When the calendar flipped from Dec. 31, 2021 to Jan. 1, 2022, Zhang Weili was on a two-fight skid with an uncertain path back to title contention. Fast forward a year, and she’s back on top of strawweight throne.

That’s quite the comeback.

Weili (23-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) capitalized on her 2022 campaign in violent and dominant fashion with finishes over former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and then-champion Carla Esparza en route to a UFC title clinch.

The first highlight added to her reel was...

Continue Reading MMA Junkie's 2022 Comeback Fighter of the Year: Zhang Weili