Valentina Shevchenko opens up on chances of Rose Namajunas defeating Zhang Weili

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4 years ago

UFC flyweight fighter Valentina Shevchenko during the UFC 247 ceremonial weigh-in. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

UFC Women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has weighed-in on the upcoming women’s strawweight title bout between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas.

Valentina Shevchenko will be defending her flyweight title against Jessica Andrade at UFC 261, the same night Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas square off. She will be looking forward to keeping her ‘title-defense’ streak going against the resilient Andrade.

Valentina Shevchenko looks during Q&A session of Fan Experience at UFC Performance Institute on June 21, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Yifan Ding/Getty Images)

‘Bullet Valentina’s’ near equivalent fighter in the strawweight division is Zhang Weili. Like Valentina she has hardly been tested in her professional career. With a record of 21-1, she has 5 wins in the UFC and will be welcoming former strawweight champion ‘Thug Rose’.

Rose Namajunas celebrates a win in the UFC (Image credit: Getty)

In a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Phil Murphy, Valentina was asked about her opinion on Zhang Weili and the subsequent title fight.

Stating that it was just her opinion, Valentina said:

“I think in her fight with Joanna (Jędrzejczyk at UFC 248), that Joanna really better.”

The women’s flyweight champion then gave her thoughts on her ‘friend’ Rose Namajunas and her chances of beating Zhang Weili.

Speaking of which she said:

“Knowing Rose – she is my friend, and if she is gonna be in the same physical condition, mental condition, as to how I’ve known her, she has all chances to beat Weili. It is nothing personal, I am just saying my opinion.”

Jessica Andrade aims to finish Valentina Shevchenko in the third roung

Jessica Andrade of Brazil reacts as she competes against Zhang Weili (L) of China (not pictured) in their UFC mixed martial arts (MMA) bout in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on August 31, 2019. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT (Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Jessica Andrade is coming off a win against Katlyn Chookagian in October, last year. Prior to that she had lost to Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas! Coincidence much?

She will be going into the Valentina fight as the clear underdog(+300), and despite that she believes she can finish the high-flying Kyrgyzstani who is riding a massive 6 match win-streak.

In a recent interview with South China Morning Post, The Brazilian said:

“My first objective is going to be to tire her a little bit against the cage, ultimately take her down which I’ve proven I can do very well. And who knows, maybe in the third round when she’s a little bit more tired, get the KO, get the submission, finish the fight.”