UFC CEO Dana White tried to book current strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern against former 115-pound titleholder Weili Zhang for the upcoming UFC White House event
on June 14 in Washington, DC.“We did try to make a women’s fight,” White explained to TIME. “We couldn’t get it done.”
White claims Zhang, 36, is taking a break from fighting but did not say for how long.
“Magnum” surrendered her title to move up in weight, but fell short of her quest to capture a second crown after a disappointing loss
to reigning 125-pound champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322 last November. Zhang (26-4) remains ranked at No. 1 in the strawweight division, above Tatiana Suarez (No. 2) and Virna Jandiroba (No. 3).
Jandiroba lost to Dern in a fight for the vacant strap at UFC 321.
Dern, 33, is not currently booked to compete; however, the rumor mill has her paired against No. 5-ranked Gillian Robertson at UFC 330 this August in Philadelphia.
