Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili — Fight recap

Rose Namajunas won a split decision over Zhang Weili in a five-round strawweight title rematch on November 6, 2021, reclaiming her throne in a closely contested bout. Namajunas landed 86 of 168 significant strikes (51%) while controlling the cage for 7:00 total, converting both of her takedown attempts with perfect efficiency.

Zhang countered with 83 of 173 significant strikes (47%) and demonstrated superior takedown volume with 5 of 11 attempts, though she managed only 3:37 of control time. The fight hinged on wrestling and positional control rather than striking volume, as Namajunas' perfect takedown conversion and cage dominance proved decisive despite Zhang's slight edge in leg strikes (33 to 17).

The split decision underscored how razor-thin the margin was between the two elite 115-pound competitors, setting the stage for potential trilogy talks while confirming Namajunas as the division's top threat.