Claudio Puelles via TKO (Body kick) at 4:06 of R2 Frankie Edgar via KO (Knee) at 2:01 of R1ĭan Hooker def. Michael Chandler via Submission (Rear-naked choke) at 2:00 of R3Ĭhris Gutiérrez def. Carla Esparza via Submission (Rear-naked choke) at 1:05 of R2ĭustin Poirier def. Unfortunately for the Korean he was on the losing end, with the American putting him away towards the end of an action packed opening round. Michael Trizano (10-3) and Choi Seung-Woo (10-6) put on a barnburner and will have to be in contention when the performance bonuses are announced.

Official #UFC281 Result: Zhang Weili ( defeats Carla Esparza by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:05 of Round 2 Esparza drops to 19-7 after losing the UFC strawweight title in her first defence for the second time. With the win Zhang recaptures the strawweight title and improves to 23-3. The only consolation for Esparza was that, unlike her last fight, this affair produced plenty of action. The tap came at the 1:05 mark with Zhang scoring the first submission win of her UFC career. Zhang had her back albeit from a crucifix position and with no hooks in but the challenger was able to sink her forearm under the chin and clash her arms together for the choke. GIVE HER THE BELT BACK 🏆 recaptures gold at #UFC281!! /su4ioC7DIPīut it was a move that backfired badly for Esparza. The Chinese fighter scored with a body kick at the start of the second stanza and her opponent immediately shot for a double leg. A scramble ensued and the champion found herself in guard but couldn’t do any damage from top position.Įsparza caught another kick towards the end of the round but ended up on her back with Zhang in side control and throwing hard elbows. A body kick found its target and a head kick narrowly missed.Įsparza was continuously circling to her left and succeeded in catching another high kick and taking Zhang down but it was the challenger who benefitted, taking her opponent’s back. The Chinese fighter controlled the action from start to finish in the UFC 281 co-headliner.īoth fighters made a tentative start with Esparza backtracking and Zhang applying pressure without getting close enough to land any strikes. Weili Zhang recaptured the strawweight title with a submission win over Carla Esparza at UFC 281.

Weili vs esparza