UFC 322 delivered a night to remember for MMA fans, with blockbuster fights dominating the stage from the early prelims all the way to the main card. The action unfolded in the heart of the Big Apple during the event’s eighth outing at the iconic Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, before the night wrapped up with the welterweight title clash between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena, the co-main event, the women’s flyweight title bout between former two-time strawweight champion Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko, stole the spotlight.

Over five thrilling rounds, both fighters displayed incredible skill, but in the end, Zhang Weili’s striking precision and ground-and-pound fell short against Shevchenko. In the fight, the Peruvian star dominated the Chinese fighter, and this loss leaves Zhang Weili’s future in the division uncertain. Despite the setback, her previous monumental victories had already cemented her status as a two-division champion. The journey, however, is far from over, and fans are eagerly speculating about what’s next for Weili.

What’s in store for Zhang Weili following UFC 322?

Today, Zhang Weili missed the opportunity to cement her legacy as one of the greatest female fighters of all time. Her decision to vacate the strawweight title did not pay off, and this latest setback sends her back to the drawing board, where she will face top opponents who are either on losing streaks or top 10 in divison. Among the top contenders, Manon Fiorot emerges as a strong candidate to face Zhang Weili. She challenged for the title in March but fell short against Valentina Shevchenko. Last month, however, she bounced back with a knockout victory over Jasmine Jasudavicius.

Fighters in Zhang Weili’s position often need just one more win to earn another title shot, which puts Manon Fiorot firmly in the mix. Former champion Alexa Grasso is also a contender, though she has struggled after back-to-back losses, one to Shevchenko and her most recent defeat to Natália Silva at UFC 315. Silva has emerged as a rising threat, while Erin Blanchfield remains a serious title challenger, having defeated Rose Namajunas and, most recently, Tracy Cortez on the UFC 322 undercard.

There is also a possibility that Zhang Weili could return to her strawweight division following her unsuccessful bid against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322. In that case, she could face top contenders like Virna Jandiroba and Tatiana Suarez. But will Zhang actually choose to drop back down to 115lbs? Let’s take a closer look.

Will Weili stick to flyweight or make a strawweight return?

“I’ve always wanted to move up a weight class, but the timing was never right… I don’t have to endure so much pain just to make weight,” Zhang Weili said earlier this year. The comment came after the Chinese star grew tired of the grueling weight cuts that have long defined her career. Earlier this year, fighters like Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev also moved up divisions to avoid severe weight cuts.

After today’s performance and her loss to Valentina Shevchenko, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Zhang Weili will stay at flyweight or return to strawweight. Fans are eagerly awaiting a response from the Chinese superstar, who vacated her strawweight title, now held by Mackenzie Dern. Ahead of UFC 322, Zhang was asked whether she would return to strawweight if she lost or even if she won. Her answer was brief but clear. “I want to congratulate Mackenzie Dern, the new strawweight champion, but we’ll see after my fight this Saturday,” Zhang said.

It remains uncertain whether Zhang Weili will remain in the bantamweight division. At 36, the toll of cutting weight is significant, and few fighters want to endure the strain of extreme weight cuts. Her career remains firmly tied to the UFC, and fans will have to wait for further updates on her next move.