The card for UFC 248 has been announced, and as many predicted, it hasn’t disappointed. A stacked line up, headlined by Israel Adesanya’s first title defence against Yoel Romero. Not to be outdone, they’re supported by a long-awaited title defence for China’s Zhang Weili against former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Fresh from a spectacular 2019 campaign, Adesanya will take on his first fight in Las Vegas this March, to defend his middleweight title against Yoel Romero.
Adesanya claimed the belt from Australian, Robert Whittaker, in a stunning display at UFC 243 in Melbourne disappointing the home crowd.
Romero will join an exclusive group of fighters to challenge for a championship following consecutive losses, coming from 1-3 in the past four fights each of those having come down to the wire.
This has led to the Auckland based fighters vocalising his opinions about the fight, referring to accepting the fight as his ‘charity’.
“Me, I asked for the ‘Boogeyman’ of the division, the guy no one wanted to fight, Yoel Romero, I wanted him. But like I said, I’m a charitable guy.”
In the co-headline, coming off a win over Jessica Andrade to claim the belt in August 2019, Weili was granted just three fights into her UFC career before being granted a title shot in her home country of China. Making the most of her opportunity, she stunned the UFC world with a first-round knock out against the Brazilian to claim the title and become the first Chinese champion in UFC history.
Jedrzejczyk is coming off a two-win streak in the strawweight division, with her only loss coming from a flyweight title bout against reigning champion, Valentina Shevchenko in December 2018. Her most recent victory, a win over Michelle Waterson in October last year. Jedrzejczyk appears to be the number one contender in the division, with many saying she should have had the opportunity for the title fight against over Andrade instead of Weili.
She’ll get her chance to reclaim it now after previously holding and defending the belt on five different occasions.
On the upcoming fight, Joanna has this to say, ‘I’m very proud of myself, how I showed up in my last fight with Michelle Waterson. I think I sent a strong message to the strawweight division; good striking, good wrestling, everything is on point.’
Weili has been pondering this match up for a long time, ‘I have known Joanna for a very long time, even before I was in the UFC. I have been preparing for her, and for this fight, for a long time. I know how she moves and how she fights. I always knew that one day we would meet inside the Octagon. I am preparing everything. I am ready.”
Rounding out the card is Alex Oliveira up against Max Griffin, Rodolfo Vieira against Saparbek Safarov and Neil Magny facing off against Li Jungliang.
Main Card showing live from 2pm VIC, NSW, ACT, TAS | 1pm QLD | 1:30pm SA | 11:30am NT | 11am WA (undercard will show earlier).
Watch here, live and free at your local.
MAIN CARD
Middleweight Title Bout
Israel Adesanya vs Yoel Romero
Women’s Strawweight Title Bout
Zhang Weili vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk
UNDERCARD
Welterweight Bout
Alex Oliveira vs Max Griffin
Middleweight Bout
Rodolfo Viera vs Saparbek Safarov
Welterweight Bout
Neil Magny vs Li Jingliang
Women’s Strawweight Bout
Emily Whitmire vs Polyana Viana
Bantamweight Bout
Danaa Batgerel vs Guido Cannetti