Where does Zhang Weili go from here? Why retirement should not be out of the question after UFC 322

Another UFC strawweight title reign would do nothing for Zhang Weili’s legacy

In her post-fight interview inside the Octagon, an upbeat Weili promised to bounce back stronger. The main talking point surrounding her next step is a potential return to the strawweight division. On paper, that is about as exciting as rewatching Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza from UFC 274.

Of course, I am exaggerating. Like many of the all-time greats, simply watching their talents inside the cage regardless of how easy their victories come is a pleasure in itself. But with Weili, we have been there and done that.

UFC 322 opened up the possibility of a new chapter in the book of her illustrious career. Shevchenko tore out those pages, and a return to a division where we know the Chinese legend is head and shoulders above the rest in skill is hard to get intrigued about.

Mackenzie Dern defeated Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 to become Weili’s successor at 115 pounds. That fight, while not dull, proved the downfall of the strawweight division, which once stood clear of both the flyweight and bantamweight rosters.

After how that fight in Abu Dhabi played out, there is little doubt in my mind that ‘Magnum’ would make Dern’s reign a short one. Beyond unseating the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, what else is there? Weili has already beaten Tatiana Suarez, Amanda Lemos, and Yan Xiaonan. So a first-time fight with Jandiroba? Loopy Godinez? Iasmin Lucindo? Gillian Robertson?

If Weili is content with further proving her dominance with win after win over inferior fighters, she is not short on cannon fodder. But if she actually intends on doing something to push her legacy to greater levels, that is where the problem lies.

Zhang Weili will not become UFC flyweight champion while Valentina Shevchenko rules

On paper, a return to the strawweight throne would be historic. Zhang would become the first three-time champion across any weight class on the women’s roster. But in the same way as watching a professional soccer team beat its own kids academy would not be impressive, I am not sure that achieves what it should given the state of the strawweight division in 2025.

So, if Weili’s motivation is to continue building her résumé with legacy-defining achievements, there is little to nothing awaiting her at 115 pounds. Which begs the question, what else is there?

It was clear during the lead-up to UFC 322 how keen ‘Magnum’ was to become only the second two-division women’s champion. But not only did she fall short of that feat at MSG, she did not even come close to it.

Modern-day Shevchenko is more than content on using every one of her advantages to secure as comfortable and risk-free of a victory as possible.

Hence why my prediction for the UFC 322 co-main event read, “As long as she avoids the kind of unforced error that set up her shock defeat to Alexa Grasso, I can see Valentina Shevchenko using her size advantage to grind out a potentially unentertaining decision victory.”

That is simply the MO for the current stage of ‘Bullet’s’ career.

Assuming that does not change, I’d be confident in saying Weili has close to no chance of (a) beating Shevchenko in a rematch and (b) securing a second dance with the Kyrgyzstani legend in the first place.

There is one conceivable curveball that could open a door for Weili.

If talk of Shevchenko returning to bantamweight and challenging the winner of Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes turns to reality, recent history would tell us that the UFC would require the flyweight belt to be vacated.

Perhaps that would be the only incentive for ‘Magnum’ to face a flyweight contender in early 2026 — to put herself in a position to fill one half of a potential vacant title fight at 125 pounds against a name like Natalia Silva, Erin Blanchfield, or a familiar foe in Namajunas.

Either way, much like how Weili’s shadow loomed over Dern’s title win, the same would be the case if ‘Magnum’ achieved two-division glory only because of Shevchenko’s departure from the division.

Who should Islam Makhachev fight next?

If Weili simply enjoys fighting as much as she ever has and wants to compete until she feels physically restricted, who am I or anyone else to tell the 36-year-old to call it quits?

But if she is motivated by a search for challenges that will actually add to what she has already accomplished, she may be taking up an impossible task — and one that might be a worse option than retirement.