A strawweight title fight between Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk is your UFC co-main event.

Zhang has been nothing short of a phenom since joining the promotion in August 2018, winning the 115-pound title in just four fights.

Jedrzejczyk is the former dominant champion on a mission to recapture her title. Having suffered a bit of a skid in her recent career, the Polish star will be looking to right the wrongs that have seen her go from unbeaten, dominant champ to dealing with three losses in five fights.

If you are betting on Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, I have everything you need to know about this fight below.

The action takes place on Saturday, March 7, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be the fight to watch before a potential classic in Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero’s middleweight title bout.

So, Zhang or Jedrzejczyk? Who have you got?

Who Wins – Zhang orJedrzejczyk?

Joanna Jedrzejczyk by Decision

Yes, I am backing Joanna Jedrzejczyk to win this fight.

I know this might come as a surprise to some of you, given how incredible Zhang has looked in her UFC career so far. She is defending her UFC strawweight championship for the first time against a fighter that is 2-3 in her last five fights.

Now, I have my reasons for backing Jedrzejczyk. And you can count on me breaking them down for you a little later.

But first, let’s check out the latest Zhang vs. Jedrzejczyk odds, courtesy of MyBookie.

Latest Zhang vs. Jedrzejczyk Odds

Weili Zhang to Win -179 Joanna Jedrzejczyk to Win +149

As you can see from the odds above, Zhang comes in as the -179 favorite to win this intriguing strawweight encounter.

The Chinese superstar is seen as one of the most fearsome fighters in women’s MMA and has all the attributes required to go very far in the sport. She hasn’t lost a fight since her pro debut in November 2013 and has compiled a record of 20-1 in the sport since then.

Jedrzejczyk is, of course, the former strawweight champion who set a record for the most defenses of this title (5).

Although the Pole’s one-time dominance took a massive dip following losses to Rose Namajunas (twice) and Valentina Shevchenko, at flyweight, it seems that she has regained her confidence and is threatening a return to her best form.

Can she do it or not? What bets would you think about placing on Zhang vs. Jedrzejczyk?

Here are a few to get you started.

Best Zhang vs. Jedrzejczyk Bets

Let it be known that Jedrzejczyk’s record of 2-3 is not as bad as it looks on paper.

Her last loss came against Valentina Shevchenko at flyweight, which is a weight class above her usual domain. And there is also the little fact of Shevchenko arguably being the second-best female mixed martial artist on earth behind Amanda Nunes.

Still, it would be foolish not to consider this fight as one that both of these competitors have a big chance of winning.

Let’s take a look at those bets.

Jedrzejczyk to Win

At odds of +149 with MyBookie, simply backing Jedrzejczyk to win this fight is decent value.

The former champ has only ever lost to one fighter in this division (Namajunas), and there was an argument for her winning the rematch.

An accomplished striker, Jedrzejczyk put this division on the map over the course of a dominant two-year period that saw her beat the very best that came her way.

Of course, with dominance comes complacency, and while you can’t take anything away from Namajunas’ incredible first victory over Jedrzejczyk in November 2017, Jedrzejczyk might have been too cocky and arrogant on that night.

Jedrzejczyk to Win by Decision

Some will point to Jedrzejczyk’s failure to stop an opponent since blasting Jessica Penne away in June 2015.

But she has never been known as a knockout artist.

Instead, Jedrzejczyk is a more measured fighter that systematically breaks down her opponents, taking rounds with efficient offensive and defensive prowess.

While the odds on markets like Jedrzejczyk winning by decision have yet to be released, this could be one to keep an eye out for.

Zhang to Win by KO/TKO

Now, if I am wrong about Jedrzejczyk winning this fight, the only other scenario I see is Zhang getting to her and ending this one inside the distance.

Zhang has knockout power and has earned ten of her twenty wins by stoppage.

Jedrzejczyk has only ever lost by stoppage once in her career, against Namajunas, but the champ and her coaching team will have certainly considered the methods of how to make that twice.

I’m sure the odds of Zhang winning by KO/TKO will be much better than taking the moneyline.

Why Jedrzejczyk Beats Zhang

Well, I told you earlier that I was backing Jedrzejczyk to beat Zhang, and now I am going to tell you why.

Firstly, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is an exceptional fighter. Her accomplishments in Muay Thai prior to moving into MMA provided her with an awesome striking base, and she has evolved very well over the course of her eight-year pro MMA career.

Jedrzejczyk is an accurate volume striker with a big engine, which is a scary prospect when coupled with her long frame. At 5’6″ and with a reach of 65.5″, she holds a two-inch height and 2.5″ reach advantage over Zhang.

Hanging behind an elite jab, Jedrzejczyk uses her superior distance management and footwork to push opponents back into the cage. From here, she can tee off and cause damage.

I like Jedrzejczyk’s head movement, feints, and general defensive assuredness and offensive capabilities. She will land on Zhang a lot, and it will be interesting to see how the Chinese star deals with this.

Jedrzejczyk’s Low Kicks and the Coronavirus

With one of the most impressive Muay Thai bases in MMA, Jedrzejczyk knows just how important it is to land those leg kicks.

A fighter’s movement and mobility can be severely affected by constant, slamming kicks to the lower leg and inside leg regions, which makes things so difficult. Not just on the way in, of course, but by completely zapping their movement from them.

For a fit fighter, this could be a huge problem. For a fighter that has had a severely disjointed training camp, this could be a huge problem.

One of the most interesting things I came across when following this fight recently was how Zhang’s camp was severely disrupted by the coronavirus.

Not only did Zhang have to leave China on the first weekend of February, but she also became unsettled in her new training camp in Thailand. Zhang also complained about the heat and humidity while in the new camp and how training was “uncomfortable.”

As fate would have it, Zhang was forced to leave Thailand after a week following the spread of the virus in that region.

This is an issue that could give the challenger the advantage here.

The Culmination of All Other Factors

Jedrzejczyk knows all about pacing herself in a title fight. She has been involved in seven five-rounders, while Zhang has only ever gone three rounds. On three occasions.

Now, what makes matters worse is that Zhang has not had the training camp she would have wanted. Her entire strategy will have been affected by this, but there is a chance that her engine will not be what it could have been if her preparations had gone according to plan.

To make matters worse, she will be fighting for just the third time in the United States.

Add on the pressure of defending her title for the first time against a champ that has been there and seen it all, and you have a cluster of factors that just work against her.

And that is before you even consider her height and reach disadvantages, as well as how she matches up technically.

Zhang is a great fighter with a bright future. If she can overcome all of these factors and win the fight, she deserves one hell of a welcome home party in China.

But in my opinion, this title is going home with Jedrzejczyk.

Final Thoughts on This Fight

You have to feel for Weili Zhang, given the huge misfortune she has suffered in her preparations for her first title defense on March 7.

But champions are made of greater stock, and if she can win this fight, all things considered, I don’t think anyone can beat her.

The top UFC betting sites still have her as the favorite to triumph over Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but it remains to be seen if they have got it right.

I don’t think they have.