UFC 261 in the works for Vegas after Singapore negotiations fail, strawweight title fight focused

Rampant hypothesis has surrounded UFC 261 and its space. Now, it appears things will place in Vegas with a pair of pivotal strawweight bouts.

Combate reported on Thursday that the April 24 UFC pay-per-scrutinize event will no longer be at what used to be initially reported as Singapore. As an different, the promotion will follow conserving things stateside in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex facility.

Firstly, the concept for the event used to be to comprise strawweight champion Zhang Weili (21-1) defending her title. That continues to be the identical no subject the dwelling trade.

As for the challenger, it’s lengthy been known and expressed in recent months by UFC President Dana White that Rose Namajunas (9-4) is subsequent in line. Per the file, if the conventional champ in Namajunas can’t trail as she’s lined up to, fellow traditional champ Carla Esparza (17-6) is “thought B.”

Nonetheless, it’s miles also reported that the UFC is focusing on Esparza vs. No. 3 ranked contender Yan Xiaonan (13-1) for the cardboard.

Attain March 7 this is in a position to well comprise been a fat one year since Zhang’s fable conflict with Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248. The 2 would trail on to voice 2020 Fight of the one year honors unanimously across the MMA neighborhood. In a roundabout blueprint, it used to be Zhang who got here out because the massive winner getting her hand raised by technique of a damage up resolution.

Namajunas, on the a host of hand, has fought as soon as since Might also simply 2019 when she dropped the title to Jessica Andrade. In her lone appearance in that timespan, “Thug” avenged her loss in a rematch with the Brazilian at UFC 251 in July.

Within the meantime, Zhang’s fellow Chinese language standout in Yan has save together a lengthy six-fight a success dawdle in the promotion because the resurgent Esparza rides four-straight — her longest since becoming the inaugural champion in December 2016.

As for the the rest of UFC 261, it most productive has three fights on tap in these early stages.