Zhang keeps title in brutal win over Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248

Zhang Weili defended her UFC strawweight championship with a spectacularly brutal split-decision victory over former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 on Saturday night.

Zhang (21-1) and Jedrzejczyk (16-4) tred brutal punches and kicks throughout five technically fascinating rounds, bly damaging each or's faces. After last of several standing ovations from Las Vegas crowd, Zhang won fight 48-47 on two judges' cards, while Jedrzejczyk won 48-47 on third.

Middleweight champion Israel esanya fought Yoel Romero in main event at T-Mobile Arena in UFC's hometown after Zhang and Jedrzejczyk put on one of most viscerally entertaining bouts in recent UFC history.

Both fighters tred insults throughout promotion of card, and bout was uncommonly brutal from opening round as fighters tred big punches to face. Zhang's superior punching power appeared to make difference early.

But Jedrzejczyk gared herself late in second round and h an outstanding third, switching to a southpaw stance and battering Zhang. fourth round was more of same brute punishment for both fighters.

Jedrzejczyk's forehe and eyes began to swell bly in fifth round, while Zhang bled from cuts on her face. fighters embraced in c afterward.

“She did great," Jedrzejczyk said. “We both put on one hell of a performance. I'm proud of myself and my team.”

Zhang became UFC's first Chinese champion last year, and she is a key to promotion's hopes of growing in world's most populous nation. personable brawler jumped at chance to take on Jedrzejczyk, who defended strawweight belt five times.

Jedrzejczyk was UFC's strawweight champion from March 2015 until vember 2017, when she took first of two straight losses to Rose Namajunas. After a failed attempt to move up to bantamweight, she returned to 115 pounds and quickly earned ar title shot.

Before title fights, lightweight Beneil Dariush kcked out Drakkar Klose in second round with one perfect left hand at end of a spectacular back-and-forth sequence. Dariush (18-4-1) was staggered by Klose before he responded by stalking Klose across canvas and landing left hand that dislodged Klose's mouthpiece and rendered him unconscious on his feet.

On preliminary card, elite bantamweight prospect Sugar Sean O'Malley went to 11-0 with a dramatic first-round stopp of José Alberto Quiñónez. bout was O'Malley's first since March 2018, thanks to injuries and multiple positive doping tests.