Who won Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas 2?

Rose Namajunas won her rematch with Zhang Weili at UFC 268 in a close bout. Unlike their first meeting at UFC 261, when 'Thug' Rose Namajunas knocked her out and claimed her second title, 'Magnum' had a better showing in the rematch.

The bout was razor thin, with Namajunas edging out a split-decision win over Zhang. Both fighters threw a combined 491 strikes in the fight, out of which 341 were considered significant.

Watch Namajunas' post-fight interview below:

Namajunas had a higher significant strike rate, although Zhang threw a higher volume in terms of the total number of strikes. Namajunas had a higher striking percentage at 51%, landing 86 out of her 168 significant strikes. Zhang's striking percentage in the fight was 47%, landing 83 out of 173 significant strikes.

Namajunas had a 100% takedown success rate, landing two out of two takedowns. She had a ground control time of 7:00 minutes. Zhang had a takedown success rate of 45%, landing five out of 11 attempted takedowns with a total ground control time of 3:37 minutes.

Watch Zhang's octagon interview below:

Zhang had more success on the feet, landing 64 out of her 138 significant strikes. She landed five out of eight strikes in the clinch and 14 out of 27 attempted ground strikes. Namajunas landed 60 out of 136 strikes on the feet, six out of six clinch strikes, and 20 out of 26 ground strikes.

Judges Eric Colón and Douglas Crosby scored the bout in favor of Namajunas, with a 49-46 and 48-47 score, respectively. Judge Mike Bell scored the contest in favor of Zhang Weili with a 48-47 score.

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Will Zhang Weili reclaim gold at UFC 281?

Zhang Weili is the betting favorite going into her bout with strawweight champion Carla Esparza. Given the Oddschecker odds, Zhang is a -340 favorite, while champion Carla Esparza is a +300 underdog going into the fight.

Carla Esparza had a dominant run to the title, beating the likes of Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez and eventually beating then-champion Namajunas in a "non-event" of a fight at UFC 274. She is on a six-fight win streak going into the fight with Zhang.

Zhang Weili has incredible power in her strikes, with fast combinations and precise striking. She claimed the title at UFC Fight Night 157 by knocking out Jéssica Andrade and defended it successfully against Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 248 in what was 2020's Fight of the Year.

Watch highlights of 'Magnum' below:

Zhang has two wins over Joanna Jędrzejczyk, the woman who dethroned the current strawweight champion. In Zhang's second meeting with the polish former strawweight queen at UFC 275, she knocked her out in the second round with a spinning back elbow.