Zhang Weili has sent her UFC 248 opponent Joanna Jedrzejczyk a message of support after their fight on Saturday resulted in hospitalisation for the Polish fighter.

Posting on Instagram, the Chinese fighter, who won a close decision after five brutal rounds, uploaded a photo of the two with a caption wishing Jedrzejczyk a speedy recovery from a severe haematoma to her head.

"I respect each of my opponents," she said

"Other people's failure will not make me happy. My confidence is built on my training and my team.

"@joannajedrzejczyk is a very powerful martial artist. In the end the octagon does not need garbage, we worked together and the battle was great."

In what fans have dubbed one of the greatest UFC fights in history, Zhang lived to fight another day as she successfully defended her strawweight world title belt.