Zhang Weili Nickname ‘Magnum’: All We Know About the UFC Star’s Moniker

Zhang Weili will defend her strawweight title for the second time in a historical bout against Chinese compatriot Yan Xiaonan at the UFC 300 anniversary card in Las Vegas. ‘Magnum’s second title defense will be the first all-Chinese title fight in UFC history and will be a testament to the global reach of MMA in general and the UFC in particular.

Weili has taken the UFC by storm in her five year stint at the promotion, and her upcoming fight will be another step for her to cement her legacy as one of the greatest in the strawweight division, which has only been marred by her losses to Rose Namajunas. Ahead of her historical UFC 300 bout, we take a look at why she is nicknamed ‘Magnum’.

Zhang Weili’s nickname is ‘Magnum’

Except for her two losses to Rose Namajunas in 2021, Zhang Weili has not lost a fight in the UFC. In fact, the only other loss in her career came on her mixed martial arts debut back in 2013 when she lost a decision to Meng Bo.

Weili’s early career saw her use her sharp striking while being able to control the distance with her excellent agility, and understanding of range to great effect. Her willingness to get into a firefight, especially early on in her career, and dedication to the sport have seen her become one of the most successful female fighters in UFC history already. Currently ranked #2 on the women’s pound-for-pound list, she is considered one of the top fighters in the world.

The strawweight champion is nicknamed ‘Magnum’, but the exact reason and story behind it is unknown. Her moniker is probably inspired by her deadly fighting skills, relentless pressure, as well as inspiring and unconventional story becoming one of the greatest.

Zhang Weili’s backstory

Zhang Weili has had an interesting martial arts journey which began at the age of six when she started training in Shaolin Kung Fu under a local martial arts master inspired by King Fu films. An athletic prodigy, she took up many sports including soccer, athletics, and ping pong in school. Recognizing her athletic talent, Weili’s parents sent her to a martial arts school at the age of twelve, where she trained in Shuai jiao and Sanda, traditional Chinese martial arts. Despite finding quite some success and winning several state championships, she quit the sport because of a recurring back injury and moved to Beijing at 174.

She eventually started working at a local gym as a fitness instructor, and continued her martial arts training, taking up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and rounding up her arsenal. While working at the gym, ‘Magnum’ met Wu Haotian, a pioneer of mixed martial arts in China, who recognized her talents and brought her to the Black Tiger Fighter Club.

She soon caught the eye of MMA coach Cai Xuejun, who felt that the Hebei native had a lot of potential and started training her in the sport. The strawweight champion made her professional debut in 2013 and signed with the UFC in 2018 after an impressive run in the Chinese MMA circuit, she went on to become a two-time champion and one of the greatest female fighters in history.

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