08 March 2020

UFC's Zhang Weili retains strawweight title in epic battle with Joanna Jedrzejczyk who ends up in hospital

UFC fighter Joanna Jedrzejczyk was left hospitilsed after suffering a head injury in her defeat to Zhang Weili in the UFC 248.

Weili retained the strawweight division title by split decision although she also had to go to hospital after the fight.

Commentators are calling the bout the greatest UFC fight between female athletes ever.

Jedrzejczyk had to go to hospital after the fight (PA Images)

Jedrzejczky started strongly in the first three rounds as she looked to take back the title she had won four times previously but Weili started to strike back.

Weili landed a kick to Jedrzejczyk's forehead in one of the early rounds and by the fourth it had started to swell.

Weili then targeted the swelling in the final few rounds, landing accurate punches which led to Jedrzejczyk stumbling in the octogon.

Two judges scored in favour of Weili 48-47 and the third opted for Jedrzejczyk 48-47.

Jedrzejczyk said: "You see my swelling. She did great. There was something missing but I felt all the punches and the swelling was bothering me. My head was going on and off. Congrats, champ. I'm very happy we had a good fight."

While champion Weili added: "I wasn't really sure that I got it, it was a great performance and we're all martial artists here.

"We're artisans, we don't want any trash talk here, we want mutual respect. We want to set a good example for the kids."

The best videos delivered daily

Watch the stories that matter, right from your inbox