UFC to enshrine women’s bout in Hall of Fame ‘Fight Wing’ for first time

Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk engaged in a clash for the
ages at UFC 248. | Getty/UFC

A clash that is widely regarded as the greatest women’s fight of
all time will be headed to the
UFC Hall of Fame this summer.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Saturday that the first
meeting between Weili Zhang
and Joanna
Jedrzejczyk will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame’s “Fight
Wing” as part of a ceremony this summer. It’s the first-ever
women’s bout to enter the UFC Hall of Fame.

“The fight between Joanna
Jedrzejczyk and Weili Zhang
at UFC 248 is one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen,” said U
CEO Dana White in a release. “This fight was incredible. You had
two talented savages that wanted the strawweight title more than
anything and neither one of them backed down during this fight. I
knew this was going to be a badass fight and it absolutely
delivered. Congrats to Joanna and Weili on a fight that will always
be remembered!”

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Zhang and Jedrzejczyk squared off in the co-main event of UFC 248
on March 7, 2020 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While Zhang
battered Jedrzecjzyk with her left hook and straight right, the
Polish standout got stronger as the bout progressed, firing back
with punching combinations and kicks. Over time, Jedrzejczyk
developed a massive hematoma on her forehead that would go down as
one of the lasting images of the fight.

Over the course of the 25-minute affair, Zhang and Jedrzejczyk
combined to land 351 significant strikes — the most over in a
women’s UFC bout. Ultimately, Zhang landed the more consequential
offense, allowing her to capture a hard-fought split-decision
triumph. The matchup was selected as Sherdog.com’s “Fight of the
Year” for 2020.

Zhang and Jedrzejczyk met in a rematch at UFC 275. The result was
more emphatic for the Chinese star, as she knocked out her rival
with a spinning back fist in 2:28 into the second round.
Jedrzejczyk would ultimately retire following that defeat.