UFC 268: how Zhang Weili is inspiring a new generation of female Chinese fighters
- Student Chelsea Chenxi Zhu one of many Chinese women inspired by the UFC star’s rise to the top of the sport
- ‘There’s a social stereotype in China and in my heart I want to challenge that. I want to be a role model like Weili,’ says Zhu
Chelsea Chenxi Zhu’s mother was worried about her fixation with mixed martial arts – until she saw her daughter watching Zhang Weili.
The moment came back in March 2020 when Zhu was sat in front of the TV in her Shanghai home, and she was watching on as Zhang went to war with Poland’s Joanna Jędrzejczyk in Las Vegas to defend the UFC’s strawweight title in what was later voted 2020’s Fight of the Year.
“My mother was watching me watching her, and she said you’re more excited than Zhang Weili,” Zhu explains. “She said after watching me that she finally understood why I love this sport, and why I want to fight.”
As Zhang (21-2) prepares for her rematch against American Rose Namajunas (10-4) at UFC 268 in New York on November 6, the Hebei-born fighter’s popularity and influence continues to soar.
Since winning the title, Zhang has been signed on as the face of cosmetic giants Estée Lauder, and to contracts with carmakers Audi and clothing company Under Armour. Her social media community continues to expand – on Chinese messaging platform Weibo it went from 1.6 million to 1.74 million in the weeks after the Namajunas rematch was made; on Instagram it now sits at almost 700,000, after being 500,000 at the start of 2020.
