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.