Bruce Lee fan Zhang Weili was a 'glorious failure' in martial arts – how did she become China's first UFC champion?
After losing her first professional MMA fight, China’s Zhang Weili used her fear of failure to win every bout since – defeating top-ranked Jéssica Andrade to claim the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship title in just 42 seconds
Don’t fear failure. Not failure, but low aim, is the crime … it is glorious even to fail
When Zhang lost to Meng Bo, on a unanimous decision in her professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in 2013, maybe these words by the legendary Bruce Lee, who has been her inspiration for so long, galvanised and reshaped her.
For the next six years, only winning would do for Zhang.
She went on to win 11 straight fights, all submissions, technical knockouts (TKO’s) or knockouts (KO’s). Between April 17, 2014, and February 25, 2017, she was on a mission to become “the first Chinese champion, and I made it”, Zhang said after stunning the No 1-ranked Brazilian, Jéssica Andrade, with a 42-second TKO on August 31 to claim the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Women's Strawweight Championship title.
Scrapes and schoolyard fights
Zhang’s childhood in Hebei province was filled with scrapes, schoolyard fights, sports and training in martial arts – inspired by the success of pioneering former women’s world champion Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey.
Zhang was a tough little girl and often defended her friends, who relied on her when bully boys pushed them around. “I would make them run,” Zhang said. “I loved to do that, to protect my friends. I wasn’t afraid of the bullies or of a fight.”
