Prediction for the fight Valentina Shevchenko – Weili Zhang

Weili Zhang has left the strawweight division and is pursuing the flyweight title, currently held by Valentina Shevchenko. The superfight between the two champions will take place in the co-main event of UFC 322, scheduled for November 16. Will "The Bullet" be able to hold her own against the Chinese fighter?

• Valentina Shevchenko – Weili Zhang;
• Valentina Shevchenko;
• Weili Zhang;
• Comparative analysis;
• Game Totals Prediction.

Valentina Shevchenko – Weili Zhang

Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina is number one in the P4P women's rankings, and that's no surprise, as she's dominated her division for years (barring one misstep). "Bullet" holds Master of Sports and Candidate Master of Sports titles in various martial arts, including Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and grappling, but she's achieved success in MMA.

Bets on Shevchenko to win her first fight with Grasso and her bouts with Amanda Nunes didn't come through. Otherwise, she's been a consistent winner, albeit not always without nerves.

Strengths

Valentina is currently an absolute all-rounder. Her specialty is speed and timing, but "Bullet" can also surprise with powerful combos. She's also quite capable on the ground level, with options ranging from moves to Hammerfist combos.

Weaknesses

Shevchenko made defensive errors against Grasso and Santos, and age-related changes are a factor here. However, it's still difficult to pinpoint any real weaknesses that manifest themselves on a consistent basis.

The current form and readiness of the fighter

The athlete is already 37 years old, but she's active and ready for big challenges. For years, Valentina has delighted us with her incredible form, and we wouldn't question it now, especially with ample rest between fights. But she'd be better off avoiding her past shortcomings now.

Weili Zhang

The former queen of the "straw" is ranked No. 2 in the P4P rankings. Weili has also excelled in a number of martial arts, including boxing and kung fu, so she'll have plenty of ammunition to counter "The Bullet." Zhang is a former champion in Kunlun Fight and has already won two UFC belts.

Weili has five straight victories under her belt; only Namajunas has managed to defeat her in the major league. This is a case of someone who, despite her physical limitations, achieves unprecedented heights.

Strengths

Everything that has already been said about Shevchenko can be said about Zhang. She has the same extensive arsenal of techniques, endurance, speed, and power. However, in terms of physical strength, the Chinese fighter will likely be ahead, as she is very athletic.

Weaknesses

Unlike her opponent, Magnum is more prone to risk, preferring to operate at medium-to-close range, which is why she takes more damage. And, again, let's return to her height and reach—it's a significant disadvantage at this level.

The current form and readiness of the fighter

Weili, 36, is also an old woman, and it will be interesting to see how she approaches the fight with an extra 5 kg that she doesn't need to lose before the weigh-in. Otherwise, everything is identical, as the former champion has always been disciplined and performs with class. So, we expect new achievements from her.

Comparative analysis

While the height difference between the two women is small, Shevchenko's reach is about 7.5-8 cm. There's no doubt that Zhang's advances will be met with solid front kicks, as Valentina has no reason to engage her at all. She'll work in her standard fashion, charging into striking range with series of punches and then retreating. What will Weili say about this? She'll likely try to pressure and dictate her tempo; after all, she's experienced in tough fights, so initial damage won't faze her.

Next, we might see Zhang clinch and attempt to take Shevchenko down, securing her standing position and fighting like Tayla Santos. The Chinese fighter certainly has the resources for this. Will it work? Even if not, she has excellent kickboxing, which will help create a competitive, albeit difficult, match.

To sum it up, yes, Valya is bigger, but dealing with such a stocky and assertive opponent will be challenging. I see a close fight that will drag on, and after the halfway point, the one with the best breathing and defensive skills will prevail. At the very least, taking Zhang down on the ground is a difficult task, and that will inevitably lead to a tight stand-up brawl.

Valentina Shevchenko – Weili Zhang Prediction

Both have had a lot of decisions in their recent fights, which gives us reason to predict a drawn-out fight, but with a possible finish in the later rounds. The women rarely make mistakes and are strong defensively, so it will take a lot of time to figure things out.

As for the more likely winner, there's a point to consider regarding Zhang's division change. She could gain so much strength that it'll be a real challenge, but she could also run out of steam faster. Therefore, we're betting on the total number of rounds, and also taking the much riskier outcome of a Shevchenko victory by decision. Download 1xbet to your phone and place a bet on the favorite!

Prediction: Over 3.5 rounds/Shevchenko wins by decision