“Fighting Rooster” Zhang Peimian

Former ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title challenger Zhang Peimian went from doing farm work to fighting in ONE Championship in just under 10 years. After discovering kickboxing at the age of 11, he quickly developed a passion and knack for the sport. 

“Fighting Rooster” turned professional in 2018, where he won 11 of his first 12 bouts before competing in China’s Road to ONE tournament in 2021. He breezed through the challenge, winning the four-man kickboxing spectacle and a spot on ONE’s main roster. 

Zhang debuted on the global stage in 2022 and quickly established himself as a top contender in the strawweight division by beating former ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Josh “Timebomb” Tonna by second-round TKO and a top-five ranked opponent in Aslanbek Zikreez. 

Then, in 2022, Zhang challenged Jonathan Di Bella for the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship. Although he came up short against the Italian-Canadian after five rounds of intense action, he remains focused on getting another crack at divisional gold.

The road back to a World Title opportunity continues at ONE Fight Night 16 on Prime Video, when Zhang faces Portuguese veteran Rui Botelho on November 3.