Finishing the Fight: UFC 261

Weili Zhang, UFC 261 ceremonial weigh-in
Weili Zhang, UFC 261 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press

Every fighter has their go-to moves, especially specialists within certain martial arts disciplines. Their own signature styles can lead to spectacular finishes. Whether it’s a scary-good rear-naked choke that fighters just can’t seem to avoid once going to the ground or crazy power in a straight left hand that has dropped even granite-chinned fighters with ease, each fighter has a particular finishing move or sequence. Moves that have stuck in fan’s minds and come to define and describe their careers within the cage.

For UFC 261 we will take a look at some fighters with only a few (5 or less) fights in the UFC, rather than those fighters that are long-time UFC veterans with a bunch of finishes with the promotion.

 

Weili “Magnum” Zhang (21-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC)

Total Number of Pro MMA Finishes: 17

Via KO/TKO: 10

Via Submission: 7

Total Number of UFC Finishes: 2

Via KO/TKO: 1

(Jessica Andrade)

Via Submission: 2

(Jessica Aguilar)

Zhang Weili will be competing in her sixth UFC fight at UFC 261. Zhang sports some of the most vicious striking in the UFC, man or woman. Weili not only has speed, but accuracy and power. Zhang also has multiple submission wins on her record including her second UFC fight in 2019 against Jessica Aguilar.

Zhang’s most impressive finish was undoubtedly her stoppage of Jessica Andrade to win the strawweight belt. Weili absolutely waltz through the former champion and bullied her around in the clinch landing some of the most vicious knees and elbows that can be thrown in her 42 second mauling of the Brazilian to capture the belt.

And who could forget Weili’s ‘Fight of the Year’ against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her last fight which was undoubtedly the best women’s fight of all time? Amazing display of striking by both women and Zhang will be looking to add on to that performance and defend her belt once again against Rose Namajunas at UFC 261.