Why Zhang Weili slept only six hours over two days before UFC 248 fight against Joanna Jedrzejczyk

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5 years ago

This photo taken on August 7, 2019 shows Chinese mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Zhang Weili posing after a training session in Beijing. - Zhang can become China's first UFC world champion if she beats title-holder Jessica Andrade of Brazil in their strawweight showdown at the end of August. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) / TO GO WITH MMA-UFC-CHN-China-Zhang-women,INTERVIEW by Helen ROXBURGH (Photo credit should read GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

China’s Zhang Weili had to change her training camp twice due to the coronavirus outbreak

UFC 248 saw an incredible bout between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk as the co-main event.

Both women threw hundreds of shots at each other, and it will go down as one of the greatest bouts in the history of MMA.

Weili Zhang punches Joanna Jedrzejczyk to a split decision win at T-Mobile Arena (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Zhang did a great job in her first title defence but her preparations were hampered by the coronavirus outbreak.

The Chinese star had to switch her camp from Beijing to Thailand and then the UAE before moving to the US.

Ariel Helwani was conducting the interview and Zhang, via a translator, claimed that she only got 3-5 hours of sleep per day.

Zhang Weili of China attends the press conference after the UFC Fight Night event at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)

She normally sleeps 9-10 hours in Beijing and went on to say that this wasn’t her best performance.

Zhang added that she only slept a total six hours over two days before the fight, and she didn’t have time to watch the fight as of yet.

Not happy with performance

The champion also explained why she wasn’t happy with the performance in the early rounds.

She started fighting at the same pace as Joanna, and that was not something she wanted to do:

“The first two rounds, I was playing her game. Then in the third round, I found my own pace.”

Weili Zhang punches Joanna Jedrzejczyk during her split decision win to retain her strawweight title at T-Mobile Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The champion did have a lot of praise for Joanna, and claimed that she wanted to fight the Pole for a long time.

“Joanna was such a great opponent and she’s been my imaginary opponent for a long time. I was looking forward to this fight for a long time.

“Eventually we made it, and I won. I am so happy about it.”

Zhang, however, isn’t thinking of her next challenge yet. She didn’t get a break after winning the title from Jessica Andrade and now only wants a vacation to relax and enjoy her win.

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Saiyed Adeem Karim

Ditching a corporate job to follow a dream isn't easy, but when football comes calling, who can say no? Been following the beautiful game since 1998. Liverpool addict, F1 fanatic!