Is Weili Zhang the fitting selection for Jessica Andrade’s first title protection?

The UFC is anticipated to have strawweight champion Jessica Andrade defend her belt for the primary time in opposition to Weili Zhang on Aug. 31 in Shenzhen, China. Information of the matchup precipitated many followers to query why Zhang, ranked No. 7 in ESPN’s 115-pound rankings, was chosen over different choices, together with Tatiana Suarez, Michelle Waterson and even a rematch with Rose Namajunas.

Zhang (19-1) has received 19 fights in a row, three within the UFC, after dropping her skilled debut in 2013. She is coming off a unanimous-decision win in opposition to Tecia Torres at UFC 235 in March.

Did the UFC get it proper? Our ESPN MMA staff — Brett Okamoto, Ariel Helwani, Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim and Phil Murphy — provides its take.

Helwani: It is determined by what you imply by “get it proper?” Does it make sense to have a Chinese language fighter problem for the belt in China for the primary time in UFC historical past? After all it does. It makes nice enterprise sense. I’ve mentioned on quite a few events that I believe Zhang is without doubt one of the finest younger prospects within the sport. She has impressed in her first three UFC fights. That mentioned, I’m fairly sure that if the UFC did not have a present in China developing that she would not be subsequent in line for a title shot. Was there any discuss of her being subsequent for Andrade earlier than this information broke? No method. It got here out of nowhere.

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Now, we all know Tatiana Suarez might be out for some time with an injured neck and Rose Namajunas is not prepared to come back again. So with that in thoughts, I’d have given the shot to Michelle Waterson, who is without doubt one of the promotion’s hottest fighters and is on a three-fight profitable streak. However I suppose it is exhausting to show down the attract of a possible Chinese language champion. Let’s be clear: This is not an egregious name by any stretch. Zhang is sweet and on a roll. Far much less deserving fighters have fought for the belt. It simply appears a bit off as a result of it was so sudden and seems like a call based mostly largely on capitalizing on a (probably very profitable) market extra so than something.

Raimondi: It actually is determined by your definition of “proper.” From a enterprise standpoint, the UFC headlining its third-ever card in mainland China with the primary Chinese language-born title challenger in promotion historical past is a stroke of genius. The UFC is aiming to make massive strides in China over the following few years, together with the opening of its second UFC Efficiency Institute in Shanghai quickly. So, sure, Zhang in a title battle in Shenzhen is terrific promotion.

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Is it terrific sport? Effectively, that is a special story. Zhang is reputable, an actual menace within the ladies’s strawweight division at Three-Zero within the UFC and 19-1 total. She has not misplaced since her professional debut in 2013. Nonetheless, based mostly on résumé, Tatiana Suarez and Michelle Waterson have a greater case for a title alternative proper now. Within the UFC’s official rankings, there are 5 ladies forward of Zhang, together with former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who already owns a win over Andrade.

Zhang getting the nod right here is not almost as dangerous when you think about Suarez has a neck subject she reinjured final weekend at UFC 238 in opposition to Nina Ansaroff and will not be prepared. It is simply fairly clear why it is occurring now.

Weili Zhang defeated Tecia Torres by unanimous choice at UFC 235, her 19th straight win. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Okamoto: This isn’t a matchup many anticipated (in any respect). So, in fact, the rapid response is that it does not really feel proper. However chatting with the events concerned, I perceive how we received right here. And I am not against it.

For starters, the UFC was not against a direct rematch between Andrade and Rose Namajunas, however Namajunas is coping with an damage and isn’t out there. Tatiana Suarez is deserving, however she’s additionally injured and (as I wrote in my ‘What’s Subsequent’ column this weekend), I believe Suarez would profit from one or two extra fights earlier than a title shot. Her sport remains to be growing, and I wish to see her at her finest in a championship battle.

Michelle Waterson is definitely in title rivalry, however I by no means thought she solidified herself because the No. 1 contender. She’s on a really good run, little doubt, however there are a number of names ranked forward of her. If anybody is being wronged right here, it is most likely Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who remains to be ranked highest, regardless of three losses in her previous 4 fights. An important piece in all of this although, in line with a number of sources, is the UFC was having a tough time discovering Zhang a battle. They needed to e book her in China (clearly), however not one of the strawweight contenders would settle for. Andrade was prepared to take the battle, so the UFC jumped on it.

Zhang shouldn’t be a family title, however she’s received 19 fights in a row and don’t mistake her for a simple out right here. All issues equal, I believe Jedrzejczyk is the “proper” No. 1 contender at strawweight, however taking all issues under consideration, this choice shouldn’t be as “out of left discipline” as it could initially appear.

Wagenheim: There is a maxim in actual property that the three most necessary elements in home-buying are location, location, location. (Proper, Al Iaquinta?) Effectively, this matchup wouldn’t have been made if the UFC weren’t headed to China this summer time or if Weili Zhang had been from Canada or Croatia. It is a enterprise choice.

Nonetheless, this isn’t an egregious cash seize like what Dana White was attempting to tug off with money cow Brock Lesnar and an unearned heavyweight title shot. Zhang is 19-1 and a legit No. 7 in ESPN’s strawweight rankings. She’s simply not as worthy as No. four Tatiana Suarez, who remained undefeated with Saturday’s win over fifth-ranked Nina Ansaroff. All of it comes right down to the almighty yuan.

Tatiana Suarez, Eight-Zero, is coming off a unanimous-decision win in opposition to Nina Ansaroff at UFC 238. Jason Silva/USA TODAY Sports activities

Murphy: We have to distinguish between analyzing whether or not the UFC received Jessica Andrade’s first title protection proper and whether or not it received it mistaken; it isn’t binary.

None of Rose Namajunas, Tatiana Suarez or Joanna Jedrzejczyk, for various causes, are the clear-cut subsequent in line. Rose regarded unimaginable for everything of UFC 237’s important occasion earlier than getting knocked out, however she wants time to rehabilitate her neck. Suarez is unbeaten and the obvious subsequent massive factor, however she admits she wants to deal with a neck damage of her personal. Joanna is the all-time strawweight queen and holds a dominant win over Andrade, however she is 1-2 in her previous three fights at 115.

Weili Zhang received the sweepstakes, largely as a result of the goal card is in her dwelling nation of China. However Zhang is not ill-deserving. She’s Three-Zero since becoming a member of the UFC. Like Joanna, Zhang holds her final strawweight win over Tecia Torres. In contrast to Rose and Suarez, Zhang is wholesome. She’s using an energetic 19-fight win streak, longest in any ladies’s division, with 16 stoppages, very excessive for a strawweight.

Possibly all Andrade-Zhang accomplishes is constructing Andrade’s star in a dominant win whereas permitting different contenders to hash out their variations on adjoining playing cards. That does not make Zhang the fitting challenger. But it surely does not make her the mistaken one, both.