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Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili Preview & Picks – Zhang To Become Two-Time Champ at UFC 281

leigh-copson
09 Nov 2022
leigh-copson
Leigh Copson 09 Nov 2022
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  • Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili picks for Saturday, November 12
  • UFC 281 is taking place at Madison Square Garden in New York
  • Preview, predictions and head to head stats
Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili UFC 281 Preview & Picks
    Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili Preview & Picks
  • Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili Preview & Picks
  • Carla Esparza Form
  • Zhang Weili Form
  • Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili FAQs

Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili Preview & Picks

Zhang Weili is tipped to become a two-time strawweight champion.

Not only does Zhang throw and land more significant strikes, she also boasts a big edge in power.

She is backed to walk through whatever Carla Esparza throws at her and knock her out.

  • 11 of Zhang Weili’s career wins have come by KO/TKO
  • Carla Esparza has been knocked out 2 times in her career
  • Weili lands 5.78 significant strikes per minute (Esparza 2.2)
  • Weili lands 47% of her significant strikes (Esparza 40%)

Carla Esparza Form

Carla Esparza is riding a six-fight win streak into her first defence of the UFC strawweight title.

Esparza’s career stalled in 2018 when she suffered back-to-back losses to Claudia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez.

She rebounded with a decision win against Virna Jandriba though, and then won three close decisions to extend her win streak to four fights.

Esparza beat Alexa Grasso by majority decision before edging both Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez by split decision.

The 35-year-old American then left no doubt in her next fight, knocking out Yan Xiaonan in the second round to land a shot at the strawweight title.

She took her big chance too, claiming a split decision win over Rose Namajunas back in May.

That victory took her record to 19-6, with four wins coming by KO/TKO and four by submission.

Zhang Weili Form

Zhang Weili is bidding to become a two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion at UFC 281.

She won the title for the first time back in August 2019, knockout out Jessica Andrade in just 42 seconds in her native China.

‘Magnum’ then enjoyed a first successful defence of the title by beating Joanna Jedrzejcyk by split decision.

However, that proved to be her only successful defence of her strawweight crown.

In her next outing Weili was knocked out in just 78 seconds by Rose Namajunas to lose the title.

And while she did manage to go the distance with Namajunas in the rematch later that year, it proved to be another disappointing night for the Chinese fighter as she lost by split decision.

She did rebound earlier this year though, knocking out Jedrzejcyk in the second round of their rematch, taking her record to 22-3, with 11 KO/TKO wins and seven submission wins.

Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili FAQs

Where can I watch the Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili live stream?

You can watch the Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili stream by using ExpressVPN.

Where is Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili taking place?

Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili is taking place at UFC 281 on Saturday, November 12 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Verdict

Zhang Weili is a wrecking ball with the edge in output and power.

She is backed to overwhelm Carla Esparza to regain the UFC women’s strawweight crown.

Best Bet: Zhang by KO//TKO or DQ Method Of Victory @132.00 at Stake.com - 4 Units
Value Bet: Under 4.5 Total Rounds @-109.89 at Stake.com - 2 Units
Zhang by KO//TKO or DQ
Method Of Victory
@132.00 - 4 Units
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Bet at Stake.com
Under 4.5
Total Rounds
@-109.89 - 2 Units
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

Bet at Stake.com