UFC 261: Rose Namajunas wins strawweight title with incredible first round knockout of Zhang Weili

Brendan Bradford

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UFC 261: Rose Namajunas wins strawweight title with incredible first round knockout of Zhang Weili image

"She's upset, but she was out." 

That was Joe Rogan's summation of 'Thug' Rose Namajunas' stunning first round knockout win over Zhang Weili for the strawweight title at UFC 261 

Namajunas landed a beautiful left kick to Weili's chin 75 seconds into the bout. 

The champion dropped to the mat and Namajunas finished her off with ground and pound. 

Still stunned after the stoppage, Weili stumbled sideways after getting back to her feet. 

Furious at the stoppage, she remonstrated with her corner and pushed referee Keith Petersen away.


Speaking afterwards, Weili maintained she felt she was good to keep fighting. 

"She said she's still conscious." Weili said through and interpreter. 

"The referee stopped it a little bit early."

Namajunas, who becomes the first two-time strawweight UFC champion, said she felt the stoppage was justified. 

The American first won the 115-pound title with a first round knockout win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2017. She defended the title in a rematch but relinquished the title in a shock defeat to Jessica Andrade courtesy of a knockout slam. 

Andrade's title reign only lasted three months before she was stopped inside one round by Weili, who defended the belt in a Fight of the Year against Jedrzejczyk in 2020. 

 

Brendan Bradford