UFC 268: Namajunas vs. Zhang First Look, Betting Picks, Odds and Predictions (Archive)
The UFC returns to pay-per-view following a highly successful UFC 267 just last week. Another two UFC Championship bouts will close out the main card, and it’s a rematch for the women’s strawweight title that’ll kick off the gold-induced double-header.
Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang II, including the updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC 268 betting picks, predictions, and analysis.
Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili
UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship Co-Main Event
Saturday, November 6, 2021 – 09:00 PM EDT at Madison Square Garden
Rose “Thug” Namajunas
- Pro MMA Record: (10-4-0) (2 KOs, 8 Submission)
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’5"
- Reach: 65.0"
- Training Out Of: N/A: Trained by - Trevor Wittman & Pat Barry
- Origin Fighting Style: Taekwondo
A young and innocent Rose Namajunas embraced her single-digit childhood years within the sport of Taekwondo. From the age of 10-years-old and beyond, Rose began both Karate and BJJ, before finding an eventual love for kickboxing in high school, alongside a small stint on the wrestling team.
Speaking volumes to her nickname “Thug Rose”, her well-diverse knowledge across multiple disciplines has created a genuine in-octagon gangster that’s blossomed into a two-time UFC champion.
Rose has spent the previous eight years fighting as a professional mixed martial artist. Her evolution from submission specialists to a knockout artist has been a true pleasure to observe.
Now, on the brink of her 11th UFC contest, Rose will attempt to defend the strawweight championship she failed to hold onto during her first time spent as champion.
Rose Namajunas MMA Accomplishments
⦁ UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion (Two times, current)
⦁ UFC Performance of the Night (Three times)
⦁ UFC Fight of the Night (Three times)
⦁ Most stoppage wins in UFC Women’s Strawweight division (5)
⦁ First woman in UFC history to regain a championship title after losing it
⦁ The Ultimate Fighter 20 runner-up
⦁ Invicta FC Submission (Two times)
⦁ 2017 MMA Fighter of the Year
Rose Namajunas Best Available Odds: -103 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Zhang Weili
- Pro MMA Record: (21-2-0) (10 KOs, 7 Submissions)
- Age: 32
- Height: 5’4"
- Reach: 63.0"
- Training Out Of: Black Tiger Fight Club
- Origin Fighting Style: Sanda/Shuai Jiao
An 8-year undefeated streak and a lifetime of mixed martial arts experience led Weili Zhang into the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and it wasn’t long before the accomplishments achieved put UFC gold around her waist.
The world stood still when Rose Namajunas delivered a high kick knockout against Zhang at UFC 261, which became the former champion’s first career loss since her professional MMA debut in 2013.
A background stemming from Shaolin Kung Fu, Sanda, Shuai Jiao, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu created a true force of nature inside the octagon, whether she can overcome the skillset of Thug Rose a second time around is a question looming on the minds of all.
Zhang Weili MMA Accomplishments
⦁ UFC Strawweight Champion (One time, one successful defense)
⦁ First Chinese champion in UFC history
⦁ UFC Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Jessica Andrade
⦁ UFC Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Zhang Weili Best Available Odds: -105 at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
Namajunas Fight Style & How Can Namajunas Beat Zhang?
Two products of Trevor Wittman’s striking expertise will arrive on the UFC 268 main and co-main event, and it’s challenging to ignore the striking offense evolution from both Rose Namajunas and Kamaru Usman.
I’ll be the first to admit; I didn’t anticipate Namajunas to walk out as the champion during her first encounter with Zhang. I’ve eaten my words and studied the high-level additions that have assisted “Thug Rose” in her recent bouts.
The faints, the working of jabs, and her adjustment of positioning were remarkable. Shifting from a low-kick into a high-kick resulted in Zhang anticipating a follow-up low-kick which ended the fight knockout via high-kick. The knockout threat won’t be as present, Zhang will be prepared, but if Rose’s footwork and output remain, I believe she retains the title.
Zhang Fight Style & How Can Zhang Beat Namajunas?
Zhang’s fundamental striking skills are a level above Rose’s; this cannot be discredited from her. She does own the power advantage, her left hooks and right hooks are equally dangerous, but notably, she’s less mobile than Rose.
Since her arrival, Zhang’s cardio has been top-notch, one aspect of her skillset where I could envision the later rounds favoring her because of this.
Betting Picks & UFC 268 Odds
The available odds at Bookmakers Review are basically providing a pick-em situation, and we can’t blame them.
I don’t expect this contest to play out as the first encounter did; Zhang will have acknowledged her defensive flaws and should remain hesitant when engaging with Rose.
In saying that, I see value in the over 4 and ½ rounds. A 1.15-unit wager returns 1 unit of profit which puts me in a comfortable position rather than predicting who’ll have their hand raised.
UFC Pick: Over 4 and a ½ Rounds (-115) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.