After UFC 312, Zhang Weili answered yet more critics, shut down more doubters and proved that she deserves to be in the conversation for female GOAT of the sport. After a dominant display against the previously undefeated, Tatiana Suarez, largely beating her at her own game, questions are swirling asking: What’s next? for the dominant strawweight champion. She truly dominated Suarez, proving that despite her unbeaten record and #1 ranking, the American wasn’t close to the level of Magnum. The wrestling ‘phenom’ landed just one of 15 takedown attempts, the same number as Weili.
People have looked to a mega-fight between the strawweight champion, Zhang Weili and the flyweight queen, Valentina Shevchenko. It’s the only logical fight to make as Zhang has convincingly cleared out the division at 115lbs. She’s beaten #1, #2, #4, #5 and #3 is facing #2 in a tough test.
Logically, if Virna Jandiroba beats Yan Xiaonan, she would be enjoying a five-fight winning run and would be next for a title shot. In reality, however, it’s unlikely that that fight would be competitive, even if it does happen.
We’ve got to the point with Zhang Weili where she needs tough, competitive fights. A move up in weight is logical. If she does and beats Valentina Shevchenko, we could be talking about… GOAT status.
Zhang Weili vs Amanda Nunes – GOAT Debate
There is little doubt that Amanda Nunes is the female GOAT of MMA. She achieved it all, two-weight world champion, defeated all other previous bantamweight champions in her path and destroyed Cris Cyborg in a featherweight title bout. She’s got a whos who of female MMA royalty on her record and it’s hard to argue that she isn’t the greatest female mixed martial artist to grace the octagon.
Despite losing her bantamweight title, Nunes won in back in arguably the most dominant title display we’ve ever seen, knocking Juliana Pena down six times on her way to victory. In that bout, she truly was a lioness playing with her prey.
Let’s take a look at some stats:
The statistics alone show just how amazing both women are. A combined 12 title defences, 14 finish victories, 26 UFC wins and 30 UFC bouts.
There is one clear outlier in this table. PPV bouts. Nunes is a certified PPV star, headlining the huge UFC 200 (albeit on short notice) and going on to headline a further six PPVs. Zhang Weili is yet to headline a PPV, however, has headlined a fight night. With regards to star power, Nunes blows her out of the water.
Arguably, seeing Zhang Weili as the GOAT is recency bias. We haven’t seen Nunes since 2023 when she retired at the very top of the game. The argument is, similar to that of Nunes, is that Zhang Weili beats women at their own game. Against Suarez, she dominated her in the clinch and on the ground, clocking up almost 11 minutes control time. Against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in their first bout she largely fought on the feet in the greatest women’s fight we’ve ever been treated to.
There is one large asterisk on Zhang Weili’s career and it looks like Rose Namajunas. Thug Rose shocked many when she knocked out Zhang Weili with a snap headkick at UFC 261. When the two women rematched, Namajunas was yet again able to get the better of her Chinese rival, albeit in a controversial split decision. Weili has never been able to get the better of Namajunas, despite meeting her twice, so can she truly be considered the GOAT?
Comparing that to Nunes, she lost in shock fashion to Pena and then brutalised her in the rematch – GOAT behaviour.
Could Zhang Weili be the GOAT?
There’s a good chance that looking into the future, Zhang Weili could hoist not only the strawweight belt but also the flyweight belt and the GOAT trophy above her head. She’s certainly got the skills to do so.
She has to be quick, however. At 35, she hasn’t got a lot of time left at the top. With that being said, since recapturing the belt, she’s taken very little damage. She has been able to largely navigate fights, take her opponents down when necessary and control them when the fight gets to the ground.
She has to have a hit list, however. Next, must be Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight belt. Shevchenko herself hasn’t seemed to be as passionate as she once was. She’s far more risk-averse and didn’t look comfortable against Alexa Grasso during their first two fights. There were retirement rumours after UFC 306 after she captured the belt back from Grasso, however, she’s far from cleared out the division.
Manon Fiorot is next, without a doubt. Maycee Barber is the young up-and-comer enjoying a six-fight winning run, Natalia Silva hasn’t lost since 2017 and yet, Zhang Weili is her toughest test.
If our outlandish MMA predictions are correct, we will see Shevchenko retire this year after two title defences, none of which come against Zhang Weili.
Let’s hope not, however. Let’s see the megafight during International Fight Week, giving Zhang Weili the time to bulk up to flyweight and Shevchenko prepare for a very tough test.