Video: UFC Champ Weili Zhang Punches 7’1″ Shaquille O’Neal, Proceeds To Lift Him Off Ground
Basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal recently crossed paths with two-time UFC Women’s Champion Weili Zhang in an NBA and UFC crossover. O’Neal was working out in the gym when Zhang appeared out of nowhere to welcome probably the greatest big man of all time. Shaq was ecstatic to see the octagon combatant but hilariously regretted bothering the champion.
Video: UFC Champ Weili Zhang Punches 7’1″ Shaquille O’Neal, Proceeds To Lift Him Off Ground
Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA legend, is thought to weigh 350 pounds these days. Zhang Weili, the UFC strawweight champion, competes at 115 pounds.
Despite the vast disparity in height and weight, Weili defied physics by pulling up super heavyweight-sized guys off the ground.
Weili Zhang lifting 7’1, 325-pound Shaquille O’Neal off his feet 🤯
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) September 30, 2023
O’Neal, being the natural goofy that he is, asks Zhang to punch him in the stomach. Zhang first slapped him with a lighthearted punch since she knew what she was capable of. O’Neal wasn’t happy with the jab and urged her to strike him again, this time as if she were in a genuine fight. Shaq received the strike and was immediately pained, but he laughed it off while admiring Zhang’s power.
“You hit hard,” O’Neal said in response to Zhang’s Instagram picture showing her striking the monster.
Shaquille O’Neal reunited with former on-court foe Yao Ming & met UFC champion Weili Zhang in his visit to China! 🇨🇳
Yao makes Shaq look small! Also, Weili hit Shaq with a 50% short punch & Shaq felt it good! 😂🥊 pic.twitter.com/wHPq51WMhY
— NBA Buzz (@OfficialNBABuzz) September 30, 2023
Weili’s single-leg ascent clearly threw O’Neal off guard. The four-time NBA champion’s legs hung in the air as he rose and then fell. All of this happened after O’Neal let Weili strike him in the midriff. The blow wasn’t that hard, but still got a reaction from the big man.
Weili Zhang shows enormous strength as she picks up 7 feet tall and over 140 kg Shaquille O'Neal.#weilizhang #shaquilleoneal #ufc #NBA #Legend #SkyExch pic.twitter.com/N8IKWDm5Xu
— SkyExch (@officialskyexch) October 1, 2023
Shaquille O’Neal challenged UFC star Forrest Griffin to an octagon bout in 2018. The one-round fight between the two was overseen by UFC CEO Dana White. Prior to their bout, O’Neal seemed to have improved on his grappling talents. Griffin struggled to get the huge man to submit, therefore no one won the bout. It was an entertaining conversation between the two legends.
"This is next-level strength" – UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang thinks even 7'1 Shaquille O'Neal is smallhttps://t.co/GnNgV7HSWy
— Babu Kar (@BabuKar1152196) September 30, 2023
However, while Shaq was still on the ground the punch hit hard, and then this strong woman UFC fighter lifted him off the ground! Now, Shaq seems really tiny!
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