Zhang Weili Pursues Second UFC Division Title
By James Moreau | 15 Nov, 2025

Zhang Weili a.k.a. “Magnum” vacated her strawweight belt to pursue a second championship in the flyweight division against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322.

MMA fighter Zhang Weili aka “Magnum” became the first Chinese champion in UFC history in 2019 after her TKO of Jéssica Andrade.  The dethroning of Andrade took only 42 seconds through a rapid series of landed punches and knees.  The electric Strawweight bout earned Zhang her first of four Performance of the Night bonuses.

Now 36 years old, 12 years into her professional career, Zhang has compiled a mixed martial arts record of 26 wins and 3 losses.  11 of Zhang’s wins have been by knockout, 8 by submission, and 7 by decision.

Zhang’s impressive array of skills were on display in June 2022 at UFC 275 in a rematch with Joanna Jędrzejczyk when she earned a Performance of the Night bonus with a spinning backfist knockout.   Her first bout against Jędrzejczyk in 2020 was deemed Fight of the Night after Zhang won by split decision.   It is widely considered one of the greatest women’s fights of all time.

As two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang has defended her title four times.  Her most recent title defense came in February against Tatiana Suarez in UFC 312.  The fight went the distance in a unanimous decision for Zhang.   The performance earned Zhang over $1.7 million in total compensation.

Zhang vacated her strawweight title on October 25th to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship at UFC 322 in NYC’s Madison Square Garden on November 15.  The UFC women's flyweight division is capped at 125 pounds, 10 pounds higher than the strawweight division.   Zhang’s bold move infused women’s MMA with excitement as Zhang and Shevchenko rank number one and two in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.   The likely outcome is deemed a tossup, and betting lines are essentially a “pick ‘em.”

Born in Handan, China, Zhang’s martial arts journey began at a young age with Shaolin Kung Fu and later Sanda, Tai Chi, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Shuai Jiao.   Her well-rounded, aggressive fighting style and masterful grappling techniques are evident in wins by rear-naked choke, armbar, and guillotine choke.

Zhang’s appeal extends beyond the octagon.  She has received brand deals with Estée Lauder, Under Armour and Monster Energy, and made her acting debut in the 2025 feature film After Typhoon.