Former UFC champion surprises with makeover and catches fans' attention: 'I want to marry this woman'

W. Zhang is the UFC champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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Weili Zhang surprised fans by revealing a change in her look during her career break. The Chinese fighter, who hasn't fought since November 2025, is coming off a loss to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322, where she attempted to win her second Ultimate Fighting Championship belt. Taking advantage of the hiatus from the octagon, the former strawweight champion (up to 52,3 kg) opted for a style makeover, which quickly caught the public's attention.

In a social media post, Weili Zhang revealed that she enlisted the help of a professional makeup artist to learn new techniques and improve her appearance outside of the competition environment.

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"There was a professional makeup artist who taught me how to apply makeup," said Weili Zhang.

See Weili Zhang's visual transformation.

Weili Zhang shows off a new look 👀

“There was a professional makeup artist who taught me to apply makeup.” pic.twitter.com/MMphflwDHF

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 21, 2026

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Weili Zhang showing off the new look in her latest videos

(via @MmaWeili ) https://t.co/0qPIVnCNeP pic.twitter.com/WJKJIxqzGj

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 22, 2026

Weili Zhang Showing Off Her New Look 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FHj9EtlqCj

— Kevin (@realkevink) July 22, 2026

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👀👩 Zhang Weili tries new makeup:

“There was a professional makeup artist who taught me to apply makeup. Trying new is not good at.”

🎥 @zhangweilimma pic.twitter.com/Znh30Cl25v

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) July 21, 2026

Check out what the fans are saying.

"Zhang Weili, with her makeup and hair perfectly done, is no joke one of the most beautiful women I've ever laid eyes on, and that's a fact, under Xi Jinping."

Zhang Weili with her makeup and shi done properly is deadass 1 of the most beautiful women I've laid my eyes upon and that's on Xi Jinping

— Tiger (@Tiger420xd) July 22, 2026

Even if Zhang Weili tore me apart, I'd still be grateful for it. I want to marry that woman, oh my god. https://t.co/gWlzfHfn7s

— Tony Redgrave (@Grace_soReal) July 21, 2026

"Let's be honest. Bimbo Weili would have broken PPV records."

Let's be honest.
Bimbo Weili would've broken PPV records. pic.twitter.com/R4DKxN2B9b

— The People's MMA 🦈 (@ThePeoplesMMA) July 22, 2026

Weili Zhang is experiencing a moment of uncertainty in the UFC

Undefeated between June 2022 and February 2025, with five consecutive wins, four of them in title fights, Weili Zhang decided to take a bigger step in her career and move up a weight class to pursue the UFC flyweight title (up to 56,7 kg). However, the Chinese fighter was unable to replicate her dominance from the strawweight division and ended up being defeated by Valentina Shevchenko.

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After the setback, fans and experts began to speculate that Zhang's next move would be a return to strawweight, with a possible title fight in the division. The expectation was that the Chinese fighter would face then-champion Mackenzie Dern , but the Brazilian was scheduled to defend her belt against Gillian Robertson at UFC 331, set for August 15th, leaving Weili without a defined opponent.