‘I’d love to have him in my corner’

A year ago, the Boston Celtics fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals.

First-year head coach Joe Mazzulla was outmatched and outmaneuvered by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, whose team jumped out to a commanding three-games-to-nil lead and then humiliatingly eliminated the Celtics in Game 7.

But what a difference a year can make.

“Coach Mazzulla is a champion,” said Weili Zhang, the reigning UFC women’s strawweight champion – and a friend of Zhang’s. “And he is welcome to come into my corner during a fight.”

Through a translator, Zhang highlighted the coaching skills of Mazzulla, who guided his team to the NBA championship earlier this week. Mazzulla’s Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals after storming through the first three rounds of the postseason.

Mazzulla integrates MMA film into his motivational tactics, and he also relishes the opportunity to participate in the sport.

“I heard he was competing in jiu-jitsu, and we became friends when the Celtics were training in Las Vegas,” Zhang said. “I saw him training at the UFC Performance Institute at six in the morning. I was immediately impressed with how diligent and professional he was.

“Coach Mazzulla is very focused. He is also open to learning. That’s why he’s a top coach.”

After learning last season as interim coach, where he suddenly replaced the suspended Ume Idoka following an internal controversy, Mazzulla took over in year two. His most notable achievement was getting players to embrace the idea of ​​team over individual. He also fostered a sense of community by reaching out to all Celtics alumni before the season and cementing a sense of family in the storied franchise.

“The NBA is very popular in China,” said Zhang, China’s first-ever UFC women’s champion. “I’m a Celtics fan and watch all the Celtics games. I admire the way he coaches. His approach is patient. You can see the similarities between basketball and MMA in the way he coaches. Both require endurance. You have to stay calm.

“His philosophy brought his team together. They are very united. That sets them apart from other teams.”

Zhang is also a champion. The two-time reigning UFC women’s strawweight champion defeated Yan Xiaonan in April at UFC 300. Her next fight should be announced soon and she is looking for her third straight title defense, following Joanna Jędrzejczyk, who has made five successful title defenses .

Only a year separates 35-year-old Mazzulla and 34-year-old Zhang. Mazzulla had the opportunity to see Zhang defeat Amanda Lemos in spectacular fashion at UFC 292 in Boston last summer, and Zhang now wants Mazzulla in her corner.

“That would be a great experience for me,” said Zhang. “I would love to have him in my corner. I’m in talks with the UFC about my next fight. Hopefully there will be good news soon.”