A few days ago, Zhang Weili's first match in 2022 was finally finalized, and her opponent was Joanna Yangjieczek, whom she was familiar with.

　　I still remember that two years ago, after the two played five rounds, Zhang Weili narrowly won by a split decision and successfully defended the UFC strawweight title.

It was also from that match that Zhang Weili became known to more and more people.

　　But there are no "victorious generals" in the cruel octagonal cage. The two defeats against Ross-Namayunas ended Zhang Weili's winning streak in the UFC and made her lose her gold belt.

　　In a recent exclusive conversation with China-Singapore Sports, Zhang Weili admitted that

failure has brought her a lot of insights, and she will also use failure as a starting point to regain her peak self.

　　The second battle with Joanna will be the beginning of Zhang Weili's sailing.

After embarking on the journey of thorns again, Zhang Weili has more sense of mission.

The gold belt is no longer her ultimate goal. She hopes that more people will know about this sport.

When I meet Joanna again, I want to win

Zhongxin Sports: In the first game of this year, your opponent is Joanna, why is she?

What are your expectations for the rematch?

　　Zhang Weili: I like her technique very much, she also dominated the UFC for a long time before.

The rematch will definitely be great.

I played five games with her in the previous game, and

I hope to play a better game this time.

Of course I hope I can win.

Zhongxin Sports: You are familiar with Joanna's opponent. Will the preparations be easier this time than before?

　　Zhang Weili: As long as you prepare for the game, it is not easy. If you play, you must go all out.

Don't let your guard down just because you've fought with her once.

Everyday preparations are very fulfilling now, and I feel like the time flies by quickly, and the game will be played in a blink of an eye.

China-Singapore Sports: During this period of preparation for the war, what improvements do you think you have made?

　　Zhang Weili: After the game last year, I have been practicing my own shortcomings and basics.

Wait until the game to see how these foundations are combined.

Now my mentality is also very good.

I feel very lucky to be able to pursue a career that I like.

Data map: Zhang Weili performs boxing training.

Photo by Zhang Hengwei

Stress can also be motivation

Zhongxin Sports: After your match with Joanna two years ago, people are paying more and more attention to you. Will this attention put a lot of pressure on you?

　　Zhang Weili: Suddenly there are many people who know you. Watching your game, I still feel a little pressure.

In fact, the longer you practice, the more it depends on your state of mind.

Top athletes have similar skills, it just depends on who has a better mentality.

A lot of pressure is given to yourself, the key is to think about how to turn the pressure into motivation.

I'm just doing every little thing right now and gaining confidence from those things.

Zhongxin Sports: After the battle with Ross last year, why did you cut off your long hair?

　　Zhang Weili: At that time, I thought, nothing can affect my training.

I have always had the idea of ​​cutting my hair short, and I took the opportunity to cut it off, in order to have a better training state.

After cutting the hair, it is much more convenient, and you don’t have to worry about tying the hair and making the hairline move backward during training.

China-Singapore Sports: After losing the first battle, why did you choose to fight Ross so quickly?

　　Zhang Weili: I think the battle will end without showing anything. It shouldn't be like this.

　　Many factors affected me at the time.

On our first trip to America, we spent two days and two nights at the airport.

After we went there, there was no place to train, so we stayed at a friend's house. In addition to the epidemic, we encountered many difficulties at that time.

　　Every time I prepare for a trip, I feel like I can make a movie.

Data map: On March 8, 2020, Beijing time, Zhang Weili defeated Polish player Joanna with a point victory in five rounds and successfully defended her title.

Zhongxin Sports: When many people watch the second round, they think you can win in the first three rounds, but in the end, the challenge is not successful. Where do you think you lost?

　　Zhang Weili: I think I lost in physical fitness. There was a big problem with weight loss last time.

In the second round, my triceps started to cramp, and I couldn't lift it up in the fourth and fifth rounds.

　　The last time I lost weight, I tried taking a sauna, but I lost too much weight, and my energy dropped very fast during the competition.

It's a pity, but that's all from our experience.

Zhongxin Sports: After losing the second round, why did you look so calm?

　　Zhang Weili: At that time, the mentality was much better. In the away game, I can only do my best.

At that time, winning or losing didn't matter to me anymore, just like when I had a fight with Joanna, I didn't think about anything at the end of the fight.

Gold belt, not the ultimate goal

China-Singapore Sports: What inspiration did these two failures bring to you?

How did you come out of the loss?

　　Zhang Weili: No one will be successful all the time, especially adversarial projects.

I think first of all, don't be too anxious. Before the second battle,

I was holding my breath all the time.

After the fight, I felt that I should do it right now.

　　In addition, I have become more mature and understand more about the training system abroad.

When preparing for the war this time, I will also combine the previous preparation system with what I learned in the United States.

　　I came out of failure very quickly.

Life is not smooth sailing. The key is to sum up experience and think about how to make myself stronger.

A little setback will not defeat me. After returning to China, I will return to normal training.

Zhongxin Sports: After the two games last year, there were some bad voices from the outside world. How can you reduce the impact of these negative information on you?

　　At first I would look at the information, but don't care now.

Say what is their freedom, and I can't make everyone like it.

I can't control anyone but myself.

Zhongxin Sports: Do you feel that your career is at a low point now?

　　I don't think so.

I feel like this is the beginning of my peak.

In fact, I am not sure that I will come back, nor do I want to prove myself to anyone, I just want to keep breaking through and become a better version of myself.

Photo courtesy of Zhang Weili.

China-Singapore Sports: You went back to your hometown for the New Year this year. Will your family talk to you about the game?

　　Zhang Weili: They will not take the initiative to tell me these things, they will only care about whether I am tired from training and whether I have any injuries.

Zhongxin Sports: Your parents see you playing so hard, will they persuade you to retire?

　　Zhang Weili: It happened before.

But after the fight with Ross, the family felt that as long as it was something you liked, we would support you.

　　I also think that everyone is born with their own mission. My mission is to let more people join the sport.

The gold belt is just an appendix. I didn’t take the gold belt as the ultimate goal.

The honor is very short-lived.

I hope to help more people understand this sport and make it better.

(Reporter Xing Rui)