Key Takeaways
- Jingnan “The Panda” Xiong is making her UFC debut at UFC Macau, facing veteran Angela Hill in a 115‑pound preliminary bout.
- She captured the ONE Championship strawweight title in 2018 and defended it seven times, becoming the division’s first and only champion before it was discontinued in March 2026.
- Xiong’s résumé includes 11 wins in 12 ONE appearances, notable victories over Michelle Nicolini, Ayaka Miura, Tiffany Teo, Nat Jaroonsak, and a trilogy with Angela Lee.
- Despite a background in boxing and kickboxing, she developed a well‑rounded, pressure‑based game that neutralized elite grapplers and allowed her to fight five full rounds without deviation.
- Her only professional loss came at a 132‑pound catchweight; she remains undefeated at the 125‑pound strawweight limit.
- With over three hours and twenty-two minutes of cumulative cage/ring time in ONE, Xiong brings extensive experience and a proven ability to impose her game plan against top‑level opposition as she tests herself in the UFC.
Jingnan Xiong’s arrival at UFC Macau marks a significant moment for Chinese mixed martial arts. Though she is stepping onto the Octagon for the first time, her résumé already reads like that of a seasoned veteran. Xiong first captured international attention by winning the ONE Championship strawweight title in 2018, a belt she held until leaving the promotion in 2026. That reign not only made her the first Chinese fighter to claim a major MMA title but also positioned her as a pioneer ahead of Weili Zhang’s later UFC strawweight championship.
Before her ONE tenure, Xiong built a reputation as a finisher during her Kunlun Fight run, where her boxing and kickboxing base produced a string of stoppages. Transitioning to ONE, she shifted toward a more methodical, pressure‑driven style. Throughout her title reign, she repeatedly demonstrated the ability to impose a game plan against elite grapplers such as Michelle Nicolini, Ayaka Miura, and Tiffany Teo. Her striking earned enough respect on the feet to deter opponents from committing fully to takedowns, and when they did shoot, Xiong’s wrestling proved sufficient to neutralize the threat.
One of the most vivid highlights of her championship run came in September 2018, when she defended the ONE strawweight belt against Samara Santos. A standing hammer fist initially earned the finish credit, but a turning back kick to the body was later identified as the decisive blow, forcing Santos to tap and improving Xiong’s record to 13‑1. The moment was widely shared on social media, underscoring her knockout power.
Xiong’s rivalry with Angela Lee defined the latter half of her ONE career. Their first encounter at ONE “A New Era” in Tokyo on March 31, 2019, saw Lee—then the unbeaten ONE 115‑pound champion—move up a weight class for a shot at a second title. Xiong survived a deep armbar attempt in the fourth round and rallied to win the fifth, earning a significant victory. The trilogy continued at ONE “Century – Part 1,” where Xiong cut down to 115 pounds to challenge Lee’s belt. Lee locked in a rear‑naked choke with only twelve seconds left, handing Xiong her first career stoppage loss and preventing her from becoming a two‑division champion.
The rubber match took place at ONE on Prime Video 2 in Singapore. Xiong came out explosively, staggering Lee with right hands and threatening an early finish. Although Lee weathered the storm and made the fight competitive, Xiong imposed her pace, prevented Lee from building momentum, and ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory. That win gave her her seventh title defense and marked the final bout in the ONE strawweight division, which was discontinued on March 26, 2026. As a result, Xiong holds the distinction of being the division’s first and only champion, amassing more than three hours and twenty‑two minutes of cumulative cage/ring time—an unsurpassed record in ONE history.
Statistically, Xiong has never lost at the official 125‑pound strawweight limit; her sole professional defeat came at a 132‑pound catchweight. Her overall record stands at 13‑1, with eleven of those wins coming during her ONE tenure, including victories over top‑tier grapplers and strikers alike. This track record suggests she possesses the tools to compete at the UFC’s highest level, where she will now test herself against Angela Hill—a veteran known for her boxing and resilience.
The UFC Macau bout offers a compelling storyline: can Xiong translate her ONE‑era dominance—built on relentless pressure, accurate striking, and sound wrestling—into success against UFC‑caliber opposition? A victory would not only add a prestigious UFC win to her résumé but also reinforce her status as one of the most accomplished Chinese female mixed martial artists in history. Conversely, a competitive loss would still highlight her willingness to step outside her comfort zone and face the world’s best, further cementing her legacy as a trailblazer for Chinese MMA on the global stage. As the fight approaches, the MMA community watches closely to see whether “The Panda” can bring her championship pedigree to the Octagon and usher in a new era for Chinese fighters in the UFC.