Gillian Robertson calls for fight against Weili Zhang

Gillian Robertson has stated that a fight against Weili Zhang must take place to settle questions regarding the legitimacy of the strawweight title. The fighter believes that even if she secures the championship, many will view the belt as belonging to Zhang.

Following a victory over Amanda Lemos in March, Robertson received indications from Dana White and Hunter Campbell that a title shot was imminent. However, the former strawweight champion vacated her title in November to pursue the flyweight championship, a move that left the strawweight division in a state of transition.

Robertson noted that because Zhang never lost the belt in the cage, the public perception remains that the title still belongs to her. She argued that fighting Zhang is the only way to move past the idea that any new champion is merely holding Zhang's belt. This remains a complication as Robertson prepares to face Mackenzie Dern in the co-main event of UFC 330 this Saturday.

There is uncertainty regarding whether Zhang will return to the sport. Robertson acknowledged that at 35 years old, Zhang has had a long career and may choose to retire or continue pursuing the 125lb division instead. Robertson expressed hope that Zhang returns to the cage to facilitate the matchup.

If Robertson defeats Dern, she will become the first female champion from Canada. The UFC 330 event is scheduled to begin at 5pm EST on Paramount+.