Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili, known as "Magnum," is a Chinese mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC's women's strawweight division.

Born and raised in Hebei Province, Zhang trained in traditional kung fu as a child before moving into sanda, a Chinese kickboxing discipline, as a teenager. After a back injury derailed her competitive combat sports career, she relocated to Beijing and worked a series of jobs before discovering mixed martial arts at a local gym. Guided by MMA pioneer Wu Haotian and coach Cai Xuejun, she began training at Black Tiger Fight Club, eventually turning professional and later training alongside camps including Fight Ready.

Before transitioning to MMA, Zhang won multiple Hebei Province sanda championships and was selected for a provincial sanda team, giving her a striking foundation that set her apart from many opponents. She has since earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, rounding out her game on the ground.

Zhang is known as a relentless forward-pressure striker who mixes crisp boxing combinations with sanda-influenced kicks and takedowns, wearing opponents down over the course of a fight. Her volume and pressure are complemented by a durable chin and underrated grappling, giving her multiple paths to victory.

Zhang became the first fighter from China to win a UFC championship when she knocked out Jessica Andrade in the first round to claim the strawweight title. She is best known for her instant-classic five-round battle with Joanna Jedrzejczyk, regarded as one of the greatest fights in women's MMA history, and later finished Jedrzejczyk in a rematch with a spinning backfist knockout. She has also won and reclaimed the title in fights against Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza, and headlined the first all-Chinese UFC title fight opposite Yan Xiaonan.

As the sport's first Chinese and Asian UFC champion, Zhang is credited with opening the door for MMA in China and inspiring a new generation of fighters across Asia. She is regarded as one of the most accomplished champions in strawweight history, remembered for the sustained excellence of her championship reign.