When Zhang Weili stopped Jessica Andrade in 42 seconds in August 2019 to win the UFC strawweight title, she became the first Chinese champion in UFC history. The reaction was enormous, and not just in China. Here was a fighter who had come through the regional circuit, developed a remarkable skill set, and walked into a title fight as an underdog against a power puncher and finished it almost immediately. The MMA world paid attention.
What has happened since then has been one of the more compelling arcs in recent women's MMA. Two wars with Joanna Jedrzejczyk. A loss. A stunning rematch knockout. A loss to Carla Esparza that nobody saw coming. A methodical, excellent rebuild. And then a dominant reclaiming of the title against Rose Namajunas that signaled she was operating at a different level.
Zhang Weili is 32 years old and in the absolute prime of her career. She is the current strawweight champion, and the case for her as the best strawweight of her generation is a real one.
Let's talk about what makes her so good, because she is genuinely fascinating to watch from a technical standpoint. Her striking is based around combinations rather than single big shots. She puts together punches in a way that creates openings, and she has good power but uses it as part of a system rather than relying on it as her primary weapon. Her footwork is underrated. She manages distance well and does not give easy angles.
The wrestling and grappling are where she separates herself at 115 pounds. She has genuinely good takedowns, a physical style in the clinch, and the ability to control positions on the ground. She is not a finisher on the ground in the way that Nunes is a finisher on the ground, but she can take the fight to the mat and impose herself there, which limits what opponents can do with their own game plans.
The Jedrzejczyk fights are the ones that defined her for most casual fans. The first fight went five rounds and was widely regarded as one of the best women's MMA fights ever. Zhang won by decision, but it was close, and Joanna was dangerous throughout. The rematch was shorter and more decisive -- a spinning backfist in the second round that stopped Joanna and sent the crowd into a frenzy. It was the kind of finish that highlights reels are built around.
The Esparza loss was jarring. Carla took her to the ground repeatedly, controlled the pace, and won a decision that surprised most people who had been watching Zhang dominate opponents for years. It was a legitimate loss and a legitimate chess match where Esparza's wrestling and relentlessness neutralized Zhang's advantages. But Zhang came back from it, worked on her game, and has been better since.
Her significance extends beyond the cage. Zhang Weili fights are massive events in China. She has an enormous following there and represents something real for Chinese MMA fans who want to see their own athletes succeeding at the highest level. The UFC has been expanding its presence in Asia for years, and Zhang's success has accelerated that growth in ways that were hard to predict when she was coming up through regional promotions.
What her success means for women's MMA internationally is significant. The sport's global expansion depends on having stars who connect with audiences beyond the traditional American base. Zhang does that. She gives Chinese fans a champion to follow. She gives Asian women who train combat sports a representation at the highest level. That kind of reach is how the sport grows.
She is also just an excellent champion in the way that she carries herself and the way she talks about the sport. She takes the craft seriously. She is humble about what she can improve. She credits her opponents. There is no spectacle or manufactured drama around her -- just a very serious fighter who is very good at what she does.
The current strawweight division is one of the most interesting in women's MMA. The title picture includes fighters who are all capable of winning on any given night, and Zhang sits at the top of it as a deserving champion who has already survived setbacks and come out better on the other side.
The conversation about the best strawweights ever has to include her. Joanna Jedrzejczyk had a longer, more dominant run. Rose Namajunas has two title reigns and significant wins. But Zhang has the current championship, a win over both of those women, and a style that should age well because it is based on technical skill rather than raw athleticism that declines.
For fans who are coming to women's MMA through Zhang Weili, welcome. There is a lot of history to catch up on, and the good news is that most of it is available to watch.
Following Zhang Weili
Her fights are available on ESPN+ when they air live, and the full back catalog is on UFC Fight Pass. The second Jedrzejczyk fight is mandatory viewing.
UFC Fight Pass has every Zhang Weili fight available, including the all-time classic rematch with Jedrzejczyk. If you are a new fan, this is your starting point.
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