Zhang Weili

Overview

Thirteen UFC fights, and the most recent one went the full five rounds against an elite opponent. Zhang Weili is a Women's Flyweight out of Hebei, China, with a UFC record of 10-3 and a 26-4-0 professional record across all promotions.

She isn't a one-note finisher. Four of her ten UFC wins came by stoppage (two KO/TKO, two submissions), and six went to the scorecards. Her longest win streak is five. She enters her next fight on a one-fight losing streak, and that loss came to Valentina Shevchenko.

Ten wins, four stoppages. The rest she won the long way.

UFC Career

Zhang debuted at UFC 227 in August 2018 with a three-round unanimous decision over Danielle Taylor. Her second fight ended early: a first-round submission of Jessica Aguilar at 3:41. A unanimous decision over Tecia Pennington at UFC 235 made it three straight.

The fourth fight was a stoppage of Jessica Andrade, one of our model's strong opponents: a first-round KO/TKO in 42 seconds. Her fifth came against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, a five-round split decision. That completed a five-fight win streak, her longest.

Then two straight losses, both to Rose Namajunas: a first-round KO/TKO at 1:18 at UFC 261, and a five-round split decision at UFC 268. Both opponents rated as strong.

The next run started with a rematch. She beat Jedrzejczyk by second-round KO/TKO at UFC 275, then submitted Carla Esparza in the second round at UFC 281, 1:05 in. Decision wins over Amanda Lemos and Yan Xiaonan followed, both going five rounds, the latter at UFC 300.

A five-round unanimous decision over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 made it five wins in a row again. The streak ended at UFC 322, where Shevchenko won a five-round unanimous decision. Shevchenko is the only opponent on her record whom our model tiers as elite.

Six of her thirteen UFC fights have been five-round affairs. She has been tested often, and the data shows it.

Fighting Style

Zhang Weili is a busy, accurate striker who is hard to hit. She lands more than most UFC fighters and takes in far less, even though her striking defense is only around the UFC average. She also holds up well against takedowns, which makes her hard to put on the mat.

She doesn't abandon the grappling side. She shoots for takedowns more than most fighters. Her submission attempt rate runs low, so she doesn't hunt for submissions, yet two of her four finishes are submissions and the other two are knockouts or TKOs.

The finishes come early or not at all. Two of her four stoppages came in round one and the other two in round two. Nothing has been finished after the second round, and six of her ten UFC wins went to a decision.

Notable Wins

• Jessica Andrade — KO/TKO, round 1 (0:42), UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang (2019)
• Joanna Jedrzejczyk — KO/TKO, round 2 (2:28), UFC 275 (2022)
• Carla Esparza — submission, round 2 (1:05), UFC 281 (2022)
• Tatiana Suarez — unanimous decision, round 5, UFC 312 (2025)

Quick Facts

• Division: Women's Flyweight
• UFC record: 10-3
• Professional record (all promotions): 26-4-0
• UFC debut: 2018
• Stance: Switch
• Height and reach: 5'4", 63" reach
• Team: Team Zhang
• Born: Hebei, China