Zhang Weili's stay in the United States has never felt so difficult to return home

Zhang Weili is in training.

Zhang Weili beat Joanna. Pictures of this edition / UFC official website

In half a year, Zhang Weili got China's first UFC gold belt at home, and then went on to defend the title successfully. On March 25, Zhang Weili, who was stranded in Las Vegas, USA due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, accepted a telephone interview with the Beijing News reporter. Speaking of this twisty defending battle, Zhang Weili was not easy to say, and said that every player in the octagon cage deserves respect.

1 Preparation period

Weight loss was too severe and once poisoned by water

On August 31, 2019, Zhang Weili won KO Brazil's Andrade in UFC Shenzhen Station and got the first UFC gold belt of Chinese players.

Six months later, Zhang Weili ushered in the first defending battle of her career, and her opponent was the Polish Joanna Yederzec. Although the golden belt was saved after playing 5 rounds, Zhang Weili could not find the defender's feeling at all. "The defender should be sitting here and waiting for you to come and challenge me. I have experienced too many twists and turns this time I'm going to challenge others. "

In this match with Joanna, Zhang Weili did not fully perform to the standard. She said that she had a bad feeling from the first day of rushing to leave Beijing.

At 10:00 on February 1st, Zhang Weili temporarily received the departure call and rushed to the airport at 12:00. After arriving at Thailand, she arrived at the hotel at 1 am the next day. When Zhang Weili set off, China was in the severe period of the epidemic. She needed to stay in other non-infected countries for 14 days before entering the United States.

But without waiting for Zhang Weili to adjust to the temperature difference between Beijing and Bangkok of nearly 30 ℃, Thailand also became an epidemic area, and she could only bypass Abu Dhabi to the United States. Jet lag, diet, and temperature difference, Zhang Weili has to adapt one by one, which makes her biological clock a bit messy.

One morning in Abu Dhabi, Zhang Weili suddenly sat up and the biological clock reminded her to get up and run in the morning. "I opened my eyes and watched the time, only at 3 am." Zhang Weili took a moment to tell herself that it was in Abu Dhabi, not Thailand.

After finally getting to Las Vegas, Zhang Weili suffered from water poisoning again when she dropped weight. That day, she drank 7 kg of water. As usual, steam out of the sauna. However, the continuous interviews that day disrupted Zhang Weili's training schedule. "The water is all accumulated in the stomach, which is particularly uncomfortable, dizzy, and nauseous."

At 24:00 that day, Zhang Weili vomited violently, and was too dizzy to walk. She quickly called her coach Cai Xuejun. It was not until the afternoon of the next day that she slowly came over.

After winning the game, Zhang Weili cried loudly on the ring. "It's not easy. I feel that the stone has finally been put down. It was too tight before."

2 treatment period

Comforting crying opponent in hospital

The battle between Zhang Weili and Joanna is fierce. In the words of UFC president Bai Dana, "This game is destined to enter the Hall of Fame."

However, Zhang Weili said that purely from a technical perspective, neither of the two players could fully play in this game. "We are very cautious. We are careful when we meet in the first few games, and we are particularly worried about the sudden attack by the opponent."

For Zhang Weili, this was her first defending battle; Joanna faced a game that could no longer be lost. At this point, Zhang Weili was very clear, "This is an opportunity for her to return to the grassweight championship. If she can't, she won't be able to return at all."

In the first 4 rounds, neither of them took advantage. Before the fifth round, the two gave a rare hug, and then began the ultimate fight. Zhang Weili said that until then, although the two had no communication, they broke the gap with each other.

After a bloody battle, neither Zhang Weili nor Joanna attended the press conference and went directly to the hospital. Behind a curtain, Zhang Weili heard Joanna crying in the bed next door. Zhang Weili, who does n’t understand the language, does n’t know how to comfort Joanna, she ca n’t stop saying “Good Job”! Zhang Weili said that Joanna cried for a long time. Right. "

When she left the hospital, Joanna hugged Zhang Weili with a big bag on her forehead. "If you keep defending, I will look at you. It will be more and more difficult in the back, come on!"

"When she said this, I wanted to cry." Zhang Weili said at that time, she felt the cherished relationship between the warriors. "I think this is her recognition of me. If she is not convinced, she will definitely not Would say so. "

For many years, Zhang Weili likes to use the platform as the boundary. She entered the platform as an opponent, and she went down as a friend. "We will respect each other by martial arts friends." Zhang Weili said that she would never be happy because she defeated her opponent. "Every martial artist and every athlete standing in an octagonal cage deserves respect."

3 Isolation period

Never felt so difficult to go home

In an interview after winning, Zhang Weili's speech on high emotional quotation touched countless people. "I hope my country will survive the epidemic. The epidemic is no longer a matter for the Chinese, but a matter for the whole world. I hope to work together to overcome epidemic."

Zhang Weili thought about this speech before the game. When training in China, Zhang Weili was very concerned about the epidemic. "Seeing a lot of confirmed cases every day will give you a particularly depressed feeling." Just at this time, it is time to fight the defense. Zhang Weili especially hopes to bring a victory to the people.

While bringing victory to others, Zhang Weili also strengthened her confidence from front-line medical staff. Because of the epidemic, Zhang Weili rushed to the United States after changing places of departure. When she first arrived in Thailand from Abu Dhabi, Zhang Weili was depressed, and she called her mother to complain when she couldn't sleep.

"My mother told me that so many medical staff and police rushed to the front line at the risk of their lives. I didn't have time to sleep. Why do I feel depressed when I just change places?" After listening to her mother, Zhang Weili suddenly felt that she was not one. People are fighting, "Since then, my mentality has been completely relaxed and my confidence has been strengthened even more."

Despite all the difficulties before the game, Zhang Weili survived, "I told myself, I must cheer everyone up with a victory."

The game was won, but the epidemic was not over. As planned, Zhang Weili should return to China a week ago. Unexpectedly, the outbreak in the United States suddenly worsened, Zhang Weili and her team could only stay in the United States. The stadium is not open, she can only be isolated in the residence.

For this golden belt, Zhang Weili has not been home since March last year. After coming out in February this year, he has also drifted overseas for two months. "Oh my god, I can't stand it ..." The girl in Hebei who never cried on the ring sobbed at the end of the phone. "I feel so depressed, especially want to go back. I never felt so difficult to go home."

Hurry up

"Integrating the essence of Chinese martial arts into MMA"

Q: Did the parents watch this game with Joanna?

A: My mother hasn't dared to watch this game replay till now. I also dared to video with my mother after my face was swollen after four or five days of the game.

Q: Any suggestions for young people who want to enter MMA?

A: There must be goals and a good team. This is not a one-man project. There will be a lot of temptations just after you score, but you must remember what you want.

Q: You interact frequently with artists such as Zhang Ziyi on social media. What do you think of "out of the circle"?

A: I received a lot of blessings from big coffees this time, and also added WeChat. To be honest, I felt particularly surprised. There is no difference in style, we should all support and encourage each other. It ’s not important that they do n’t understand me. What ’s important is to understand the sport of MMA.

Q: How does traditional Chinese martial arts help MMA combat?

A: I have practiced traditional Chinese martial arts since childhood. There are many footwork that are not available in fighting now. MMA is an inclusive sport, and I also hope to incorporate the essence of Chinese martial arts into MMA.

Writing / Beijing News reporter Sun Haiguang