‘Why is Rose Namajunas fighting Weili Zhang?’ That is the question on Chael Sonnen‘s lips as he says the Chinese fighter has done nothing to earn a rematch with the champion.
He devoted an entire YouTube video to the subject stating that,
“There is nothing from a historical standpoint that warrants a rematch between Rose and Weili, nothing! That was not a competitive fight, that was not a controversial fight, that was a one sided ass whipping!”
There were a few eyebrows raised when Carla Esparza was overlooked for the title shot. Matchmakers decided to hand Zhang a rematch with the champion at UFC 268 instead.
Speaking up
Sonner thinks the strawweight contenders have paid the price for not being outspoken enough,
“I blame the 115lbers. I have not see the 115lbers speak up. I never read a headline where a 115lber called out Rose. I never saw that happen and I do blame them. That is a mistake.”
He acknowledges that bookmakers see this as a close contest despite Namajunas winning the first fight so soundly,
“If you go and look at the odds you are going to be stunned by how close they are. Rose was the underdog going into the first fight, she’s now the favourite but it’s tight.”
Social media star
But Sonnen gives Zhang credit for relocating to the US to train with Henry Cejudo and then pumping out content on social media so everyone can keep up to date with her preparation. While he doesn’t understand the decision to give the Chinese fighter an immediate rematch the UFC veteran believes it has been vindicated.
Of course we won’t really find out whether or not Zhang deserved the rematch until this weekend. If she beats Namajunas at Madison Square Garden then n0-one will be able to question the matchmaking.
