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#4. Former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili
It would be interesting to see whether former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili attempted a move to flyweight. She is coming off a massive win over former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a rematch of their 2020 instant classic. Weili dropped Jedrzejczyk with a spinning back-fist that knocked her out immediately.
With the win, Weili will likely earn a title shot against strawweight champion Carla Esparza. If she regains the strawweight championship, a champion vs. champion bout against Shevchenko would be very intriguing. They fought on the same night and will likely compete in a similar timeframe, which could be favorable for the matchmakers.
Both fighters have been known for finishing their opponents, which could result in another classic women’s bout. Based on how ‘Bullet’s most recent bout with Santos went, Weili could take advantage of some grappling exchanges. She has improved significantly in that area since training with Henry Cejudo, so she be more confident against Shevchenko.
#3. Former UFC title challenger Taila Santos
Since her split decision loss to Shevchenko at UFC 275, Taila Santos has made a strong argument for a rematch. The challenger did well, especially considering that she was basically overlooked going into it. Her grappling was the difference maker, however, an accidental headbutt broke her orbital and resulted in her vision being compromised.
It looked like she did enough to earn the decision and become champion, but the judges didn’t see it that way. One judge scored the bout 48-47 in her favor, while the other two judges scored the bout 48-47 and 49-46. A rematch would certainly generate interest because fans saw Santos have success with her gamplan against a dominant fighter.
While speaking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, the Brazilian stated that she believes she won the first three rounds. She felt that her takedowns and questioned why one of the judges didn’t have her winning the first round.
