When Zhang Weili first landed in the U.S. for her UFC debut in 2018, she arrived as a mystery to most — a quiet powerhouse from the Chinese regional scene known only to the most committed MMA diehards. That anonymity didn’t last long. Within a year, she rocketed from relative unknown to UFC strawweight champion, a humble but lethal force who seemed almost blissfully unaware of her own rapid rise.
Seven years later, Zhang remains the same in all the ways that matter: grounded, relentlessly hungry and wired for growth. The only difference now is that she carries the composure and gravity of an all-time great. And heading into what is arguably the biggest female fight in MMA history — her flyweight title challenge against fellow legend Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322 on Saturday — she carries it with a stillness that borders on serene.
Advertisement
“I feel very at peace and calm,” Zhang told Uncrowned, practicing her English with an interpreter beside her if needed. “But this Saturday, I’m very excited.”
The tranquil mindset is hard-earned. More than 20 interviews in two days greeted Zhang upon landing in New York, a mental marathon before the physical one inside Madison Square Garden. For Zhang, these are the weeks when meditation becomes an essential weapon in her championship arsenal.
“This fight week is more busy. So I don’t have a lot of time. It’s dedication,” Zhang said. “But in the evening, I’m finishing work. I can [meditate after].
“Usually, I have time. I can do meditation, not just for the fight week. Meditation is for focus and very important.”
Zhang Weili has refused to settle for anything less than the best. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
(Mike Roach via Getty Images)
UFC 322 marks her third trip to the iconic arena and her third shot at gold inside its walls. And like any champion with longevity, Zhang credits not only her evolution but the eclectic, puzzle-piece team around her. “Magnum” may be an intimidating moniker, but she’s become a magnet for expertise — a melting pot of world-class minds shaping her into a complete, championship force.
Advertisement
Third-degree BJJ black belt Josh Hinger sharpened her ground game with a fluidity-first philosophy. Frank Hickman, one of the sport’s most respected wrestling coaches, helped her stitch those grappling layers together with his trademark kinetic energy.
“Josh is so good. He has helped me a lot,” Zhang said. “I think his technique is just to tell me [be] like water. Like water is smooth, like surfing.
“Frank is my wrestling coach, but I think he is the best in the world at wrestling. Frank has a lot of energy. Good energy. Every day I see Frank coach, I feel very happy.”
Then there’s Brad Riddell — a name fans didn’t expect to hear in Zhang’s corner, but one that makes perfect sense. A technician with deep Muay Thai and kickboxing roots, the UFC lightweight brings a fighter’s eye to her striking evolution.
Advertisement
“Riddell has fighting experience. He knows what it feels like to fight,” she said. “To coach, I think is good. Because he has a lot of experience, maybe the way that he coaches, it better resonates with me.”
If the old saying goes, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships,” UFC 322 is where that philosophy peaks. Zhang vs. Shevchenko isn’t just champion vs. champion — it’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound hierarchy. And despite both women having done essentially everything their divisions can offer, Zhang insists she’s nowhere close to finished.
“Even though I’m already champion of strawweight, I always feel I’m a student,” she said. “There’s a lot of things I can still learn. I want to stay curious, stay hungry, always have this curiosity for this world.
“Absolutely, we definitely study our opponent pre-fight, also post-fight. But I think the most important thing with the whole coaching team is that we are very aligned in terms of our mentality, our approach. We need to fight very fluid, be flexible and be very adaptive. I always learn something from every fight, so that’s why I’m always very grateful for my opponent for fighting me, from the bottom of my heart.”
Advertisement
So what does it take for Zhang Weili — a two-division title contender, one of the greatest champions in strawweight history — to feel like she’s reached her ceiling? Is there even a ceiling for someone wired to absorb everything around her?
A win over Shevchenko would be monumental, the type of achievement that cements legacies. But Zhang’s goal stretches far beyond the standings.
“I’m still working towards it,” Zhang said of being the best.
“Really, the point I want to prove to the world, to the audience and fans is don’t set limits for yourself. I want to inspire people to not set limits for themselves. Just chase your dream. Try.”
At 36, with a champion’s résumé and a student’s mind, Zhang Weili is still evolving — and on Saturday, she’ll attempt her boldest evolution yet.
