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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 06: Shaquille O’Neal attends AOL Build to discuss his collaboration with Toys For Tots at AOL HQ on December 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage)
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 06: Shaquille O’Neal attends AOL Build to discuss his collaboration with Toys For Tots at AOL HQ on December 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage)
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was in for a ‘not-so-pleasant’ surprise when a UFC champ greeted him a few hours ago. Known for his incredible strength and nonchalant attitude, the former Los Angeles Lakers star instantly regretted challenging the 210 lbs lighter UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion. The 34-year-old Chinese MMA star posted this special interaction with the 4x NBA champion on her Instagram handle.
In the video, the UFC champ forces a 3-word confession out of the 7-foot giant.
Shaquille O’Neal instantly regrets his challenge
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Zhang Weili is the current and two-time Women’s Strawweight UFC Champion. The humble UFC Champion recently posted an Instagram video of her meeting and ‘punching‘ Shaquille O’Neal. At the time, Shaq was working out in the gym but immediately hopped off the elliptical as the UFC champion greeted him.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY – NOVEMBER 12: Weili Zhang in her Women Strawweight title fight during the UFC 281 event at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2022 in New York City, New York, United States. Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Louis Grasse / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xLouisxGrassex/xSPPx spp-en-LoGr-lrg2211121096395_UFC281_MAIN
Shaq playfully challenged Zhang to punch him in the stomach. The 34-year-old, however, joked around as she slowly punched his stomach. The former Lakers star then seriously asked the UFC champ to punch him.
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Zhang Weili seemingly uses more force the second time but not enough to count as an “actual” punch, at least by her standards. However, this punch was enough for the retired NBA legend to fall to his knees with a look of shock on his face.
She captioned the post, “I met a big shark today. And I punched him @shaq“. The NBA legend commented on Zhang Weili’s post as he made a 3-word confession, “You hit hard!“
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It may not seem like it, but the 210-lighter Zhang Weili is one of the most dominant female MMA fighters that UFC has ever seen. Her humble and kind nature outside the octagon adds to the charm of the ruthless fighter she is inside the octagon.
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Zhang Weili’s incredible strength
In another Instagram post of the female UFC Champion, she can be seen challenging Shaquille O’Neal to another impressive feat. After Zhang Weili’s brutal punch to Shaq, both legends hugged. However, the China native asked the 7-foot giant if she could lift him. The Lakers legend agreed immediately, probably thinking she wouldn’t be able to. But Zhang did the impossible and lifted the 351-pound beast with two hands over one of his legs.
Zhang is one of the most influential Chinese athletes in the UFC. Coming from humble beginnings, she was surrounded by martial arts and combat sports from childhood. She has participated in many amateur fighting events in China, which have much more dangerous combat rules like elbow and knee strikes.
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What are your thoughts on Shaquille O’Neal’s interaction with Zhang Weili? Let us know in the comments below!
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