1. Zhang Weili is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist.
29 Facts About Zhang Weili
1. 2.
Zhang Weili currently competes in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she is the current and two-time UFC Women's Strawweight Champion and the first Chinese fighter to win a UFC championship.
3.
Zhang Weili's father is a retired miner, and her mother is a housewife.
4.
Zhang Weili has one older brother, who quit his job as a gold trader to support Zhang's career, and now works at the gym where she trains.
5.
Zhang Weili started training in martial arts at a young age, beginning at 6 with Shaolin Kung Fu under the tutelage of a local master, after she was inspired by Kung Fu films.
6.
Zhang Weili later switched to a front desk job, through which she got to know fighters who trained at the gym, one of them being her idol Wu Haotian, a pioneer of Chinese MMA.
7.
Zhang Weili credited Ronda Rousey, and particularly her fight with Liz Carmouche in 2013, as giving her the motivation to quit her job and pursue MMA full-time.
8.
Zhang Weili won the fight via TKO in the second round.
9.
Zhang Weili made her first title defense against Aline Sattelmayer on June 1,2017, at Kunlun Fight MMA 12.
10.
On July 22,2017, Zhang Weili attempted to win a second title, when she challenged Seo Ye-dam for the vacant Top FC Strawweight Championship at TOP FC 15.
11.
Zhang Weili won the fight via TKO in the second round to capture the title.
12.
Zhang Weili won the fight via TKO in the second round.
13.
Zhang Weili made her promotion debut on August 4,2018, at UFC 227 against Danielle Taylor.
14.
On November 24,2018, Zhang Weili faced Jessica Aguilar at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Ngannou 2.
15.
Zhang Weili won the fight via an armbar submission in the first round.
16.
Zhang Weili faced Tecia Torres on March 3,2019, at UFC 235.
17.
Zhang Weili faced Jessica Andrade for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship on August 31,2019, at UFC Fight Night 157.
18.
Zhang Weili won the fight via first-round technical knockout to become the new strawweight champion, and the first UFC champion from China.
19.
Zhang Weili moved her training camp from China to Thailand and later moved to Dubai due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as TSA rules stated a two-week quarantine was imposed for any non-US citizen to be granted entry to the United States if they had recently been in China.
20.
Zhang Weili lost the fight by knockout early in the first round after getting caught with a head kick.
21.
Zhang Weili won the fight via knockout with a spinning backfist in the second round.
22.
Zhang Weili faced reigning champion Carla Esparza for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship on November 12,2022, at UFC 281.
23.
Zhang Weili won the bout and regained the championship by the way of a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.
24.
Zhang Weili was promoted to brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu following her win.
25.
Zhang Weili next defended her title against Amanda Lemos on August 19,2023, at UFC 292.
26.
Zhang Weili faced Yan Xiaonan on April 13,2024, at UFC 300.
27.
Zhang Weili made her third title defense against The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs Team Claudia strawweight tournament winner Tatiana Suarez on February 9,2025 at UFC 312.
28.
In May 2020, it was announced that Zhang Weili became a brand ambassador for cosmetics brand Estee Lauder in China, and was chosen as a face of their new makeup line Double Wear.
29.
Zhang Weili had endorsement deals with clothing brands Under Armour and Heilan Home, e-commerce company JingDong and alcoholic beverage company Wusu Beer.