Macau, China – November 22: (LR) China’s Shi Ming and China’s Feng Xiaokang during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at Andaz Macau on November 22, 2024 in Macau, China Confront. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The Road to UFC 3 tournament concludes Saturday at UFC Macau, with women’s strawweights Shi Ming and Feng Xiaokang looking to earn UFC contracts in the 115-pound final.
Feng Xiaokang, a practicing doctor, managed to keep her martial arts career on the down-low by not letting her patients know that she was pursuing mixed martial arts. Meanwhile, Shi Ming’s family somehow believed that she was not fighting for a UFC contract, but participating in a traditional martial arts tournament. A rather quirky subplot of a battle that holds the key to both their careers.
Shi Ming started the match with a kick to the body, followed by a kick to Xiaocan’s lead leg. Another kick to the midsection followed. Xiaocan replied with some words of his own. Xiaokang towered over the much smaller Ming, and Ming had to find a way to get inside against the longer and taller fighter.
Xiaokang got behind Shi Ming for the first takedown, but Shi Ming struggled with his hands and finally got back to his feet with just over a minute left.
In the second round, the action slowed down a step with a flurry of single strikes, and Ming’s activity in particular decreased as he continued to struggle to find his way inside. At one point, they were out of position, but they were able to close the distance at the last minute and tie the score. Shi Ming struggled to land takedowns, but Xiaocan briefly reversed, but the most important thing for her was to stay in the match.
Shi Ming completely exploded on the third one, connecting with a head kick that instantly knocked Xiaocan to the floor! With little need for follow-up punches, Ming won a highlight-reel come-from-behind KO to win the Road to UFC 3 strawweight title. Meanwhile, Feng Shaakan was awake and communicating, but was carried out of the Octagon on a stretcher with his head in a fixed position.
Speaking with Michael Bisping after the match, Ming admitted he was concerned about Xiaokang’s condition and wished him luck. She then admitted that she hadn’t been aggressive enough in the past. “I think I will be a dangerous girl in the future. I wish my opponents good luck,” she said.
Official result: Shi Ming def. Feng Xiaokang KO (head kick), round 3, 0:46
