BEIJING, July 18 (silubaba) -- In just over one month, Zhang Weili, the current UFC women's strawweight champion, will defend her title for the first time in her second reign against Brazil's Amanda Lemos in Boston on August 19.
"I have made full preparations in every aspect that my opponent could think of," the Chinese fighter told silubaba.
After reclaiming the women's strawweight championship from two-time titleholder Carla Esparza at UFC 281 last November, Zhang took a short break to attend events and fulfill various media responsibilities.
The Chinese resumed high-intensity training and started preparing for her next fight after heading to Thailand in March.
Zhang recalled her time there, saying, "My life there was very simple - just eat, sleep, and train every day. It's good to focus on that routine."
Shortly after, UFC announced Zhang's title defense against Lemos as the co-main event of UFC 292. Lemos, 36, boasts a record of 13-2-1, with eight knockouts and three submissions. Known for her powerful striking, Lemos had a five-fight winning streak between 2019 and 2021.
Following a headline loss against former champion Jessica Andrade, Lemos bounced back with two consecutive wins and earned a shot at the title, securing a fourth-placed rank in the category.
Zhang said she recognized Lemos' toughness and capability, saying, "Lemos is a very comprehensive opponent. I watched her fight a few years ago before she entered the top 15, and I knew she would make it."
"I had a vague feeling that we would fight one day in the future, and now here we are. It should be an intense fight," Zhang added.
"All top-ranked athletes are formidable. Everyone poses a big challenge. You need to be 100 percent serious in training and 100 percent focused in the octagon."
Zhang said her training in Thailand focused on the fundamentals, aiming to address her own weaknesses and improve her wrestling, striking, and other aspects simultaneously.
She has now arrived in Las Vegas to train at the UFC Performance Institute in the upcoming weeks, primarily focusing on tactics for the August 19 bout with her coaches.
"I'm in a good place right now, very relaxed. I'm just focusing on what's in front of me, every day, every session. I believe that when I'm in good physical shape, I'm also in a good mental state, and vice versa," said the 33-year-old.
Zhang admitted that upon learning she would face Lemos, she felt "very calm, not particularly excited."
"I'm actually not feeling pressured at the moment," she added.
"The mentality of a champion is completely different from that of a challenger, and I know what it's like to be a challenger because I have been one before. But now, I consider myself a challenger who challenges myself. When you truly invest all your energy into yourself, you feel happier, lighter, and more productive," Zhang explained.
Another Chinese strawweight fighter, Yan Xiaonan, nearly had a chance to compete for the title after her first-round TKO against Andrade at UFC 288 propelled her to third place in the category, one rank higher than Lemos.
Following her victory, Yan expressed her desire to challenge her compatriot Zhang. Although the anticipated "China Derby" didn't materialize, Zhang said "it is possible to see this fight in the future." ■
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