All hail ‘The Panda’ as China salutes new world MMA champion

The 30-year-old Beijing-based fighter (11-1) never really gave the previously unbeaten Tiffany “No Chill” Teo (7-1) a look-in before the Singaporean succumbed to a barrage of blows – and to sheer exhaustion – with 2.17 gone in the fourth of their scheduled five rounds.

Referee Olivier Coste stepped in with a stoppage and the crowd roared their approval of the first mainland champion for Asia’s biggest MMA promotion. Xiong – who looked like she was ready for another go-around – immediately reflected on the enormity of her achievement, coming as it did in just her second fight with One.

“I am happy to represent China and take a lot of pride in that,” Xiong said afterward the win. “I feel great and I’m overwhelmed. This is a message to all the women across the world – you can achieve anything.”

The One organisation’s brain’s trust later revealed that there would be a hero’s homecoming for Xiong on their Heart of the Dragon card set down for Shanghai on May 26 – and they couldn’t contain their delight after Chinese scrapper’s victory.

China is obviously the market everybody wants and One certainly have a star on their hands with Xiong, who boasts heavy hands, a strong ground game and an easy nature under the spotlights’ glare.

Xiong had to deal with the loss of both her grandparents in the lead up to the fight and had revealed beforehand there had not yet been time to grieve the loss. She pointed to the heavens on victory and dedicated the victory to the pair while saying she was now on a mission.