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.
