What Is the Beef Between Former UFC Champion Zhang Weili & Boxing Legend Mike Tyson? Was It a Misinterpretation?

Not many UFC fans would know that the upcoming PPV UFC 275 features a female fighter, who had a beef with legendary boxer Mike Tyson. Surprising right? Well, the feud came to life back in 2021 and it soon ended in the same year. Apparently, a few comments made by Tyson and Zhang Weili irked them both and misinterpretation also played a big role in inciting this feud.

Everything happened during the lead-up to Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili in 2021. The feud actually did not last for a very long time and after Weili’s loss at UFC 261.

What happened between Zhang Weili and Mike Tyson?

As per a report by CGTN, Tyson reportedly made a comment about the bout during his podcast with UFC President Dana White. This irked the Chinese mixed martial artist who voiced her thoughts with CGTN and said, “Tyson has no right to comment because he knows nothing about MMA. He knows nothing about me. I will not be affected, but do my best instead, and I suggest Tyson try MMA (mixed martial arts) himself.”

Also Read: Zhang Weili Reveals the Reason Behind Chopping Her Hair Off

In yet another interview leading up to the first bout against Thug ‘Rose. Weili once more iterated her feelings about Tyson, suggesting that Namajunas would destroy her.

She said, “I don’t think he is really eligible to assess MMA, as opposed to boxing, in which he has a great experience. I could take into consideration if he was involved in MMA. But he really hasn’t taken it up, so maybe he is just supporting the fighter from his country. His views haven’t put any pressure on it or made me unhappy. Instead, I respect him very much and I hope one day he might take a chance in MMA.”

How are Zhang Weili‘s and Mike Tyson’s relations now?

The feud between the UFC champion and the veteran boxer has come to a close following Weili’s back-to-back losses to Namajunas. Tyson, while making an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, touched upon this feud with the Chinese fighter. He stated that he was really happy for Namajunas and her win over the ‘Chinese girl’ helped him to gain closure.

He said, “Remember, listen, Rose, I said Rose is hot and the Chinese girl that’s her fight with said, ‘Mike doesn’t know nothing about boxing, he is an idiot’ and she wanted to fight me, I am so happy Rose knocked her out, I thought she was gonna kill Rose.” He added,” That’s why, Rose is hot in the UFC, obviously, and she was like Mike Tyson knows nothing about the fight game and this and that”

Were Zhang Weili and Mike Tyson friends before?

Many people believed that both fighters misinterpreted each other’s comments and reacted in a much harsher manner than they should have. Although the feud is firmly sitting in the history books, it could only yield positive results. It doesn’t seem like the duo is feuding with one another. But were they ever friends? The answer is quite simple, as they have never met one another in real life.

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Do you wish to see both Weili and Iron ‘Mike’ interact with one another? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.