Zhang Weili Discusses UFC's Conditions for Potential Two-Division Title Pursuit

UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili is on the brink of making a significant decision regarding her career. After defending her title against Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312, Zhang has her sights set on a potential move up to the flyweight division.

At UFC 312, Zhang delivered a flawless performance against the undefeated Suarez, cementing her place as one of the best fighters in the women's divisions. Following the victory, Zhang hinted at the possibility of moving to 125 pounds to challenge current flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, a move she has long considered but waited for the right timing.

In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Zhang revealed UFC’s conditions for such a move: "I’ve always wanted to go up one weight class, but it’s never the right timing," she explained. Zhang further added, "UFC wants me to stay at 125 if I go up, no returning to 115 after that." This has forced her to consider the pros and cons of making a permanent switch to flyweight.

Although Zhang’s ambition to become a two-division champion is clear, UFC has set terms for her flyweight challenge. If she moves up, she would need to stay in the division permanently, which raises questions about her future at strawweight. Zhang has not made any concrete decisions but is open to exploring this challenge.

If she stays at 115 pounds, a rematch with Suarez could be in the cards. However, Suarez must first get past Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314 in April before any potential title bout can take place.