UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports entertainment |
| Founded | August 31, 2019 |
| Headquarters | Shenzhen , China |
Area served | International |
| Parent | Ultimate Fighting Championship |
UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang—also referred to as UFC Fight Night 157 or UFC on ESPN+ 15—was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 31, 2019. The event took place at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre Arena located in Shenzhen, China.
Background
This occasion represented the UFC's inaugural event held in Shenzhen.
The main event showcased a contest for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship featuring former titleholder Jéssica Andrade against challenger Zhang Weili.
A flyweight clash between Luana Carolina and Wu Yanan was rescheduled for this card after previous cancellations caused by injuries. Due to a spinal fracture, Carolina withdrew and was replaced by Mizuki Inoue. At the official weigh-ins, Yanan exceeded the limit by three pounds, resulting in a 30% deduction from her fight purse, with the bout proceeding at catchweight.
A welterweight encounter between Li Jingliang and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, originally set for November 2018 but postponed because of injury, was rearranged to take place at this event.
In the light heavyweight division, Saparbek Safarov pulled out for undisclosed reasons and was succeeded by Jamahal Hill, who subsequently also withdrew due to visa complications. Consequently, Da Un Jung faced newcomer Khadis Ibragimov instead.
A featherweight fight between Movsar Evloev and Mike Grundy was called off after Grundy withdrew owing to injury. Promotional debutant Lu Zhenhong was named as a replacement but had to be removed following a sparring injury sustained after weigh-ins, leading to the cancellation of the matchup.
Bonus awards
The following competitors were awarded $50,000 bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Alateng Heili vs. Danaa Batgerel
- Performance of the Night: Zhang Weili and Li Jingliang