Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili made history in 2019 as the first Chinese fighter to win a UFC title and became a dominant two-time strawweight champion.

Zhang Weili was born in Hebei, China, and was toughened as a child by her mother, who challenged her to jump out of ditches to build resilience, before Zhang turned professional in mixed martial arts in 2013, suffering the only loss of her career in her debut bout. Zhang, nicknamed "Magnum," won the Kunlun Fight strawweight championship before signing with the UFC in 2018, and delivered one of the most stunning results in the promotion's history on 31 August 2019, knocking out Jessica Andrade in just 42 seconds in front of her home crowd in Shenzhen to become the first Chinese fighter ever to win a UFC championship. Zhang successfully defended her title against Joanna Jędrzejczyk in one of the most celebrated fights in UFC history, before losing and later reclaiming the belt across a trilogy against Rose Namajunas and subsequent contenders. Zhang was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, and remains one of the most significant figures in the sport's growth throughout Asia, having fulfilled her own public promise, made years before her title win, to become the first-ever Chinese UFC champion.

Zhang Weili is known for her aggressive striking and well-rounded skill set that combines traditional Chinese martial arts with modern MMA techniques. She possesses excellent boxing fundamentals, heavy hands, and strong takedown defense. Her relentless pressure and ability to mix striking with grappling make her a constant threat in all phases of combat.

Zhang Weili broke significant barriers as the first Asian UFC champion, inspiring a new generation of fighters across Asia and elevating MMA's profile in China.

• UFC Strawweight Champion 2019-2021, first reign
• UFC Strawweight Champion 2022-2025, second reign
• UFC 248 Fight of the Year 2020