NEW YORK – There were no issues on the scale for Carla Esparza and Zhang Weili ahead of their UFC 281 co-headliner.
The women’s strawweight title fight between Esparza (19-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and Weili (22-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is locked in after both women made weight at Friday’s official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel in New York. Madison Square Garden hosts Saturday’s card, which airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.
Champion Esparza was the first fighter to the scale in the two-hour official window. She stepped on the scale at 114.8 pounds. Former titleholder Weili came to the scale about six minutes into the window and was 114.8, as well – though she used the screen to weigh in without clothes. Watch the video above to see Esparza and Weili make weight for UFC 281.
Esparza, No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s strawweight rankings, will attempt to make the first defense of her second title reign against No. 3 Weili, who will try to regain the belt she lost in April 2021.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.
