Doctor-turned-fighter captures imagination of MMA fans

Wider recognition

Inspired by Zhang's groundbreaking UFC world title in 2019, growing awareness of MMA in China, a cradle of martial arts, has resulted in greater participation in amateur training. The number of fitness clubs offering entry-level courses for MMA, or other combat sports, is mushrooming across the country.

Shi's amazing story is expected to draw even more health-conscious young Chinese — especially those stressed out by the fast pace of urban life — to try their hand at MMA to stay physically and mentally fit.

"MMA is a great sport, even for ordinary people who want to stay healthy, release their negative emotions, or just try to lose weight," Zhang said before Shi's fight in Macao.

"There weren't so many combat sports fans in China before the rise of MMA. We have more now, and we need more participants as well," said the 34-year-old, who returns to the octagon in Sydney in February to defend her strawweight title against challenger Tatiana Suarez of the United States.

"I believe that what we do right now will help MMA punch into the sports mainstream in our country and attract more people to give it a try," she added.

Combat sports' rise in popularity has also made it to the big screen. The comedy YOLO, this year's highest-grossing film in China, struck a chord with cinemagoers for its portrayal of an overweight woman regaining her self-confidence after facing a series of adversities and fighting in a professional boxing match.

Starring popular actress and director Jia Ling, the movie sparked new interest in boxing, especially among women.

Since the film premiered in February, online searches for services and products related to boxing have increased 388.4 percent year-on-year, according to data from e-commerce platform Meituan. Sales of martial arts and combat sports training courses have increased by over 232 percent year-on-year. Women accounted for 67 percent of the searches.

Qu Zhongyuan, head of a Hurricane Fight Club boxing gym in Beijing's Chaoyang district, said the growth in the number of female enthusiasts was something he'd long expected.

Since his gym opened in 2022, women have accounted for about 60 percent of clients signing up for boxing and other combat sports classes.

"One of the reasons boxing is so popular among women is that it helps get rid of pent-up stress through all that punching, and it aligns with the human urge to vent frustration through physical activity," he said.

"With or without the movie, I think boxing and combat sports in general have always been on a steady rise among the most popular gym activities in recent years," he said.