Meet Xiong Jing Nan: The Panda Who Took the MMA World by Storm
In the echoing halls of China’s boxing gyms and the electric buzz of America’s MMA arenas, a single name keeps popping up with a surprised “Did you see that?” at the end of her stories. Xiong Jing Nan, affectionately known as “The Panda,” has smashed the strawweight division, leaving fans and critics alike in awe.
From Weightlifter to Boxer to MMA Legend
- Baby athlete: Xiong started as a weightlifter, flexing her way through early competitions.
- The switch: A crush on her father’s favorite sport—boxing—led her to pick up the gloves.
- Quick rise: By 2007, she was third in the National Women’s Boxing Championship and had makeshift dream‑team calls.
- MAF journey: In 2013, Xiong decided to add ground‑and‑pound to her arsenal, taking on MMA like a hungry panda tackles bamboo.
Where Hard Work Meets Heart
“I love punching,” Xiong says. “And I don’t quit the way some others do.” In fact, her decision to pivot to MMA wasn’t merely about chasing medals—it was about becoming a complete fighter. When she first stepped into the cage, her heart kept racing: nervous, pumped, and ready to conquer the unexpected.
Mastering the Grapple
Striving to be a regatta‑ready cardio fighter, Xiong tackled grappling head-on. She trained with ruthless determination, landing in a professional match by 2014. She won twelve fights before ONE Championship threw her the golden ticket.
The ONE Strawweight World Title
With a thunderous first‑round TKO over April Osenio followed by an enthralling finish against Tiffany Teo, Xiong captured the inaugural title. “I’m the first Chinese athlete to win a global MMA title,” she celebrates, punching a fist for the crowd’s gasps.
The Panda’s Secret Sauce
Xiong’s success isn’t just her famed fists. She shrouds herself in humility: “I earned my boxing chops, but I didn’t just lock onto that.” Turning challenges into growth, she honed her grappling—winning a China Open BJJ title in 2017—and balanced her offense and defense for a complete fighting style.
Training in Bali, Dreaming Global
At Bali MMA, Xiong keeps her training fresh. “Every place has something new to learn,” she says. “I absorb it like a sponge—and that’s how I stay unstoppable.”
Looking Ahead
Her next showdown is a title defense against Brazil’s Samara Santos at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON on 8 September in Shanghai. The stakes are high, but Xiong’s roadmap is clear: keep learning, keep growing, and keep dominating.
So if you’re wondering who’s next in the MMA hall of fame, just remember the panda’s pawprints on the world stage.
