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Stephy Zhang

While Song Yadong entered the arena uplifted by the theme song of Sun Wukong, or Monkey God, and “fighting doctor” Shi Ming checked the pulse of the opponent she subdued in the Octagon, the big question is why both victorious MMA fighters have felt the need to keep proving themselves.
As UFC Fight Night Macau concluded on Saturday night, only Song out of seven Chinese competitors on the card secured a victory, defeating Brazilian ground specialist and former champion Deiveson Figueiredo via a guillotine choke.
The previous night, during the championship for Road to UFC Season 5, Shi comfortably defeated Puja Tomar, India’s first female UFC fighter, in a much-anticipated fight.
After the bout, Song admitted he had faced immense pressure.
“I did feel pressure at the time. I thought Zhang Mingyang would definitely win and I believed in him, but I did not expect the upset [against Alonzo Menifield]. When I walked out, I thought it was impossible for all Chinese fighters to lose tonight, so the pressure was still heavy,” the bantamweight said.

However, when his walkout music “Celestial Symphony” – the theme that opens the Monkey God TV series Journey to the West – was played, his mind became clear. “I just focused on the fight, focusing on how to win this match.”
The song holds special meaning for Song: at UFC Fight Night 122 in Shanghai in November 2017, following three consecutive losses for the Chinese cohort, he entered the ring to the theme before securing a resounding victory.
For most UFC fighters, 28 is a prime age marked by peak physical condition, accumulated experience and maturing skills, and championship belts often enter the discussion.
But Song was different. He is 28, and has already fought in the UFC for almost a decade, yet was still introduced as a “prodigy”.
One reason was that Song had lost to several elite talents such as Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen and Sean O’Malley, and his career seemed trapped in an endless loop of constantly having to prove himself.
A turning point may have been reached when Song, draped in the Chinese flag after his win in Macau on Saturday, shouted: “I have waited eight years for this moment.”
“I cannot hesitate any more; I must prove myself again,” said Song, who was fighting for the first time on home soil since 2018.
After the bout, Song shifted from excitement to exhaustion. “I am a bit tired from the excitement now, and the preparation was very hard,” he said. “I thank my team; without them, I would not have won.”
Nonchalant about future opponents, Song said he was focused on self-improvement, and was willing to face whomever the UFC scheduled.
He revealed he would headline a jiu-jitsu event in Russia this July against a “fairly famous” opponent, sparking fan anticipation.
As the sole Chinese victor, Song had words of encouragement for those who lost.
“I have lost too. Nobody wants to lose at home, but we are young and have future opportunities. I hope people give them more encouragement and that they keep working hard.”
He added: “Next, I just want to fight more, not care too much about winning or losing, and take every step well.”

A day earlier, the fight between Shi and Tomar lasted just three minutes and 12 seconds, and was Shi’s first win since officially signing with the promotion.
While Tomar sought opportunities standing late in the fight, Shi quickly grounded and pinned her, locking in an arm-triangle choke that forced Tomar to tap out.
Netizens noticed that upon releasing her opponent, Shi immediately placed her hands on Tomar’s wrists, sparking jokes that “Doctor Shi does not forget to check the pulse even after clocking off” and that “patients are earned, not waited for”.
The 31-year-old, who works in a hospital, has gained a massive following for her dual identity, but she has also felt doubted ahead of almost every bout.
“I have fought 23 matches over 10 years, but this is the first time I was the favourite,” she said, noting she was previously viewed as “a big underdog” by a far margin, estimating cumulative odds at 100 to 1.
“So this time, I feel like it’s really important to me that people believe in me, and finally people can see my skills. I feel that means a lot to me, even more than winning a UFC contract.”
She added that the scepticism did not affect her. “Because I know I have a good coach, I am practising the right techniques, and I have been improving … I believe in my coach and I believe in my own efforts,” she said.
Following her dominant victory, she admitted she did not expect to finish the fight so quickly.

“Before the fight, I knew my opponent was strong in the first round. My original game plan was to stabilise the rhythm in the first round and try to get an advantage later, but the crowd was too enthusiastic, and I lost control all of a sudden,” she said.
Her endearing tone drew laughter from the media.
Escaping the bout entirely unscathed, Shi called out UFC President Dana White for her next assignment.
“My fight frequency is too low. I hope to fight three times a year. Whether I fight in August or October, I will listen to the fans’ opinions,” she said.


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Song Yadong and Shi Ming, China’s UFC winners in Macau, prove themselves yet again

Chinas Song Yadong (centre) arriving for his bout against Brazils Deiveson Figueiredo during UFC Fight Night in Macau on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Song Yadong celebrates winning the bantamweight bout against Deiveson Figueiredo. Photo: Xinhua

Shi Ming is declared winner of the bout against Puja Tomar on Friday. Photo: Zuffa LLC

Netizens noticed that Shi placed her hands on Tomar’s wrists after subduing her. Photo: Douyin

UFC Fight Night: Song raises spirits on bad night for Chinese fighters in Macau

Song Yadong celebrates after beating Deiveson Figueiredo by submission in their bantamweight bout in Macau. Photo: Getty Images

Angela Hill (right) punches China’s Xiong Jingnan during their bout at UFC Fight Night at the Galaxy Arena. Photo: AFP

Chinese ‘fighting doctor’ Shi Ming set for next UFC foe – with ‘half the world’ watching

Shi Ming practices MMA at a club in her spare time. Photo: Shi Ming’s Weibo

Shi Ming (left) lost to Brazil’s Bruna Brasil in her first bout as a UFC fighter last year. Photo: AFP

Before working in internal medicine, Shi Ming was a TCM doctor. Photo: Douyin

Sport

China

Song is the only Chinese winner at UFC Fight Night Macau, while ‘fighting doctor’ Shi wins her first bout with the promotion the day before


Song is the only Chinese winner at UFC Fight Night Macau, while ‘fighting doctor’ Shi wins her first bout with the promotion the day before.


Dana White

Song Yadong and Shi Ming, China’s UFC winners in Macau, prove themselves yet again

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Song is the only Chinese winner at UFC Fight Night Macau, while ‘fighting doctor’ Shi wins her first bout with the promotion the day before

Song is the only Chinese winner at UFC Fight Night Macau, while ‘fighting doctor’ Shi wins her first bout with the promotion the day before