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Zhang Weili

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Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili is a Chinese mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who competes in the UFC. She won the UFC strawweight title in August 2019, becoming China's first UFC champion by beating Jessica Andrade by first-round TKO. Zhang defend her title in a five-round split decision against former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk in March 2020, a bout that earned unanimous fight of the year honours. She lost the title to Rose Namajunas at UFC 261 in April 2021, when the American won a first-round TKO.

Born

13 Aug 1989

Industry

Sport

Job Title

Mixed Martial Artist

China’s bantamweight fighter Song Yadong (centre) will take on Russia’s Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Fight Night in Shanghai on August 29. Photo: AFP

China consumption

A Shanghai bout, a home-grown fighter – can the UFC repeat the NBA’s China success story?

Two months after the White House fight night, UFC will bring one of US President Donald Trump’s favourite sports to Shanghai.

16 Jul 2026 - 7:00AMvideocam

Trending in China

China Olympic champion plans to shed 25kg upon retirement before pursuing marriage

30 Nov 2025 - 4:00PM

Ultimate Fighting Championship

MMA star Zhang confident of UFC’s China future as first post-Covid event announced

22 May 2025 - 11:04PM

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Profile | Asia’s first female UFC champion Zhang Weili relives her rise in Unstoppable

Chinese MMA fighter Zhang Weili has been credited with inspiring a generation of young women after claiming her country’s first UFC title, a story told in this gripping new documentary

30 Aug 2024 - 2:45PM

Zhang Weili’s unstoppable journey from rural China to UFC stardom is told in the new documentary Unstoppable, which premiered at China’s FIRST International Film Festival in Xining this summer. Here its subject is picture in a 2022 bout. Photo: AP Photo

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Zhang Weili ‘might be the GOAT’, Rogan says, as UFC boss plots China return

UFC president Dana White ‘very happy to hear’ Zhang Weili’s win over Amanda Lemos racked up 1.9 billion views on Chinese social media in a matter of hours.

20 Aug 2023 - 4:07PM

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Zhang Weili wants UFC pay-per-view in China for ‘1 billion MMA fans’

UFC president Dana White says he ‘loves everything’ about Zhang Weili after her strawweight title win in New York – ‘she’s helping to blow this thing up in China’.

14 Nov 2022 - 11:43AM

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Zhang Weili reclaims UFC strawweight belt, Pereira stuns Adesanya

Chinese superstar puts on ruthless masterclass in Madison Square Garden, while Alex Pereira’s power proves too much for Israel Adesanya as he stops middleweight champ late on.

13 Nov 2022 - 3:42PM

China’s Zhang Weili celebrates after defeating Carla Esparza in a women’s strawweight title bout at UFC 281 in New York. Photo: AP

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC 281: Esparza reveals Zhang title fight is ‘official’ for NYC

UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza says a fight with Chinese MMA superstar Zhang Weili is “official” for the promotion’s annual stop in New York City this November.

19 Aug 2022 - 5:25PM

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC’s Zhang Weili blocks out trolls, haters – ‘I think this is growth’

Chinese MMA icon reveals new mindset to go along with physical adjustments, with new approach paying dividends as she signs lucrative Under Armour and Pepsi deals.

22 Jun 2022 - 9:28PM

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC: Zhang Weili already back training at Bangtao as she bids for belt

Days removed from her stunning KO of Joanna Jedrzejczyk in Singapore, Chinese superstar is ‘ready to go’ at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA in Phuket, Thailand.

16 Jun 2022 - 4:32PM

Zhang Weili skips at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA in Phuket, Thailand. Photo: Weibo/Zhang Weili

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Takedown | Zhang Weili’s UFC 275 KO overshadowed by Jedrzejczyk’s retirement

Chinese superstar picked up one of biggest wins of her career in Singapore, knocking Joanna Jedrzejczyk out with a spinning back-fist, but nobody seems to be talking about it.

15 Jun 2022 - 9:12PM

Zhang Weili of China prepares to fight Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 275. Photo: AFP

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC: Esparza tells Zhang, ‘I’m champion’ and we’ll fight when I say so

Chinese star Zhang Weili suggests Abu Dhabi as the setting for a showdown with the American champion, but Carla Esparza is not convinced.

15 Jun 2022 - 2:31PM

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UFC 275 marks dramatic return to Asia – and Australia could be next

Sunday’s Singapore showcase was one for the ages, and after two and a half years away, the UFC is ‘on a mission to get back on track with international strategy’.

12 Jun 2022 - 8:34PMvideocam

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UFC 275: Zhang calls for October title fight with Esparza

Zhang Weili calls for a crack at strawweight champion Carla Esparza after a stunning knockout of Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 275 in Singapore.

12 Jun 2022 - 9:10PMvideocam

Zhang Weili looks on ahead of her fight against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 275. Photo: AFP

Ultimate Fighting Championship

China trailblazer Zhang Weili headlines UFC’s return to Asia

Sunday morning’s 12-bout card – prime time Saturday night in the United States – gives Las Vegas-based UFC a chance to relaunch its ambitions in Asia.

11 Jun 2022 - 11:14AM

Zhang Weili (left) and Joanna Jedrzejczyk square off at the UFC 275 weigh-ins. Photo: Zuffa LLC

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC: Zhang promises ‘exciting fight’ after Namajunas-Esparza dud

China’s former UFC strawweight champ Zhang Weili promises fireworks in Singapore rematch with Joanna Jedrzejczyk following ‘very uneventful’ title fight.

13 May 2022 - 12:05AMvideocam

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UFC 275: Zhang ‘turned down’ 5-round rematch, claims Jedrzejczyk

But Chinese former UFC strawweight champ Zhang Weili insists ‘there’s no big difference’ with Singapore clash set for 3 rounds.

13 May 2022 - 12:06AMvideocam

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UFC 274: White shuts down talk of third Esparza and Namajunas fight

UFC president Dana White has no interest in Carla Esparza facing Rose Namajunas for a third time, and points to the winner of Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s rematch as next strawweight title challenger.

9 May 2022 - 1:06PM

Carla Esparza (left) and Rose Namajunas tie up in a strawweight title fight at UFC 274. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC 275: Jedrzejczyk expecting ‘really strong’ Zhang in Singapore rematch

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is expecting China’s Weili Zhang to “show up really strong” in their rematch at UFC 275 on June 11 in Singapore, and will spar primarily with men in preparation.

2 May 2022 - 6:30PM

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UFC: White suggests Zhang-Jedrzejczyk rematch could be five rounds

UFC president Dana White will ‘work on’ making rematch between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk in Singapore a five-round fight after epic 2020 title bout.

10 Apr 2022 - 4:05PMvideocam

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UFC 275: Zhang, Joanna ‘verbally agree’ to rematch in Singapore

Former strawweight champs Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk to run back their epic 2020 Fight of the Year as UFC marks return to Asia with stacked card.

10 Apr 2022 - 1:05PM

Zhang Weili punches Joanna Jedrzejczyk during UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Photos: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC: Rogan says Zhang vs Jedrzejczyk proves MMA ‘not a game’

‘Those two women fought for their lives,’ UFC commentator Joe Rogan says two years on from classic, with rematch in works according to Dana White.

9 Mar 2022 - 1:41AM

Joanna Jedrzejczyk hangs on to Zhang Weili during their strawweight title bout at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: AFP

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC: Zhang Weili says ‘I’m a new me’ after 2021 setbacks

China’s former UFC strawweight champion insists she will ‘keep grinding for my dream’, as she reflects on growing from crushing lows last year.

14 Jan 2022 - 9:27AM

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC: Zhang Weili plans US return to fight Carla Esparza

Former UFC strawweight champ insists Rose Namajunas trilogy will ‘absolutely’ happen by ‘end of next year’, with plans to spend more time away from China in 2022.

15 Dec 2021 - 3:55AM

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UFC: Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts to Namajunas vs. Zhang II

Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts to the UFC 268 championship rematch between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang.

18 Nov 2021 - 10:00PMvideocam

Rose Namajunas (left) battles China’s Zhang Weili during their UFC 268 clash at Madison Square Garden. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Takedown | Zhang Weili proves she belongs – and always has – at UFC 268

‘Magnum’ came up just short in a split decision loss to Rose Namajunas, but China’s first UFC champion will rise again.

8 Nov 2021 - 7:45PMvideocam

Is it back to the drawing board for Zhang Weili after her second straight loss to Rose Namajunas at UFC 268? Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Dana White watched Canelo during Zhang vs Namajunas at UFC 268

UFC president Dana White cashed a huge US$100,000 bet on Canelo Alvarez, and kept tabs on the boxing match with a cageside TV screen.

8 Nov 2021 - 2:21PMvideocam

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UFC 268: Zhang sends fans inspirational message after Namajunas loss

China’s Zhang Weili tells supporters ‘our fight continues’ after razor-close split decision defeat by UFC strawweight champ Rose Namajunas.

8 Nov 2021 - 1:36PMvideocam

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