Weili Zhang Vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk Targeted For UFC 248 In 2020

According to a report by MMA Fighting, UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang will make her first title defense in early 2020.

Zhang, coming off a first round knockout victory over Jessica Andrade to claim the belt, is expected to face Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248. While no location for the event has been confirmed, it is scheduled to take place March 7.

The first-ever Chinese-born UFC champion, Zhang won the belt in her home country of China. The 30-year-old picked up three wins in her first three UFC bouts to earn the shot at Andrade.

In her UFC debut, Zhang scored a decision over Danielle Taylor. She claimed her 18th career win with a first round submission of Jessica Aguilar before earning a decision vs. Tecia Torrest his past March.

That quick run of victories propelled Zhang up the list of contenders, and she took advantage. In the main event of UFC Fight Night from Shenzhen, Zhang knocked out Andrade with a series of knees and strikes, improving to 20-1.

Weili Zhang Scores UFC Title, Knockout Over Jessica Andrade

Now, Zhang will get to face the former queen of the UFC strawweight division in Jedrzejczyk. The 32-year-old defended the belt five consecutive times before losing to Rose Namajunas in 2017.

Jedrzejczyk won her first 14 career fights, including a decision over Andrade in her final title defense. After back-to-back defeats to Namajunas, she topped Tecia Torres.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk On Her Victory Over Tecia Torres

In 2018, Jedrzejczyk faced Valentina Shevchenko for the vacant UFC flyweight title, losing via decision. She dropped back down to strawweight this past October and bested Michelle Waterson.

As long as the paper work for the bout is complete, this will mark the third UFC title fight signed for the first few months of 2020. Jon Jones is set to defend his light heavyweight championship against Dominick Reyes, with Shevchenko doing the same against Katlyn Chookagian in the flyweight division.