When Zhang Weili first landed in the United States for her UFC debut in 2018, she arrived as an enigma to most—a quiet force from the Chinese regional scene known only to the most dedicated MMA fans. This anonymity did not last long. In the space of a year, she went from relative unknown to UFC strawweight champion, a modest but lethal force who seemed almost blissfully unaware of her own rapid rise.
Seven years later, Zhang remains the same in every way: grounded, relentlessly hungry and determined to grow. The only difference now is that she carries with her the composure and seriousness of an all-time great. And heading into arguably the biggest women's fight in MMA history—a flyweight title bout against fellow legend Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322 on Saturday—she's handling it with a calm that borders on serenity.
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“I feel very peaceful and calm,” Zhang told Uncrowned, practicing her English with a translator by her side if needed. “But this Saturday I’m really excited.”
Calm thinking is hard to come by. More than 20 interviews over two days greeted Zhang after landing in New York, a mental marathon before a physical marathon at Madison Square Garden. For Zhang, these are the weeks when meditation becomes an important weapon in her championship arsenal.
“This fight week is busier. So I don't have much time. It’s dedication,” Zhang said. “But in the evening I finish work. Can [meditate after].
“I usually have time. I can do meditation not only during fight week. Meditation is for concentration and is very important.”
Zhang Weili refused to settle for anything less than the best. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
(Mike Roach via Getty Images)
UFC 322 will be her third entry into the iconic arena and her third chance to win gold within its walls. And like any long-lived champion, Zhang gives credit not only to her development, but also to the eclectic team of puzzle pieces that surround her. “Magnum” may be an intimidating nickname, but she has become a magnet for experience—a melting pot of world-class minds that has turned her into a full-fledged championship force.
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Third-degree BJJ black belt Josh Hinger has honed her ground game using a “fluidity first” philosophy. Frank Hickman, one of wrestling's most respected coaches, helped her stitch those wrestling layers together with his signature kinetic energy.
“Josh is so good. He helped me a lot,” Zhang said. “I think his technique is to just tell me [be] like water. Like the water is smooth, like surfing.
“Frank is my wrestling coach, but I think he’s the best wrestler in the world. Frank has a lot of energy. Good energy. Every day when I see Coach Frank, I feel very happy.”
There's also Brad Riddell, a name fans didn't expect to hear in Zhang's corner, but it makes sense. A technician with deep roots in Muay Thai and kickboxing, the UFC lightweight athlete brings a fighter's perspective to her astonishing evolution.
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“Riddell has combat experience. He knows what it’s like to fight,” she said. “I think coaching is good. Because he has a lot of experience, maybe the way he trains suits me better.”
If the old saying goes, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships,” then UFC 322 is where that philosophy reaches its peak. Zhang vs. Shevchenko isn't just champion vs. champion—it's No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the UFC pound-for-pound hierarchy. And while both women have done just about everything their divisions have to offer, Zhang insists she is far from finished.
“Even though I’m already a strawweight champion, I always feel like a student,” she said. “I still have a lot to learn. I want to stay curious, stay hungry, always have a curiosity about the world.”
“We definitely study our opponent before the fight and also after the fight. But I think the most important thing for the entire coaching team is that we are very similar in terms of our mentality, our approach. We need to fight very fluidly, be flexible and very adaptive. I always learn something from every fight, so I always thank my opponent from the bottom of my heart for fighting me.”
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So what does it take for Zhang Weili – a two-division title contender and one of the greatest champions in strawweight history – to feel like she's hit her ceiling? Is there even a ceiling to how someone can absorb everything around them?
Defeating Shevchenko would be a monumental achievement that cements a legacy. But Zhang's goal goes far beyond the standings.
“I'm still working on it,” Zhang said of being the best.
“Actually, I want to prove to the world, the viewers and the fans: don’t set limits for yourself. I want to inspire people not to set limits for themselves. Just chase your dream. Try it.”
At 36, with a championship resume and a student's mind, Zhang Weili is still evolving – and on Saturday she will make her boldest attempt at evolution yet.
