Champion Zhang Weili Leads China's Next Generation

This Saturday’s UFC 261 event in Jacksonville will be the first in front of a full-capacity crowd since UFC 248 last March. It’s more of a coincidence that Zhang Weili was featured on both of those cards—the strawweight champion might have fought sooner if circumstances had permitted—but she’s not the least bit unhappy that she managed to duck the pandemic-induced, crowd-free events of the last year.

“I love the connection and chemistry between myself and the fans,” she explains via interpreter. “I love to fight when a lot of people are watching. I’m really excited right now.”

We’re excited, too. Without hyperbole, her last outing vs Joanna Joanna J\u0119drzejczyk was one of the great martial…