She may have been champion in the UFC’s lightest division, but Zhang Weili can still lift those in the heaviest.

MMA Rankings, November 2022: Is Zhang Weili destined for a dominant UFC title run this time? | MMA Fighting

MMA’s leading promotion is fast approaching its annual pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden, where two titles will be on the line at UFC 322.

Islam Makhachev, Jack Della Maddalena, Valentina Shevchenko, Weili, and Leon Edwards will be among those who could contribute to a classic event. MSG has hosted plenty of memorable cards in the past, but few come close to what took place at UFC 281 on this day, November 12, in 2022.

Weili was among the night’s biggest winners, but it wasn’t just her performance at the event itself that attracted headlines back then.

Zhang Weili lifted Francis Ngannou with ease days before challenging for UFC gold

Before Alex Pereira knocked out Israel Adesanya in the UFC 281 main event, Weili challenged Carla Esparza in the card’s co-headliner.

The Chinese star is known for her skills and technique, but she is not lacking in brute power either. That much was on display ahead of the event three years ago today, when Weili managed to lift up Francis Ngannou, the then-UFC heavyweight champion.

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou wowed as strawweight star Weili Zhang easily lifts him over her shoulder | talkSPORT

‘The Predator’ posted a video of their interaction on social media, claiming he weighed 293 pounds when Weili hoisted him into the air.

“I can’t believe that @zhangweilimma just picked me up like I wasn’t 293lbs,” Ngannou wrote.

“I didn’t want her to do it I was scared of her hurting her back and was trying to explain this to her.

“Then found myself suddenly up in the air. Her strength ratio is through the roof,” he added.

After shocking Ngannou with her pre-fight strength, it was soon the turn of Esparza to get a surprise.

Zhang Weili choked out Carla Esparza to become a two-time UFC strawweight champion

Despite Ngannou’s worries, ‘Magnum’s’ 293-pound lift did not do any damage or prevent her from making a dominant return to the strawweight mountaintop at UFC 281.

Weili submitted Esparza in round two, making good on her promise to test her ground game against the wrestling specialist before locking in a rear-naked choke for the victory.

The result put the Chinese star back on the throne at 115 pounds after back-to-back losses to Rose Namajunas in the previous year.

The 36-year-old went on to defend the title three times against Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, and Tatiana Suarez before vacating the belt to pursue the upcoming opportunity for two-division glory against Shevchenko at UFC 322.