Shi hoping for clinical UFC debut

Chinese mixed martial arts fighter Shi "the Doctor" Ming is set to make her highly anticipated UFC debut against veteran Bruna Brasil in a special main event of the Road to UFC Season 4 semifinals in Shanghai on Friday.

The bout comes just one day ahead of the highly anticipated return to the Chinese mainland of UFC Fight Night, which will take place at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

What makes 30-year-old Shi's journey unique is not only the double life she leads, but the juxtaposed nature of it: By day, she caringly tends to patients in a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, but by night, she swaps the acupuncture needles for a punching bag, honing her fighting skills in the gym.

Balancing her double life is no easy feat, but Shi has found a way to manage both. She emphasizes that work always comes first, and only after completing her TCM duties does she head to training. "One of the benefits of being both a TCM practitioner and a fighter is that, if I get injured or feel unwell during training, I can use acupuncture to treat myself," she said.

Weight of expectation

Shi's martial arts journey began at age 10 with taekwondo, followed by sanshou and wrestling. Her clinical one started when she decided to study acupuncture and tuina massage at Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine.

Shi noted that Yunnan boasts a rich wrestling tradition, where even local villagers, including elders and women, participate in friendly matches. "It's heartening that many children in Yunnan now see me as a role model. I hope this inspires more young people to pursue MMA," she said.

Last year's knockout victory at the UFC event in Macao marked a turning point in Shi's MMA career. Previously, she saw competitions as a way to enjoy the sport and gain experience. However, her upcoming UFC debut has shifted her mindset significantly. "I'm both nervous and stressed," she admitted. "It's my first UFC fight, and I'm headlining the last match against a heavier, more experienced opponent, which adds mental pressure. The daily encouragement from those around me makes me care more about the outcome than ever before — I don't want to let down those who believe in me."

Since her victory in Macao, Shi has observed a change in the visitors to her clinic. "Many come not just for treatment, but to chat and see me," she said. Her colleagues and superiors have been supportive of her pursuits. With pre-UFC interviews highlighting her double life, some colleagues are even planning to watch her upcoming fight, Shi added.

Facing an opponent who has moved down a weight class and has advantages in both bulk and reach, Shi is relying on her strong wrestling background to counter. "Nearly 99.9 percent of my training has focused on wrestling. I'm particularly skilled at escaping clinches and finding opportunities to attack during close-range exchanges," she explained.

Shanghai holds a special place in Shi's heart. It was in this city a few years ago that she received an invitation to take a test at the UFC Performance Institute, sparking her ambition to pursue a career in professional MMA. Now, returning to Shanghai for her UFC debut, she has a clear goal: "I hope the UFC will consider adding an atomweight division (around 48kg). Asian fighters, especially from countries like Japan and South Korea, have shown great talent in this weight class, and I believe it would lead to more exciting matches."

When asked if she plans to become a full-time MMA fighter, Shi responds thoughtfully: "Since this is my first UFC fight, I want to test myself to see where my abilities stand in the UFC. I want to see if I can win some UFC fights."

Her thoughtful response may stem from her training experience with Zhang Weili, China's first-ever UFC champion, in Beijing. "Training with her was eye-opening. She spends long hours training every day and is extremely focused, devoting all her energy to MMA. It made me realize that world champions achieve their success through unwavering dedication and hard work," she said.

The Tiger and the Eagle

Saturday's UFC Fight Night marks the return of the UFC to the Chinese mainland after a five-year hiatus.

The UFC has a massive global following, with over 700 million fans worldwide, 410 million of whom are in Asia, and 148 million in China alone, making it one of the fastest-growing international sports in the country over the past decade.

This year's event is packed with exciting matchups. In the main event, Johnny Walker, the 13th-ranked light heavyweight fighter from Brazil, will take on China's "Mountain Tiger", Zhang Mingyang, who is ranked 14th in the division and known for his impressive first-round finishing ability. A victory for Zhang could see him break into the top 10 of the light heavyweight rankings. "I have a big dream — to become China's first male UFC champion. It's a tough road, but I know what I need to do to get there," Zhang said in a pre-fight interview.

"He's a big challenge for me," the knockout artist Walker admitted. "He's come from very good straight wins. He's a powerful guy with a lot of first round finishes. He is very dangerous, so I have to play smart to beat him."

The other notable Chinese interest on the card is Sumudaerji, known as the "Tibetan Eagle".

In addition to the main event, another highlight bout will feature Brian Ortega, a two-time challenger for the UFC featherweight title with a strong fan base, against Aljamain Sterling, the former UFC bantamweight champion. Both fighters are eager to establish their dominance in the featherweight division.

heqi@chinadaily.com.cn