NEW YORK – Zhang Weili knew she was going to be champion once again.
The Chinese star reclaimed the women’s strawweight belt Saturday when she dethroned Carla Esparza in the UFC 281 co-main event. Weili (23-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) submitted Esparza (19-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) with a rear-naked choke in the second round.
Weili said the fight played out how she imagined it would.