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“Magnum” will defend her 115-pound crown against former champion Rose Namajunas in the UFC 261 co-headliner on Saturday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Zhang has rattled off 21 consecutive victories since she lost her professional debut in 2013. The Black Tiger Fight Club ace last appeared at UFC 248 in March 2020, when she outlasted Joanna Jedrzejczyk to a five-round split decision in an epic war of wills. Namajunas, meanwhile, has won four of her past five bouts. She last competed at UFC 251, where she laid claim to a split verdict over Jessica Andrade in their July 11 rematch.
As Zhang and Namajunas finalize plans for their forthcoming confrontation, a look at some of the numbers that have accompanied them to this point:
31: Years of age for Zhang, who was born on Aug. 13, 1989 in Handan, China—nearly 6,500 miles from Ultimate Fighting Championship headquarters in Las Vegas.
6.38: Strikes landed per minute by Zhang since she joined the UFC roster in 2018, placing her fourth on the promotion’s all-time list in the category at 115 pounds. Only Andrade (6.88), Jedrzejczyk (6.62) and Xiaonan Yan (6.38) have connected at a higher rate.
10: Zhang victories by knockout or technical knockout, accounting for 48% of her career total (21). Her list of victims includes Andrade, Marilia Santos, Karla Benitez and Emi Fujino. Zhang owns seven other wins by submission and four more by decision.
3: Sub-minute stoppage victories on the Zhang resume. She put away Andrade with knees and punches in 42 seconds at UFC Fight Night 157 on Aug. 31, 2019, submitted Nayara Hemily Cascardo with a guillotine choke in 41 seconds at Kunlun Fight 9 on Feb. 25, 2017 and dismissed Mei Huang with a rear-naked choke in 40 seconds under the Chines Kung Fu Championships banner on Oct. 27, 2014.
5: Takedowns completed by Zhang in her five UFC appearances. Other than Andrade, she has taken down every woman she has faced: Jedrzejczyk, Tecia Torres (twice), Jessica Aguilar and Danielle Taylor. Meanwhile, Zhang has denied all three takedown attempts levied against her.
28: Years of age for Namajunas, who was born to Lithuanian parents in Milwaukee on June 29, 1992. “Batman Returns,” “Unlawful Entry,” “Sister Act,” “Housesitter” and “Patriot Games” were the Top 5 movies at the domestic box office at the time.
5: Namajunas victories by submission, accounting for 56% of her career total (nine). Her methods of choice: four rear-naked chokes and one flying armbar. Namajunas owns one other win by knockout or technical knockout and four more by decision.
3: Knockdowns landed by Namajunas as a UFC strawweight, tying her with Angela Hill and Amanda Lemos for most on the promotion’s all-time list at 115 pounds.
12: Seconds needed for Namajunas to submit Kathina Lowe with a flying armbar at Invicta Fighting Championships 5 on April 5, 2013. Having occurred in her second professional assignment, it remains her fastest finish to date and one of only three first-round stoppage victories on her resume.
554: Days spent by Namajunas as undisputed UFC women’s strawweight champion. She lorded over the 115-pound weight class from Nov. 4, 2017 to May 11, 2019.