, as Zhang celebrated her victory atop the cage while Suarez received comfort from her corner. The judges awarded the fight to Zhang with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 49-45, extending her winning streak to three consecutive title defenses and bringing her record to 26 wins and 3 losses.
UFC Zhang Weili Tatiana Suarez Women's Strawweight MMA
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