Gillian Robertson hopes to solidify herself vs. 'legend' Zhang Weili after UFC 330
Gillian Robertson hopes winning the belt at UFC 330 can lure Zhang Weili back to strawweight.
Robertson (17-8 MMA, 14-6 UFC) challenges Mackenzie Dern (16-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) for the 115-pound title in the Aug. 15 co-main event at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia (Paramount+). It took Robertson 20 UFC fights to get her first title opportunity, and she is aiming for even bigger goals if she can get past Dern.
“I definitely think that I would love to solidify myself against a legend like Weili after this win,” Robertson told MMA Junkie. “I just want to be considered like those girls, the Weilis, the Roses, and the Joannas who are the queens of the strawweight division, who kind of always held that throne. Those girls are just considered legends at this point, and I want to be in that same book.”
Robertson admits she expected Dern’s first title defense to come against former champion Weili (26-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC), who vacated her belt to challenge flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322 this past November. Weili was dominated in a decision loss.
“There will definitely be an opening fight after that, but I’m hoping she comes back down,” Robertson said of Weili. “I guess we really don’t know why that fight didn’t happen before me and Mackenzie either. I don’t know why Weili hasn’t been back or what her plan is in the future, but I would love to fight her after a win over Mackenzie.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Gillian Robertson hopes to solidify herself vs. ‘legend’ Zhang Weili after UFC 330
