Zhang was born in Handan, Hebei, China. When she moved to Beijing, she worked several jobs: cashier at a supermarket, kindergarten teacher, and hotel desk clerk. She started training in martial arts at a young age, beginning with Shaolin Kung Fu after she was inspired by Kung Fu films. At 12, she began training in Sanda and a Chinese style of wrestling called Shuai Jiao. Later in her career she would also pick upBrazilian jiu-jitsu after watching others grappling in the gym where she worked as a fitness instructor. She then transitioned to MMA. In a Chinese television show in December 2019, she mentioned that Hong Kong Action Superstar Donnie Yen was her inspiration to compete in MMA, and that Donnie Yen's 2007 feature film Flashpoint was her first introduction to the sport of MMA.
Zhang made her professional MMA debut in 2013. After losing her professional debut to Meng Bo by unanimous decision, she would go on to win 11 straight fights before challenging Simone Duarte for the Kunlun Fight Female Strawweight Championship on May 25, 2017, at Kunlun Fight MMA 11. She won the fight via TKO in the second round. Zhang made her first title defense against Aline Sattelmayer on June 1, 2017, at Kunlun Fight MMA 12. She won the fight by unanimous decision. On July 22, 2017, Zhang attempted to win a second title, when she challenged Seo Ye-dam for the vacant Top FC Strawweight Championship at TOP FC 15. She won the fight via TKO in the second round to capture the title. In her next bout, Zhang made her second KLF title defense against on August 28, 2017, at Kunlun Fight MMA 14 against Marilia Santos. She won the fight via TKO in the second round. Zhang would fight one more time for KLF, amassing a record of 16-1 and improving her winning streak to 16 before signed with UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Zhang made her promotion debut on August 4, 2018, at UFC 227 against Danielle Taylor. She won the fight via unanimous decision. On November 24, 2018, Zhang faced Jessica Aguilar at. She won the fight via a submission in round one. Zhang faced Tecia Torres on March 3, 2019, at UFC 235. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Zhang faced Jéssica Andrade for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship on August 31, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 15. She won the fight via first-round technical knockout to become the new Strawweight champion. The win also earned Zhang her first Performance of the Night bonus award. In the first defense of her title, Zhang was scheduled to face former UFC Strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk on March 7, 2020 at UFC 248. Zhang moved her training camp from China to Thailand and later moved to Dubai due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as TSA rules stated a two-week quarantine was imposed for any non-US citizen be granted entry to the United States if they had recently been in China. After multiple failed attempts to obtain a US visa to fight in UFC's events in the US, on February 19, 2020 Zhang was granted US visa to fight at UFC 248. Zhang won the fight via split decision, which marked her first successful UFC Strawweight title defense. This win also marked her first Fight of the Night award. Both fighters were later handed a two-month medical suspension which expired on May 5, with a non-contact sparring clause until April 22.
