Weili Zhang

Zhang Weili Bio

Zhang Weili is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist widely recognized as the first UFC champion from China and a two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion. Born on September 30, 1990, in Handan, Hebei, she has built a reputation for toughness, technical skill, and resilience inside the cage. Competing professionally since 2013, Zhang Weili has become one of the most influential Asian athletes in the global growth of mixed martial arts.

Trained in striking, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Zhang Weili combines traditional Chinese martial arts philosophy with modern MMA training methods. She is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Pedro Jordão and trains with Black Tiger Fight Club, Fight Ready, and Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA. Her career record stands at 26 wins and 4 losses, with finishes by knockout, submission, and decision.

Early Life and Background

Zhang Weili was born on September 30, 1990, in Handan, Hebei, China. Her father worked as a retired miner, while her mother is a housewife. She also has an older brother who once worked as a gold trader but left that career to support Zhang Weili’s training and now works at the gym where she trains. Her working-class upbringing helped shape her disciplined and grounded personality.

She began training in martial arts at the age of 6, inspired by Kung Fu films, and started with Shaolin Kung Fu under a local master. During primary school she explored several sports, including athletics, football, and table tennis. At 12 years old, her parents enrolled her in a specialized martial arts school in Handan, where she trained in Sanda and Shuai Jiao. She won multiple Sanda championships at the Hebei provincial level and was selected for the Jiangsu province Sanda team before a recurring back injury forced her to retire from striking competition.

At 17, Zhang Weili moved to Beijing and held several odd jobs, including supermarket cashier, kindergarten teacher, security guard, and hotel desk clerk. In 2010 she began working as a fitness instructor at a Beijing gym, where she was first exposed to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Through that gym she met Wu Haotian, a pioneer of Chinese MMA, who in 2012 introduced her to Black Tiger Fight Club. There, coach Cai Xuejun recognized her potential and began training her in mixed martial arts.

Path to MMA

Zhang Weili made her professional MMA debut in 2013 and quickly rebuilt her career after a debut loss to Meng Bo by unanimous decision. She then produced an 11-fight winning streak that established her as one of China’s top strawweight prospects. Her growing reputation led her to challenge Simone Duarte for the Kunlun Fight Female Strawweight Championship on May 25, 2017, at Kunlun Fight MMA 11, a fight she won by second-round TKO.

She defended the Kunlun Fight title against Aline Sattelmayer and Marilia Santos, and also captured the vacant Top FC Strawweight Championship in 2017. Before signing with the UFC, Zhang Weili compiled a 16–1 record, with 16 consecutive wins. Her performances in Kunlun Fight and Top FC earned her a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Zhang Weili Career

Early Career (2013–2017)

Zhang Weili launched her professional career in 2013, training out of Black Tiger Fight Club under head coach Cai Xuejun. She added Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to her striking base, working with Pedro Jordão and Josh Hinger. Her early training combined Sanda, wrestling, and grappling, forming the foundation of her well-rounded style.

Her breakthrough came on China’s regional circuit, where she captured the Kunlun Fight Female Strawweight Championship and later the Top FC Strawweight Championship. Multiple TKO victories highlighted her finishing ability and prepared her for the global stage of the UFC.

UFC Breakthrough (2018–2019)

Zhang Weili made her UFC debut on August 4, 2018, at UFC 227, defeating Danielle Taylor by unanimous decision. She followed up with a first-round armbar submission win over Jessica Aguilar at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2, then outpointed Tecia Torres at UFC 235. These results pushed her into title contention.

On August 31, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 157, Zhang Weili faced Brazilian powerhouse Jéssica Andrade for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship. She won by first-round technical knockout, becoming the first Chinese UFC champion in history. The victory also earned her the Performance of the Night bonus award.

Strawweight Champion Era (2020–2025)

In her first title defense, Zhang Weili faced former champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk on March 7, 2020, at UFC 248. After a back-and-forth battle widely regarded as one of the greatest fights in women’s MMA history, she won by split decision and earned the Fight of the Night bonus. She later lost the title to Rose Namajunas at UFC 261 in April 2021 and dropped a split decision in the immediate rematch at UFC 268.

Zhang Weili reclaimed championship form at UFC 275 on June 11, 2022, knocking out Joanna Jędrzejczyk with a second-round spinning backfist and earning another Performance of the Night award. On November 12, 2022, at UFC 281, she submitted Carla Esparza with a second-round rear-naked choke to regain the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship, adding another Performance of the Night bonus. She defended the belt against Amanda Lemos at UFC 292, Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300, and Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312, solidifying her status as the face of the division.

Flyweight Move (2025)

On October 25, 2025, Zhang Weili vacated her strawweight title to challenge two-time UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025. She lost the contest by unanimous decision. Despite the defeat, the move demonstrated her willingness to test herself in a second weight class and extend her legacy beyond strawweight.

Style and Strengths

Zhang Weili is known for her aggressive pressure, powerful striking, and high-level grappling earned through years of Sanda and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. Her black belt under Pedro Jordão gives her strong submission defense and attacking skills on the ground, while her Sanda background provides knockout power in the clinch and at distance. She often cites Bruce Lee’s philosophy of being like water, adapting her tactics mid-fight based on her opponent’s movements.

Notable Events and Milestones

Zhang Weili’s 2020 title defense against Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 248 was later announced as a UFC Hall of Fame inductee during International Fight Week festivities in 2026. Her first-round TKO of Jéssica Andrade made her the first Chinese UFC champion, and her spinning backfist knockout of Jędrzejczyk in 2022 is one of the most replayed finishes in recent UFC history. She also headlined the first all-China UFC title fight against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300.

Zhang Weili Career Wins

Across her professional career, Zhang Weili has compiled 26 wins against 4 losses, with victories by knockout, submission, and decision. She has captured major titles in both Chinese regional promotions and the UFC, establishing herself among the most accomplished strawweights of her era.

UFC Highlights

Inside the UFC, Zhang Weili has earned signature wins over Jéssica Andrade, Joanna Jędrzejczyk (twice), Carla Esparza, Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, and Tatiana Suarez. Her finishes include a first-round TKO of Andrade and a second-round spinning-backfist knockout of Jędrzejczyk. She has claimed four Performance of the Night awards and one Fight of the Night bonus during her UFC tenure.

Other Wins and Performances

Outside the UFC, Zhang Weili won the Kunlun Fight Female Strawweight Championship and the Top FC Strawweight Championship in 2017. Her pre-UFC run included multiple TKO finishes that highlighted her rapid development from regional prospect to international contender.

Zhang Weili Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Zhang Weili grew up in Handan, Hebei, in a working-class family. Her father is a retired miner, and her mother is a housewife. Her older brother left a career as a gold trader to manage her training environment and now works at her gym, providing direct family support behind her professional career.

Personal Life

Zhang Weili currently resides in Beijing, China, where she continues to train and prepare for competition. She is represented by major sponsors including Estée Lauder, Audi, Hyperice, Under Armour, Heilan Home, JingDong, and Wusu Beer. She is widely regarded as a role model for young athletes in China and across Asia.

2025 Season Performance

In early 2025, Zhang Weili defended her UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship against Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 on February 9, 2025, winning by unanimous decision. The victory extended her reign and reinforced her standing as one of the division’s elite fighters.

Later in 2025, Zhang Weili made a bold career decision by vacating her strawweight title to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025. Although she lost the bout by unanimous decision, the move demonstrated her confidence and ambition to compete in a second weight class.

Heading into the next phase of her career, Zhang Weili remains one of the most marketable and influential athletes in the UFC. Her combination of championship experience, global sponsorship portfolio, and Hall of Fame recognition keeps her at the center of the sport’s growth in Asia and beyond.