Fighting out of Beijing, China, “Magnum” Zhang Weili, 30,
made history on August 31, 2019 by emerging as the winner in the main event of
“UFC Fight Night 157.” She became the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first
ever champion of Chinese descent.
The UFC held “UFC Fight Night 157″ at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre
Arena in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. In the main event of the evening, Zhang
challenged then reigning UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Jéssica “Bate Estaca”
Andrade, 27, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with Leon Roberts as the referee.
It only took Zhang 42 seconds to dethrone Andrade. Roberts put a stop to
the title bout when the Chinese challenge knocked out the Brazilian defending
champion via knees and punches in the first minute of the first round.
Winning at “UFC Fight Night 157″ improved the
professional mixed martial arts record of Zhang to 20 wins and 1 loss. On the
other hand, Andrade now has 20 wins and 7 losses.
Born in Hebei, China on August 13, 1989, Zhang trained Sanda, Shuai
Jiao and Brazilian jiu-jitsu before transitioning to MMA. She made her
professional MMA debut on November 9, 2013 in Xuchang, China where she lost to
her countryman Bo Meng via unanimous decision.
Bo is the only MMA fighter to defeat Zhang in a professional bout. She
competed in Kunlun Fight MMA before joining the UFC in 2018.
On August 4, 2018, Zhang made her UFC debut at “UFC 227” in Los Angeles,
California, United States. She defeated Danielle “Dynamite” Taylor, 29, of the
U.S. via unanimous decision.
For the second time, Zhang won in the UFC on November 24, 2018. She
submitted Jessica “JAG” Aguilar,37, of the U.S. via armbar at “UFC Fight Night
141” in Beijing, China.
On March 2, 2019, Zhang earned her third UFC win. She defeated Tecia “The
Tiny Tornado” Torres, 29, of the U.S. via unanimous decision at “UFC 235” in
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Zhang was the first challenger of Andrade as the reigning UFC Women’s
Strawweight Champion. The latter earned the title on May 11, 2019 at “UFC 237”
in Rio de Janeiro by dethroning former champ Rose “Thug” Namajunas, 27, of the
U.S. via knockout via slam.
Wining Performance of the Night, Zhang received a $50,000 bonus. Co-main
event winner “The Leech” Li Jingliang, 31, of Xinjiang, China received the
same recognition and bonus.
Check all the “UFC Fight Night 157” results on Conan Daily. Here
are Zhang and Andrade in their respective post-fight interviews in the octagon:
