Jon Anik has called many battles that took place inside the hallowed UFC octagon, but few, if any, can top the legendary strawweight title bout of UFC 248 between then champion Zhang Weili and longtime titleholder Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Following a 25-minute slugfest for the ages, Weili retained the championship via split decision that night in March 2020.
This Saturday, Jedrzejczyk looks for revenge in a rematch with Weili in the featured bout at UFC 275 in Singapore — Jedrzejczyk’s first bout since their memorable first clash.
While the MMA community was excited about the rematch and inquisitive, some were disappointed by the UFC’s decision to make the fight a non-title five-rounder. Anik was more than happy to accept that there might be two less rounds after sitting side-by-side in the first fight.
” Why does everyone want five rounds so desperately? I can’t take it,” Anik told MMA Fighting. Although I know it’s a minority view, I am excited to see Joanna Jedrzejczyk return. I think it’s a fascinating angle that if she emerged on the judges’ scorecards that night — March of 2020 — she would’ve fought at least once more in a championship defense, and instead she’s had this elongated layoff, and I think it stands to reason that it could benefit her.
” I have seen the fight and believe Joanna won. However, that is not what I am claiming. But I just love this division, it’s history. It’s fascinating to look at the history of strawweight. Rose Namajunas has won two straight against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. For me, Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s reign as champion is truly what makes this division so special. What an opportunity for her to try and get this one back against Zhang Weili and position herself for a title shot against Carla Esparza, or whomever.
” I can’t wait for it to come out, man. I feels a lot like Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje as far as a main card fight — I know that was an opener — leading into these championship fights,” Anik continued. “I know Zhang Weili is going to be at the height of motivation. Many people believed she defeated Rose [in the second fight],. I can’t say enough positive things about UFC’s strawweight division.
” I believe the betting line is a bit wider than what I expected [Weili is a -160 favorite according to DraftKings Sportsbook],, but I think that I will end up more in agreement with the public. Joanna seems closer to a +120 then a +140,. The sharps appear to be on Joanna’s side. But we’ll have to wait to see .”
The highly anticipated strawweight tilt will set the table for the main event for the light heavyweight title between Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka, as well as the co-main event between flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and challenger Taila Santos.
Of course, Anik feels strongly that the Jedrzejczyk vs. Weili rematch has a great chance to steal the show, but he has a hard time believing the fight can surpass the original.
“I don’t think it will be more tactical, I just don’t know how it could possibly be better,” Anik explained. It’s amazing that Joanna Jedrzejczyk seemed so prescient about the first fight. In the fighter meetings she stated to us, as well as to all the media, that it would be the best fight in UFC women’s strawweight history. It was, and has been arguably, the most important fight ever in UFC history. It’s not going to top that. This feels like an extremely safe wager .”
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