Zhang Weili is heading into a very important fight in her career. She will be challenging UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza to try and regain her lost title at UFC 281. The bout will serve as the co-main event of one of the biggest cards of the year. All eyes will be on this event and Weili believes it will give her the opportunity to expand herself to worldwide fame.
Weili came to the UFC back in 2018, and after just three fights in the organization, she fought for the title and won. Following the win, she was thrust into the spotlight and became a household name within the MMA community.
Zhang Weili believes a win at UFC 281 will lead her to a whole new level
Weili is from China and is now one of the most well-known fighters from that country. She takes pride in her heritage and feels that she also gets support from her country as well. She spoke at the UFC 281 media day about the love she gets back at home and how a win can lead to worldwide love.
“(The first title fight) make millions of Chinese people know me and know UFC, know MMA, and this time, at that moment I am the Weili from China I’m China’s Zhang Weili but this time if I can win the belt again in New York City, in the worldwide famous city I believe Saturday night I am the world’s Zhang Weili,“ she said.
Since bursting onto the scene, Weili has garnished support from fight fans all around the world and almost singlehandedly put China on the map within the UFC. She was the first champion from China and even caught the attention of Dana White. She said she can feel the support from the Chinese fans at home and in the U.S when she is getting ready for a fight.
“I can feel it every single day, the support from Chinese MMA fans, from Chinese people even I mean in the U.S there are a lot of Chinese fans who support me,” she said.
Weili will have the chance to do just that when she takes on the first UFC strawweight champion ever in Esparza. UFC 281 goes down on Saturday, Nov. 12 live from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
