Zhang Weili of China waves after defeating Jessica Andrade of Brazil in their UFC mixed martial arts (MMA) bout in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on August 31, 2019. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Newly crowned strawweight queen, Weili Zhang, isn’t sure who her next opponent will be. But she has her own ideas of who it shouldn’t be.

The month of August was capped off by a truly monumental moment in MMA history. In Shenzhen, China, the country’s own Weili Zhang became the first fighter from her homeland to compete in a UFC title bout. And she would fully capitalize on the opportunity.

Taking on the recently crowned champion who slammed their way to the division’s throne, Jessica Andrade, Zhang would need only 42 seconds to put away the bulldozer-like Brazilian with strikes.

With things starting to shake out a bit between the division’s contenders, there look to be three top possibilities as to whom China’s finest may try and defend against first. Some of which Zhang has some thoughts on already.

“I don’t think [Joanna Jedrzejczyk] is the fighter she used to be,” Zhang told TMZ Sports. “She’s not in the condition she used to be so I’m not very interested. I want to fight the best. I think maybe Rose [Namajunas] is also a good choice.

“Definitely [Jedrzejczyk] needs me more than when I needed her. She’s struggling in the division to fight me but I don’t know whether I will give her the chance.”

So who are the most likely candidates? Let’s take a look.

3. Rose Namajunas (8-4)

As mentioned by the current champion, the champion prior to Andrade, Rose Namajunas, has piqued her interest.

From Namujanas’ loss to Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 202 in July 2016 to literally all the way up until she was hoisted into the air by Andrade at UFC 237 earlier this year, she looked borderline unstoppable.

The now 27-year old standout from season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) had grown exponentially since her promotional debut that saw her compete for the title opposite Carla Esparza in 2014. As evidenced by her three-fight winning streak against Michelle Waterson and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Namajunas is still as good as it gets at 115-pounds.

And due to her incredible success in the Andrade fight despite the loss, many believed that “Thug” shouldn’t be too far from a title shot. Some even believed she deserved an immediate rematch. For the now crowned Zhang, she obviously isn’t opposed to Namajunas getting the first stab at her either.

2. Tatiana Suarez (8-0)

Prior to this past weekend as well as even Zhang’s title bout with Andrade, many were clamoring for the undefeated dominant wrestler, Tatiana Suarez, to get the next title shot. With three of her five UFC wins coming by way of finish (two submissions, one TKO), the claims were perfectly justifiable.

Unfortunately for the TUF 23 winner, a neck injury needed some time to heal following her most recent win over Nina Ansaroff at UFC 238 in June.

Because of that, Suarez has somewhat fallen to the wayside and will very likely need to compete once more prior to her seemingly inevitable chance against the strawweight champion – whomever that may be when the time comes.

1. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-3)

As alluded to in the last entry, Jedrzejczyk jumped the line at UFC Tampa this past Saturday night.

The division’s all-time greatest fighter would go on to put on a vintage showing against her opponent in Michelle Waterson. In the end, Poland’s finest was awarded a clear cut unanimous decision victory.

The bout was her first back at strawweight after going 1-2 in bouts with Namajunas followed by Tecia Torres. Her immediate fight prior to UFC Tampa came in a flyweight title bout with Valentina Shevchenko. One that saw Shevchenko comfortably outpoint her way to victory.

Waterson had her impressive and resurgent three-fight streak snapped by the former champion and the bout was viewed as a likely top contender bout no matter who won the contest. And according to Jedrzejczyk, she wasn’t going to accept the fight unless that was the case.

With the three attempted pairings between Jedrzejczyk and Zhang earlier in the year, all of which were declined by the former due to her break time and Zhang’s lack of notoriety at the time… Things have now lined up about as good as they possibly could have for them to finally meet in the Octagon.