UFC Fight Night 157 Recap

UFC Fight Night 157 Recap

By Matt Wise

Weili Zhang became the first ever Chinese UFC champion, stunning Jessica Andrade with a first round finish.

The champion Andrade came out firing and looking to engage in a brawl. Zhang timed a right hand perfectly and noticed the Brazilian was hurt. She moved in and sent Andrade to the canvas, and Leon Roberts stepped in immediately, sparking an enormous roar from the crowd, and raw emotion from the new strawweight queen.

Li Jingliang shocked Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos with a third round TKO victory.

Both fighters showed grit and determination to take leg kicks and strong punches in the early goings.

Jinliang, not best known for his ability to take a punch, absorbed a lot of pressure; particularly in round two.

He returned for round three with plenty in the tank and consistently found a home for his right hand. With only nine seconds to go, the crowd favourite secured an show-stopping finish on the feet with a relentless barrage of punches.

At flyweight, the energetic Kai Kara-France defeated Mark De La Rosa via unanimous decision.

Kara-France scored well with a series of kicking attacks, catching the eye with a mix of leg kicks and spinning attacks, as well as a wheel kick.

Kara-France defended well up against the cage, and mounted his own well-timed attack, initially looking in trouble.

The Kiwi came bounding out for round two and his right hand dropped De La Rosa, but the American showed toughness to return to his feet and fight on.

Kai Kara-France continued the barrage into round three and had his opponent cut and bruised come the decision, which went unanimously the way of the Kiwi: 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.

China’s own Song Kenan put on an emphatic third round display to see off Derrick Krantz.

The first four minutes saw little action, and much a feeling out process. The fight exploded into life in the final minute with both fighters landing clean right hooks which left a mark.

Krantz took the fight to the mat early in the second round and controlled Song for the best part of three minutes. He even threatened a standing guillotine when Song escaped, but could not create the correct angle.

The grappling exchanges left Krantz exhausted, enabling Song to land heavy shots which opened up a nasty cut. The pair were out on their feet by the bell, but it was Song who was in the ascendancy in the third round, which proved vital. The home favourite took the unanimous decision victory: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

Mizuki defeated China’s Wu Yanan via split decision to open the main card.

Wu Yanan used her superior height to keep her opponent at distance with a range of kicks.

Mizuki had her best moments when she reduced the distance and put together some boxing combinations.

The pair kept to a fast pace throughout, but the slightly fresher looking Mizuki landed more stinging shots in the third round, and the Japan native took the majority 29-28 decision.

Earlier Results:

Anthony Hernandez def. Jun Yong Park via submission (anaconda choke)

Su Mudaerji def. Andre Soukhamthath via unanimous decision

Da Un Jung def. Khadis Ibragimov via submission (guillotine choke)

Damir Ismagulov def. Thiago Moises via unanimous decision

Heili Alateng def. Anaa Batgerel via unanimous decision

Karol Rosa def. Lara Procopio via split decision