On March 8th, just three days before the WHO defined the new epidemic as a "global epidemic", the 29-year-old China girl successfully defended the grass-weight gold belt of UFC, the world's top fighting event. In Asia, this is an unprecedented achievement. (Related links: Dialogue Zhang Weili: Women should not be defined)
However, after winning the championship, Zhang Weili didn't "return home with honor" immediately. Affected by the epidemic, Zhang Weili and her team had to stay in the United States for more than a month to continue their recovery training. After a fierce match with Joanna, Zhang Weili and her opponent were both banned by UFC officials for two months. However, Zhang Weili revealed in Weibo on April 6/KLOC-0 that she would return to China three days later (April 9/KLOC-0).
After defending the champion, Zhang Weili continued to stay in Las Vegas to continue his training.
For sports in China, it seems that there have been no flag figures like Yao Ming, Liu Xiang and Li Na for a long time, who can not only dominate on the court, but also have high commercial value off the court. Zhang Weili is the star of tomorrow in people's eyes.
Like every China athlete who successfully landed in a mature international professional sports league, Zhang Weili has her "beautiful team". Whenever asked about the preparations or feelings after the game, these people will be frequently mentioned by her.
"Collective projects look at individuals, and individual projects look at the collective." Defender Zhang Weili said in an exclusive interview with Lazy Bear Sports. "You look like I'm playing alone, but I'm by no means alone."
If Zhang Weili is making a new national flag, who is making Zhang Weili?
nobody
Zhang Weili was born in a coal miner's family in Fengfeng Mining Area, Handan City, Hebei Province, where folk martial arts prevailed.
1999, when "Xiao Li Fei Dao" played by Vincent Chiao first appeared on the screen, Zhang Weili, then 8 years old, was deeply attracted by Li Xunhuan's martial arts and flying knives. At that time, she had been studying boxing with a local boxer for two years. Zhang Weili, who was fascinated by Xiao Li's flying knife, told her parents that she wanted to go to a martial arts school.
"You are too young." Mom turned her down. In the following four years, the stubborn Zhang Weili repeatedly asked his family to go to a martial arts school to practice martial arts. /kloc-at the age of 0/2, her mother finally agreed to her request and sent her to a martial arts school in Handan to practice Sanda.
Since childhood, Zhang Weili has been obsessed with martial arts and finally embarked on the professional road of fighting.
A martial arts school with more than 500 people has less than 5% girls. Zhang Weili was often beaten black and blue in boxing training with boys. Three years later, she stood out and won the Sanda championship in Hebei Province.
But soon, the waist injury began to attack Zhang Weili's body. In 2008, 17 years old, she had no choice but to quit Sanda. Like many athletes from sports schools, the way out after leaving the sports team has become her problem.
In 2009, Zhang Weili came to Beijing to work alone. In his first year in Beijing, with the help of his brother Zhang Weifeng, Zhang Weili worked as a hotel receptionist, cashier and kindergarten teacher, and was even recruited as a security guard because of his martial arts skills. "But they haven't been working long, and they will jump ship in a few months." Zhang Weili recalled to Lazy Bear Sports.
After being transferred to the front desk of the gym, Zhang Weili stayed because it allowed her to fight. Every night after work, Zhang Weili will stay alone in the gym and play sandbags. She doesn't know the meaning of doing this. "But I just like it."
Fortunately, Zhang Weili's gym often has soldiers to train. Among them, Wu Haotian, a famous domestic boxer known as "Dragon of Zhenhai", is also the official guide for Zhang Weili to enter the fighting world.
After work, Zhang Weili will secretly learn the training movements of Wu Hao Tiandeng masters. Later, when he was transferred from the front desk of the gym to do sales, Zhang Weili had more opportunities to ask Wu Haotian for technical questions and even fight directly.
Wu Haotian was moved by the girl's fighting talent and studious spirit, so she introduced him to a boxing gym called "Boxing World" in Beijing Sihui, and it was free. Cai Xuejun, the partner of this boxing gym, is what Zhang Weili later called "Cai Junshi". "He is the leader and beacon in my career." Zhang Weili said.
On 20 12, Zhang Weili officially started the comprehensive fighting training in boxing. That year, she was 2 1 year old.
Enter the professional MMA
When Cai first met him. She is training with Wu Haotian in the boxing gym. Cai was awed by the momentum of the little girl in front of her eyes, and every punch seemed to be full of fierce wildness. "This is a piece of combat material," Cai thought.
In the first year of boxing world, Zhang Weili had to practice boxing in her spare time because she was still a gym salesman. Although she has a good martial arts foundation, she can't practice some more professional training because of the time schedule.
On October 2013165438+10, Cai took him to Xuchang, Henan province to participate in a MMA competition called "C 1 China mixed fighting league competition". This is the first official MMA competition of Zhang Weili's career. Her opponent is Bo Meng, a famous female boxer in China. However, due to the opponent's failure to strictly follow the heavyweight requirements, Zhang Weili in the 56 kg class finally lost to Bo Meng in the 60 kg class-the only defeat in her MMA career so far.
After losing the game and returning to Beijing, Zhang Weili, a strong player, was very depressed. She felt that she had tried her best to train and compete, but she still failed to win, which was a huge gap from what she had expected when she first came to boxing. Seeing the mood, Cai Xiang suggested: "You'd better quit your job and concentrate on training."
In order to get good grades, Zhang Weili quit his job in the gym. (See the watermark for the source)
Accepted Cai's suggestion and became a full-time boxer.
In the first year of career change, Zhang Weili made rapid progress and participated in many domestic competitions.
In October, 2065438+200465438+/KLOC-0, Zhang Weili got the qualification of CKF (China Kung Fu Fighting League) by any means, and finally won the CKF championship. But just a week after winning the championship, Zhang Weili suffered a serious waist injury in training.
Just as her career began to rise, she was troubled by injuries. It is not only her coach and investor Cai who is anxious. Cai found an experienced doctor in the field of sports rehabilitation and paid for the treatment at his own expense. Although the curative effect is remarkable, it also delayed nearly 10 month in Zhang Weili. It was not until the beginning of 20 15 that Zhang Weili began to resume training.
Zhang Weili, which has not played for a whole year, once again faces the situation that there is no game to play. So she contacted Qiao Bo, a senior MMA promoter in China, hoping that Qiao Bo could match her with some fighting events that she could participate in.
"At that time, many domestic fighting competitions were in the cooling-off period, but Kunlun decided that this project was just in the rising period, so I recommended Zhang Weili to Jiang Hua, and Chairman Kunlun decided." Qiao Bo recalled to Lazy Bear Sports. 20 15, after many efforts, Zhang Weili officially signed the Kunlun decision.
With the publication of "No.46 Document" in the State Council on 20 14, the concept of sports IP became popular, which led to a lot of capital inflows. Under the favorable policies of sports industry, professional boxing, professional free fighting and professional mixed fighting events in China have developed by spurt in those years. The emergence of a series of fighting events, such as Legend of Wulin, Glory of Warriors and Kunlun Decision, has helped China's comprehensive fighting events to complete a process from scratch. Kunlun definitely is one of the representative projects that appeared at this stage.
Now, signing a contract with Kunlun is another major decision of Zhang Weili's career.
Zhang Weili has accumulated rich experience in Kunlun decision.
On 20 15 12, Zhang Weili made its debut in Kunlun, and French boxers Jean Fran? ois and Zhang Weili TKO won the first battle. In the following two years, Zhang Weili won three gold belts of Kunlun Women's Grass Scale and TOP FC Women's Grass Scale with a winning streak of 14.
In 20 16, UFC, which entered the China market, had contact with the Zhang Weili team and wanted to invite her to sign a contract with UFC. But Cai thinks it is not appropriate to go to UFC at this time, because there is still a gap between her technical and tactical level and UFC, and she needs more actual combat experience.
"What name do you want? You can fight when you go, and you can stand up when you fight. This is what you should do. " Cai said to him, "Sign the contract early and play well. You play hard this year, and when you are mature enough, you can go to UFC. "
Although my dream is to play UFC, I refused the first invitation of UFC at Cai's insistence.
"Cai Ge is very correct about Zhang Weili's career planning." Qiao Bo also thinks that 20 16 is not the best time for Zhang Weili to go to UFC. "Zhang Weili can definitely play more than a dozen games in Kunlun every year, and Kunlun can definitely have a good exposure in Jiangsu Satellite TV, so that Zhang Weili can not only steadily improve its competitive level, but also gradually adapt to its growing fame and influence in the spotlight."
During the two years spent in Kunlun, Zhang Weili has accumulated enough experience and become strong enough. When the opportunity to go to UFC came to her for the second time, she was ready.
Sign UFC
In 20 18, UFC decided to hold the first China tournament. After three years in China, this event is still in its infancy, and more Chinese forces are needed to appear on the stage. According to UFC Chairman Dana White, his dream is to find UFC's own Yao Ming in China.
UFC contacted the Zhang Weili team again.
Zhang Weili didn't miss it this time. But before going to UFC, the world's top fighting venue, she still needs to do one thing-sign a powerful brokerage company.
"An excellent brokerage company can bring UFC's right to speak, top coaching resources, good training environment and good competitions to athletes." Hunting Cloud once quoted a MMA promoter as saying in the report, "They can even use the influence of brokerage companies to take over business, make movies and do variety shows. But these domestic brokerage companies can't do it. "
Previously, Cai was basically in charge of brokerage affairs, but before signing UFC, on May 5, 20 18, he signed a contract with the sucker punch. (SPE), a well-known American fighting event brokerage company. Five days later, Zhang Weili officially signed a contract with UFC through SPE.
SPE has played an important role in the activity brokerage business in Zhang Weili.
Specifically, SPE not only represents Zhang Weili's competition contract negotiation business, but also helps Zhang Weili to run her English social media accounts such as Instagram, and is responsible for many other brokerage businesses related to UFC competitions.
2065438+August 2008, Zhang Weili made her debut at UFC227, and finally defeated Danielle Taylor of the United States in three rounds, winning a good start.
If Zhang Weili's commercial value was still in an "undeveloped" state before signing UFC, her off-site commercial value began to appear gradually from the first victory of UFC.
From 2065438 to August 2008, Endeavor, a world-renowned sports and entertainment brokerage group and parent company of UFC, began to participate in the off-site brokerage business in Zhang Weili, which is an exclusive domestic business cooperation.
According to Lazy Bear Sports, SPE, as an event brokerage company in Zhang Weili, is currently mainly responsible for her game-related business. Endeavor itself is the parent company of UFC. Because of the conflict of interest, it can't represent the negotiation of UFC athletes' competition contracts, so it represents Zhang Weili's commercial cooperation outside the stadium.
20 18, 1 1, Zhang Weili won the UFC two-game winning streak in Beijing. In March of the following year, Zhang Weili won again at UFC235 in Las Vegas. On August 3rd, 20654381,Zhang Weili won the women's lawn heavyweight championship of UFC China, becoming the first athlete in Asia to win the UFC gold belt.
Zhang Weili and some members of her "beautiful team".
After winning the championship in China, Endeavour quickly signed an exclusive off-site brokerage contract with Zhang Weili to represent her commercial rights and interests exclusively. Being recognized by a brokerage company like Endeavour also reflects the rapid promotion and great potential of Zhang Weili's commercial value.
On March 8th this year, in the women's grass weight defending battle of UFC, Zhang Weili defeated Joanna, who defended the women's grass weight belt of UFC five times, under extremely unfavorable conditions in the preparation stage, and successfully defended her title.
Before and after the Defence War, Zhang Weili's media topics, video recordings and business activities were much richer and more complete than the first competition she won last year.
After Zhang Weili successfully defended his title, Weibo, the official of CCTV News Center, sent Weibo congratulations for the first time; The CCTV News Channel's "News Live Room" broadcast the news that Zhang Weili won the championship. People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency and other official media also quickly published articles praising Zhang Weili. On social media, Zhang Weili also had a video interaction with famous basketball player Stephon Marbury.
Zhang Weili interacts with Marbury on the Weibo.
Brands are also close behind. According to informed sources, Lazy Bear Sports revealed that "the number of brands coming to Zhang Weili this time is 2-3 times that after she won the championship for the first time in September last year, which shows that her influence is much greater than last year". Lazy Bear Sports understands that a sports brand is in contact with the Zhang Weili team, hoping to sign Zhang Weili as its brand spokesperson.
But for Zhang Weili, everything is just the beginning, and the road ahead is still full of challenges.
From the competitive level, Zhang Weili has reached the stage peak in women's lightweight grass. There is no doubt that her goal is to continue defending her title.
However, Zhang Weili, who was born in 199 1, will turn 30 next year, and how long the peak period lasts is another key factor that determines the height of her career.
Ronda rousey, an idol of Zhang Weili UFC, defended her UFC gold belt for the first time at the age of 26, but at the age of 29, she retired from the UFC stage because of her declining state. Li Na, a top female athlete in China, reached the peak of her career at the age of 29 and won her first Grand Slam. At 32, she announced her retirement.
The commercial value of athletes is directly linked to their performance on the field. For Zhang Weili, whose social status is still rising, "keeping rolling" may be more difficult than "attacking rolling".
In addition, in any mature professional sports league, besides strength, personal charm is also an important factor to become an influential head athlete and keep his popularity-Yao Ming and Li Na are good examples. In the face of more intense confrontation and more flamboyant athletes, Zhang Weili needs to create its own unique label. (Related links: After Zhang Weili won the championship, the focus of UFC in China is still to dig players. Of course, she is also making efforts in this area now, such as attending the Tucao Conference, practicing English hard, and appearing more in public to interact with fans. .....................................................................................................
No matter how excellent the team around Zhang Weili is, it can only lay the foundation for her to climb to the top. As for how high you can climb in the end, it's up to Zhang Weili himself.
After all, Zhang Weili made Zhang Weili.
The following is an excerpt from Zhang Weili's exclusive interview with Lazy Bear Sports.
Lazy Bear Sports: How did you feel when I learned that Beijing couldn't get an American visa?
Zhang Weili: At about 6 am on February 6th, I went to the boxing gym and started training. Just as I was getting dressed and ready to warm up, I suddenly received a message from UFC, saying that I would pack my bags and leave immediately. It was dark, so I changed my clothes and went home to pack my things. After packing, we went to the airport and flew directly to Thailand at 3 pm.
Lazy Bear Sports: What was your mental state when you moved to Thailand and Abu Dhabi?
Zhang Weili: I'm beginning to feel unfair. My opponent has been preparing for war in America for a long time. As the defending champion, I still want to do this. Why? Later, I called my mother and she told me, "At this special moment, everyone is fighting the epidemic. Front-line employees, nurses, police, doctors, volunteers, etc. , and patients, are working hard, working day and night. You just moved to a different place to get rid of the jet lag and overcome these difficulties. Everyone is working hard. You must also persist and you must work hard. " My mother actually gave me a lot of confidence.
Lazy Bear Sports: What stories did your coaching team impress you in this preparation?
Zhang Weili: My little coach (Muay Thai coach), he hurt his knee some time ago and it hurts when he walks, but every time he goes to play with me, he always says, "Nothing, I'm fine." . Another time he had severe diarrhea, but he insisted on training with me. When we came out from Beijing, the little coach brought a new head protector, and then by the end of our game, the head protector was broken, and the front part of the face was broken. A lot of my fists and feet hit the little coach on the head. Every day he says "I'm dizzy, I'm dizzy", but he still insists.
Lazy Bear Sports: What's your score in this defending battle?
Zhang Weili: Frankly speaking, I only give myself a score of 60, and my condition is actually very poor. But in the face of foreign media interviews, I have to tell them that I am particularly good and can't say things like "I am so tired now". Actually, I am very tired. Many times, I don't want to move when I enter the whole gym. I need a long time to adjust my mind, and then I will keep training.
Lazy Bear Sports: What help did China traditional martial arts bring to your preparation?
Zhang Weili: Actually, when MMA is practiced to a certain extent, it really needs to be rooted in the traditional martial arts in China. I only participate in the fascial training of Tai Chi now, and I want to enter the footwork of Wing Chun in the future, as well as some combination of melee skills and fists and legs.
Lazy Bear Sports: Will there be more commercial operation attempts next?
Zhang Weili: I believe so. It will definitely need some exposure and endorsement, and it will also need to be out of the circle. In fact, my coaching team, our expenses are also very large, and I also need to make money. Our team has a plan.