After the lowest year of her professional fighting career, Zhang Weili needed to get back on track in 2022.
The China-born strawweight who entered 2021 with the UFC title around her waist, not only dropped the belt, but went 0-2 in back-to-back bouts against now-former champ Rose Namajunas. The first loss was a highlight knockout, but in the second, Weili pushed her opponent to the limit, and won over a judge in the split decision result.
Even though she lost a close battle, her performance proved that she belonged at the top of the division, and perhaps, Namajunas just had her number. Regardless, her path back to the title would be tough with “Thug Rose” sitting on the throne.
Weili’s first challenge of 2022 was a rematch against former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 275 in June, who she fought to a split decision 27 months prior. This time, the judges would not be needed to determine the result. Weili finished the fight with a beautiful spinning backfist in the second round, sending Jedrzejczyk into retirement.
It was a huge win for Weili, who not only bounced back into the win column in a big way, but because Carla Esparza defeated Namajunas to become a two-time champion a month before. Weili now had a clear path to a title shot because Esparza was a fresh opponent for Weili, and the UFC was on board with setting up the fight.
At UFC 281 in November, Weili faced Esparza in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York. The stage was set for a big moment in one of the world’s most famous arenas, and Weili capitalized on her opportunity to bring the title back to China. In the second round, she trapped Esparza in a crucifix and then slapped on a tight rear-naked choke to force a tap to become a two-time champion herself.
The few doubters of Weili’s status as an elite of the division were completely silenced after her run in 2022. She looks like a fighter capable of carrying the torch for her country for many years to come. Weili is faster than her peers, and she’s certainly stronger. Look no further than her lifting heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
Honorable mention
Larissa Pacheco
The Female Fighter of the Year was a two-horse race, and Larissa Pacheco was right on Weili’s heels at the finish line.
The Pacheco who fell to former UFC champions Jessica Andrade and Germaine de Randamie in her first two bouts with the promotion in 2014-15 is entirely unrecognizable from the PFL champion of today.
The Brazilian lightweight hit a new stride after losing to Kayla Harrison at the 2019 PFL Championships. She showed her improvements the following year by recording two first-round finishes of Julija Pajic and Olena Kolesnyk.
But something was different in 2022. Pacheco stepped into the PFL cage with a different look in her eye. This time, she looked every bit the part of the fighter who was going to not only compete for the PFL championship again, but win it.
Her campaign began in May, and the first-round destruction continued. Pacheco starched Zamzagul Fayzallanova in less than 90 seconds. Two months later, Genah Fabian was the next to fall to her crushing power in the opening round. Kolesnyk suffered the same fate as their first meeting, but in less than half the time.
Pacheco was on fire, and her third shot against Harrison was set for the championship and the $1 prize.
The third time was a charm for Pacheco, who pulled out a gritty unanimous decision win over the Olympic gold medalist to claim the title and the biggest payday of her career that began in 2012.
