The UFC is aiming for a second female title fight for its pay-per-view event in April. Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas for the strawweight title is underway for UFC 261 on April 24, sources told ESPN on Friday.
While the fight is not over yet, April 24 is the date of the promotion and the two fighters are aiming for it. The hope is that the fight will end in the next few days, according to several sources.
Earlier this week, ESPN reported that Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade for the female flyweight title was also reserved for that card.
The UFC has been working to hold this event in Singapore, according to sources. However, sources now say it looks like it will happen in Las Vegas. These plans have also not been finalized.
The fight would be Zhang’s first in more than a year. She fought for the last time in March 2020, when she defeated Joanna Jędrzejczyk (21-1) by split decision in a fight that was the 2020 MMA consensus of the year.
Namajunas (9-4), a former strawweight champion, comes from a split decision victory over Andrade in July.