China's Zhang Weili defended her UFC strawweight championship in a brutal fight to win a split decision over Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland at UFC 248.
Zhang (21-1) and Jedrzejczyk (16-4) traded punches and kicks throughout five furious rounds, badly damaging each other's faces.
After the last of several standing ovations from the Las Vegas crowd, Zhang won the fight 48-47 on two judges' scorecards, while Jedrzejczyk won 48-47 on the third.
"I had a long way to get here,'' said the 30-year-old Zhang, who moved her training camp out of China due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Zhang's superior punching power appeared to make the difference early and Jedrzejczyk's face showed it.
But the 32-year-old Pole recovered late in the second round and had an outstanding third, switching to southpaw. Jedrzejczyk's eyes swelled badly in the fifth, while Zhang bled from facial cuts.
The pre-fight buildup was marked by animosity between the two fighters.
Zhang Weili takes a punch from Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The pre-fight animosity between the two carried into the brutal title clash in Las Vegas. AFP
