Zhang regains UFC strawweight title with 2nd-round submission of Esparza

Zhang Weili is a two-time UFC champion.

The Chinese fighter locked in a second-round rear-naked choke on Carla Esparza to regain the UFC strawweight title during Saturday's UFC 281 event at Madison Square Garden.

Widely recognized as one of the best wrestlers in the division, Esparza was expected to try and take down the explosive Zhang early in the fight and assert her strength on the ground.

However, Zhang proved to be more than a match for her American opponent. She stuffed an early takedown attempt in the second round and reversed position to open up the opportunity for the choke that ended the bout.

Zhang also showed off her grappling skills in the first round, getting the better of Esparza in a wild mid-round scramble before threatening with submission attempts. She also got the better of the early stand-up exchanges, showing off the power and speed discrepancy between the two fighters.

The 33-year-old Zhang previously earned the strawweight title with a TKO win over Jessica Andrade in 2019. She moves to 23-3 in her career with the victory over Esparza.

After losing her title to Rose Namajunas in 2021 and falling again in a rematch later that year, Zhang earned her way back to a title shot with a spinning back-fist knockout in a second fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk in June.

Esparza beat Namajunas via split decision in May to claim the title for a second time.