What’s subsequent for Zhang, Andrade and different UFC Shenzhen fighters?

Historical past was made at UFC Combat Evening on Saturday in Shenzhen, China. Zhang Weili completed Jessica Andrade by TKO in simply 42 seconds to win the strawweight title, making her the UFC’s first Chinese language titleholder.

Having a champion from China is an enormous boon for the UFC, which has been attempting to make inroads within the nation for years. There was loads of celebrating in Shenzhen in any other case, too, with the UFC’s winningest Chinese language fighter, Li Jingliang, getting a end in entrance of his countrymen and countrywomen.

Plus, different fighters excited the followers, together with Kai Kara-France, who placed on a pleasant efficiency along with his hanging.

What’s subsequent for Zhang, Andrade and the opposite main gamers from UFC Shenzhen? This is ESPN’s take.

Zhang Weili, strawweight champion

After leaving Jessica Andrade on the canvas in lower than a minute, there are massive issues forward for brand spanking new strawweight champion Zhang Weili. Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Getty Photos

Outcome: Defeated Jessica Andrade through first-round TKO

Subsequent: Tatiana Suarez

This one could be very a lot up for debate. Suarez has been deserving of a title shot. She’s undefeated and ranked No. four amongst strawweights in ESPN’s divisional rankings. Up till an in depth unanimous determination win over Nina Ansaroff in June, Suarez had principally run via her first 4 UFC fights. The previous standout wrestler reinjured her neck in that combat in opposition to Ansaroff, but when she’s able to return, she needs to be the following contender.

If she’s not (and a few would argue even when she is), there are different compelling prospects for Zhang’s first title protection. Former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk faces Michelle Waterson in the principle occasion of UFC Tampa on Oct. 12. The winner may make an excellent case for a title shot. Jedrzejczyk is ranked No. three by ESPN and Waterson is No. 5. Then there’s Rose Namajunas, who misplaced the title to Andrade at UFC 237 in April in a bout she was profitable till she was knocked out by a vicious slam. Namajunas is ranked No. 2 within the division by ESPN, and there is definitely a faculty of thought that might have her being subsequent in line.

It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see which route the UFC chooses to go in, given Zhang’s enormous marketability as its first Chinese language champion.

Jessica Andrade, strawweight

Outcome: Misplaced to Zhang Weili through first-round TKO

Subsequent: Nina Ansaroff

2 Associated

Andrade might need gotten stopped by Zhang in simply 42 seconds, however she has crushed a number of the finest strawweights on the planet, together with Namajunas. At 27 she isn’t going wherever and can possible problem for the UFC title once more sometime. It might be inappropriate to place her proper right into a title eliminator spot, although, particularly given the lengthy queue ready now. Ansaroff would make sense, in that case.

Ansaroff is coming off a loss to Suarez by which her inventory remained excessive even in defeat. She was the hardest take a look at so far for Suarez, one of many division’s finest up-and-coming skills. Previous to that defeat, Ansaroff had gained 4 straight and was closing in on a high contender combat herself. The winner between Andrade and Ansaroff on this potential combat would put herself in extraordinarily good place for a future title alternative.

Li Jingliang, welterweight

Outcome: Defeated Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos through third-round TKO

Subsequent: Jordan Mein

Quietly, Li has put collectively some of the constant runs within the very powerful welterweight division. Together with being the winningest Chinese language fighter in UFC historical past with 9 victories, Li has gained three in a row and 7 of his final eight. There was nothing quiet about the way in which he stopped Zaleski dos Santos. It was emphatic, with an uppercut and follow-up pictures. Coming in, Zaleski dos Santos was on a seven-fight profitable streak.

It is perhaps untimely to provide Li a top-10 opponent at this level, although he’s shut. Mein is on a two-fight profitable streak himself and is carving out a spot within the welterweight division once more after a virtually two-year sabbatical. Plus, Mein has a propensity for enjoyable fights and Li does as effectively, when he will be roped into one. Zaleski dos Santos was capable of get the most effective out of Li, and it is possible so will Mein. That might be a enjoyable one.

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, welterweight

Outcome: Misplaced to Li Jingliang through third-round TKO

Subsequent: Mike Perry

Zaleski dos Santos did not look fairly like his aggressive self in opposition to Li. Credit score should go to Li’s protection, notably him circling away from Zaleski dos Santos’ energy hand. However there gave the impression to be some giddy-up lacking from the Brazilian’s recreation Saturday. Who’s the most effective individual to get that again out of him? Why, Perry, in fact.

Perry is coming off a loss to Vicente Luque, so why not throw him again in (after he recovers from a damaged nostril) in opposition to one other free-swinging Brazilian? We all know what sort of fireworks a combat like this might produce. If the timing traces up when Perry returns, this seems like a barn burner.

A Kai Kara-France punch will get via the protection of Mark De La Rosa throughout their flyweight bout, gained by Kara-France. Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Getty Photos

Outcome: Defeated Mark De La Rosa through unanimous determination

Subsequent: Matt Schnell

Kara-France actually appeared terrific Saturday in beating De La Rosa. Most impressively, he was capable of stuff all of De La Rosa’s takedown makes an attempt and really discover his personal offense out of them. Kara-France’s hanging is electrical, so if he is capable of keep off the fence and the bottom with regularity, he’ll be an enormous downside within the UFC’s flyweight division. Schnell is on a pleasant little run, with two straight wins. He is coming off a submission win over Jordan Espinosa at UFC Newark, which earned him a $50,000 Efficiency of the Evening bonus. Like De La Rosa, Schnell is understood for his floor recreation. Would Kara-France be capable of quell that like he did De La Rosa’s at UFC Shenzhen? It certain could be attention-grabbing to search out out. Schnell is No. 9 in ESPN’s flyweight division rankings, so the winner of a combat between him and Kara-France would put himself close to title rivalry.