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Nicolas Atkin

China’s first UFC champion, Zhang Weili, has revealed ongoing visa issues are preventing her from entering the US.
“Magnum” made history for China with a stunning TKO of Jessica Andrade at UFC Shenzhen on August 31 to claim the strawweight title.
But the 30-year-old, whose corner were denied visas for her fight in Las Vegas against Tecia Torres in March, is being prevented from entering the States for a promotional tour next week.
“My American visa was refused again,” Zhang (20-1) wrote in an Instagram post. “I don’t know why.




















View this post on Instagram



















My American visa was refused again. I don't know why. Is it the wrong type of visa I should apply for? Or because I'm a single woman? Or is the visa officer in a bad mood at work today? I hope this can be resolved so I can visit and get to meet some of my new friends and fans in America. We are still working on it and hope to have good news in time for me to make the trip on Oct 15th
A post shared by Weili Zhang 张伟丽 (@zhangweilimma) on Oct 7, 2019 at 7:13am PDT



“Is it the wrong type of visa I should apply for? Or because I’m a single woman? Or is the visa officer in a bad mood at work today?
“I hope this can be resolved so I can visit and get to meet some of my new friends and fans in America. We are still working on it and hope to have good news in time for me to make the trip on October 15.”
Dana White sees dollar signs (and yuan) in Zhang Weili, the UFC’s first Chinese champion
UFC president Dana White said after Zhang’s win that he planned to put her on a big Las Vegas fight card next, to get her some more exposure to the US audience, before bringing her back to China.
Her visa issues – which come amid heightened tensions between the US and China – may disrupt those plans. But Zhang later revealed that Democratic congresswoman of Hawaii and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is trying to lend her a hand.
“Wow! I just received news from my manager that miss @tulsigabbard contacted him to try and help us. Thank you thank you miss Tulsi,” she wrote.


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‘Magnum’ hopes to visit the States next week ‘to meet some of my new fans and friends’
The 30-year-old is clueless as to her rejection – ‘is it because I’m a single woman?’



‘Magnum’ hopes to visit the States next week ‘to meet some of my new fans and friends’, but is clueless as to her rejection – ‘is it because I’m a single woman?’


Chinese UFC champion Zhang Weili vents frustration as US denies visa for promotional visit

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} ‘Magnum’ hopes to visit the States next week ‘to meet some of my new fans and friends’ The 30-year-old is clueless as to her rejection – ‘is it because I’m a single woman?’

‘Magnum’ hopes to visit the States next week ‘to meet some of my new fans and friends’

The 30-year-old is clueless as to her rejection – ‘is it because I’m a single woman?’