Rose Namajunas is expected to face Zhang Weili for the UFC Strawweight title soon
Valentina ‘Bullet’ Shevchenko was the latest guest to feature of the Schmozone podcast.
The UFC Flyweight champion is regarded as one of the best to have ever graced the sport and she carries an impressive 18-3 MMA record.
Her only UFC losses have come up against Amanda Nunes but she has another fighter to worry about. Shevchenko takes on Jennifer Maia at UFC 255 on 21 November, and she was confident of keeping her gold.
The Bullet was also asked about another fight that is in the making. UFC Strawweight champion Zhang Weili is expected to defend her title against former champion Rose Namajunas.
Namajunas picked up an impressive win over another former champion in Jessica Andrade at UFC 251 while Weili picked up the title from Andrade.
Weili also produced an incredible performance against Joanna Jedrzejczyk which was a brutal UFC 248 affair over five rounds.
While many have said that Weili is one of the top female talents in the UFC, Shevchenko believed a title change was set to take place:
“I know Rose, I trained with her and I would say if Rose is going to be in the same physical and mental condition that I know her, she is going to win easy.”
Helen Yee, who is the co-host of the podcast, was surprised with Shevchenko’s prediction for Weili vs Namajunas.
Then UFC champion then corrected herself and added that Namajunas is tough and would get the win:
“Not that easy but she is going to beat because she is tough as well and she doesn’t want to lose. Not that easy but she is going to win.”
The Bullet also highlighted how lean athletes deliver so much power and compared Namajunas with Israel Adesanya.
“Rose is taller but skinnier but doesn’t mean not strong because we could see with Israel, right.
“It is difficult for Muay Thai fighters from Thailand, they are skinny but where do they get that power but when they start to work in clinch it is totally different.”
Adesanya might be skinny but he produced a quality performance to retain his Middleweight title against Paulo Costa at UFC 253.
Namajunas vs Weili should be a cracker and it is tough to say who has the edge in this fight. Weili comes in with an impressive 21-1 MMA record but Namajunas is as tough as they come.
This was an exclusive interview from The Schmozone Podcast. For more exclusive interviews and content please follow the link.
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