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Wow! Zhang Weili to Train with Pitbull and Former UFC Double Champion Henry Cejudo for Rose Namajunas Fight

Published 09/03/2021, 6:36 AM EDT

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The former UFC strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, is reportedly shifting her fight camp from China to the United States. The 32-year-old, along with her team, is going to fly out to Arizona this month to train with the team at Fight Ready in Scottsdale.

Interestingly, this will be the first time Zhang Weili will not have a fight camp in her native country. Since the pandemic, many fighters who have had their fights in the USA have chosen to fly in earlier and conduct training camps Stateside to avoid visa hassles and problems in traveling.

However, Zhang Weili will get a lot more out of this camp, considering the training partners she’s going to have at Fight Ready. Per ESPN, according to one of Weili’s coaches, Pedro Jordao, ‘Magnum’ will be training with former UFC double champion and Olympian Henry Cejudo and three-time Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull.

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Furthermore, ‘The Korean Zombie’ (Chang sung Jung) might also fly in to help Weili with her training. Hence, it looks like Zhang Weili is going to leave no stone unturned in her preparation for her upcoming bout. ‘Magnum’ is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Rose Namajunas. At UFC 261, ‘Thug Rose’ handed Zhang Weili her first loss in the UFC, consequently snapping her astonishing twenty-one-fight win streak.

The two are now getting ready for the immediate rematch in November at UFC 268. Undoubtedly, one of the most exciting fights on a mind-blowing fight card, Zhang Weili vs Rose Namajunas 2 is going to be one for the ages.

While Namajunas looks to have a long title reign this time, her adversary will look to get back the belt she had to part with not long ago.

Can Zhang Weili become champion again at UFC 268?

The first Chinese champion in UFC history, Weili, is also one of the most decorated and dangerous strawweights in the division’s history. Her showdown with former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk will go down as one of the greatest fights in all of MMA.

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Following a setback loss to Rose Namajunas, ‘Magnum’ is looking to get back on the winning track. Weili has all the tools to get past Namajunas on fight night. However, if she makes the same mistake of underestimating Rose’s power, and isn’t able to cut her off and exchange in the pocket, she could be in for a repeat of last time.

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As Rose Namajunas is one of the most cerebral and sophisticated strikers in the sport, Weili will have to put pressure on her early on to stifle her rhythm and movement. Perhaps even try to take her down, but even that could backfire, considering Namajunas’s high-level Jiu-Jitsu.

What do you think? Can Zhang Weili become champion again? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

David Andrew

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David Andrew is an MMA author at EssentiallySports with a background in English Literature from St. Stephens College. Prior to his current role, David, who combines his passion for writing and combat sports, contributed to the MMA divisions at Sportskeeda and The Sportsrush.
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