5 (of the numerous) stuff you did not know in regards to the UFC’s Zhang Weili

There will likely be a chunk of MMA historical past made this weekend at UFC Combat Night time in Shenzhen, China, as strawweight Zhang Weili will change into the primary Chinese language fighter to vie for a UFC championship.

In simply her fourth UFC look, Zhang (19-1) will problem Jessica Andrade (20-6) on Saturday for the 115-pound title. In her three earlier bouts, based on UFC Stats analysis, Zhang has outlanded her opponents 185-73. General, the 30-year-old has received 19 fights in a row after dropping in her professional debut in 2013.

The UFC’s return to China contains a strawweight division championship battle, one which followers in Shenzhen have been anticipating for a number of months.
Zhang Weili, who’s 19-1 and fights out of Beijing, will look to take the title from Jessica Andrade in Saturday’s fundamental occasion.

UFC Combat Night time: Andrade vs. Zhang
• Saturday, Shenzhen, China
• Prelims: ESPN, three a.m. ET
• Important card: ESPN+, 6 a.m. ET

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When the title battle was introduced, the matchup felt as if it got here out of nowhere. But it surely is smart why the UFC selected Zhang. The promotion is increasing into China, having opened a 93,000-square-foot UFC Efficiency Institute in Shanghai earlier this summer season. The occasion in Shenzhen is the UFC’s third in China in three years, and the promotion needed Zhang on the cardboard. Contemplating her win streak, Zhang is worthy of the title shot.

Andrade was prepared to defend her belt on the highway — in spite of everything, she had received the belt in her homeland of Brazil as a result of then-champ Rose Namajunas was prepared to do the identical. Thus, right here we’re. Will probably be an enormous deal for Chinese language MMA ought to Zhang get the job executed.

The large query nonetheless unanswered: Who’s Zhang Weili? She has executed little media exterior China, and regardless of her social media accounts being in English, she depends on an interpreter throughout interviews. So little or no is thought about Zhang, significantly in the USA, the place she has fought solely as soon as.

Listed here are 5 stuff you in all probability did not know in regards to the UFC’s strawweight title challenger:

A ardour for kung fu

Zhang was born in Hebei, a coastal province in northern China. There’s a sturdy kung fu presence in her hometown of Handan, which is how Zhang was launched to fight sports activities. “After I was 6 years previous, I began kung fu,” Zhang informed ESPN, by way of an interpreter. “Everyone practices kung fu. It is a passion. The primary perception I received into kung fu was a film. I needed to fly and hop between timber like they did. So, the primary day I went to study kung fu, the primary query I requested my grasp was, ‘When can I learn to fly?'”

Zhang Weili started her UFC profession a 12 months in the past with a victory over Danielle Taylor. Joe Scarnici/Getty Photographs

The place she will get her energy

Zhang’s father is a retired mine digger. Her mom is a housewife whom Zhang credit for instructing her about energy and toughness. She has one older brother, who stop his job as a gold dealer to assist Zhang’s athletic profession. He now works on the Beijing gymnasium wherein she trains, Black Tiger Combat Membership.

Discovering inspiration for empowerment

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Zhang credit former UFC champion Ronda Rousey because the inspiration for beginning her MMA coaching. She knew of Chinese language fighter Guangyou Ning, winner of “The Final Fighter: China” in 2014, and adopted his UFC profession. “However then I heard there was going to be a feminine battle,” Zhang mentioned. “I watched with one in every of my co-workers, and I used to be so impressed. It made me really feel, ‘Wow, girls might be so highly effective.’ I needed to indicate this energy, identical to [Rousey]. Typically, girls are regarded as gentle in China. Weak. Ronda impressed me and confirmed me a girl might be sturdy and highly effective.”

The admiration is seemingly mutual. Rousey not too long ago posted on Instagram, “I really feel like a proud mama watching how girls’s MMA has grown. Ladies from all walks of life, from everywhere in the world are rising to the problem and exhibiting the world what it means to battle like a lady. Weili Zhang @zhangweilimma is a major instance of overcoming adversity — preventing not simply by way of the ranks, however to additionally get seen and stand out. I’ve positively taken discover, and so must you.”

Her favourite Wing Chun fighter?

Zhang’s favourite fighter at present within the UFC is light-weight Tony Ferguson. “Stylewise, he is actually distinctive,” she mentioned. “I’ve watched a few of his coaching movies, and he makes use of [the kung fu technique] Wing Chun. He makes use of it within the Octagon. He is so relaxed and composed when he throws knees, kicks, punches. He’s an actual warrior.”

When she’s not coaching …

Zhang likes to prepare dinner and go to the films. Her favourite films are the Marvel sequence, and her favourite superhero is Spider-Man. She considers herself a fantastic chef. Hebei delicacies is usually based mostly on wheat, mutton and beans, however Zhang’s signature dish is sautéed lamb.