Topic
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.
- UFC president ‘very happy to hear’ Zhang’s win over Amanda Lemos racked up 1.9 billion views on Chinese social media in a matter of hours
- White admits he will ‘probably’ take strawweight champion back to China next, but she plays down talk of fighting compatriot Yan Xiaonan
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chinese star Zhang Weili suggests Abu Dhabi as the setting for a showdown with the American champion, but Carla Esparza is not convinced.
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’.
Zhang Weili calls for a crack at strawweight champion Carla Esparza after a stunning knockout of Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 275 in Singapore.
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.
China’s former UFC strawweight champ Zhang Weili promises fireworks in Singapore rematch with Joanna Jedrzejczyk following ‘very uneventful’ title fight.
But Chinese former UFC strawweight champ Zhang Weili insists ‘there’s no big difference’ with Singapore clash set for 3 rounds.
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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.
China’s former UFC strawweight champion insists she will ‘keep grinding for my dream’, as she reflects on growing from crushing lows last year.
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.
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts to the UFC 268 championship rematch between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang.
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.
China’s Zhang Weili tells supporters ‘our fight continues’ after razor-close split decision defeat by UFC strawweight champ Rose Namajunas.
‘I’m just not from the same country,’ says Chinese former UFC champion, who trained with simulated boos for rematch in New York with Rose Namajunas.
‘UFC 268’ clocks up 120 million reads while rematch topic sees 250 million views on Chinese social media as fans back Zhang.
Zhang Weili ‘looking forward’ to a third fight with Rose Namajunas, despite going 0-2 against the strawweight champ after a split decision loss in New York.
‘I had a feeling it was going to be way tougher, and she improved a lot, so got to give her some props,’ says Rose Namajunas after retaining title by split decision.
NBA’s New York Knicks hand Chinese former UFC champion Zhang Weili a custom jersey with No 268, as Rose Namajunas rematch at Madison Square Garden trends on Weibo.
