Opinion: Ten Best Fights of UFC 281

Carla Esparza, UFC 274 Post-Fight Scrum
Carla Esparza, UFC 274 Post-Fight Scrum. Credit: Eddie Law/Cageside Press
  1. Carla Esparza vs Weili Zhang – 6/10

The title fight between Esparza and Zhang falls to this spot on the list for a few reasons.

First, the elephant in the room is Esparza’s last fight vs Rose Namajunas. The fault is absolutely not hers alone for the stinker that fans were treated to at UFC 274, but she shares some of it. Second, Weili is a prohibitive favorite both with the betting community and the wider fanbase, and it is easy to see why: She is a solid wrestler, an athletic beast, and a monster of a striker.

If Carla wins it will likely be on the back of her wrestling, but if Weili wins it could be brutal for her opponent.

Esparza’s Best Fight: vs Alexa Grasso

Weili’s Best Fight: vs Joanna Jędrzejczyk 1