LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 11: In this handout image provided by UFC, Mackenzie Dern poses on the scale during the UFC 256 weigh-in at UFC APEX on December 11, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Number 5 ranked women’s strawweight Mackenzie Dern has given her prediction for the upcoming strawweight title bout between Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili.
‘Thug Rose’ will be looking forward to playing spoilsport to Zhang Weili’s plans as the latter returns to the octagon after ‘that war’ at UFC 248. The pair will be facing off in the co-main event of UFC 261, headlined by Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal.
Namajunas last fought Jessica Andrade at UFC 251, in a closely contested fight. However, she exacted revenge for her first ever KO loss at the hands of Andrade at UFC 237; winning via. split decision.
Zhang Weili, on the other hand, is coming off ‘that’ bloodbath battle against Joanna Jędrzejczyk in March, last year at UFC 248. Going into her second strawweight defense, Zhang Weili was tested to her limits by a defiant Joanna, but emerged trumps via. a narrow split decision victory.
In a recent episode of the Schmozone Podcast, Mackenzie Dern was asked to give her prediction for the Rose Namajunas-Zhang Weili bout.
The up and coming women’s strawweight believed that the Chinese will end up keeping the belt longer, while also claiming that Thug Rose had the necessary know-how to upset the women’s strawweight champion.
“I think Zhang Weili should keep the title. But, I think if anyone can do it, it’s Rose…Rose has some crazy submission game. She has those long legs, she does flying armbars and things like that. I really believe that in my mind, if anyone strategically can beat Zhang Weili, it is Rose…I think Rose can do it. But, I think Zhang Weili will end up keeping the belt a little longer.”
Namajunas recently revealed that she will be having added motivation ahead of her fight with Zhang Weili.
While maintaining that there was nothing personal against the Chinese, Thug Rose divulged that her Lithuanian roots and the American dream will be an added motivation in her title bout.
The number one ranked women’s strawweight said:
“It’s nothing personal against her…I fight for freedom and I’ve got the Christ consciousness, I’ve got Lithuanian blood and I’ve got the American dream and all of those things I’m taking with me into this fight.” [via MMA Fighting]
This was an exclusive interview from The Schmozone Podcast. For more exclusive interviews and content please follow the link.
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