‘I Will Knock Her Out’ – Xiong Jing Nan Confident For Special Rules Striking Bout Against Wondergirl
“The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan can’t wait to test herself in a new format at ONE Fight Night 14: Stamp vs. Ham on Prime Video.
The longtime ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Champion will face Thai phenom Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak in a unique special rules striking match on Friday, September 29, live in U.S. primetime.
The contest will see the two stand-up specialists throw down with only their hands in 4-ounce MMA gloves, and the rule set promises to produce fireworks at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Although it’s her first non-World Title fight since 2017, there’s no less anticipation for Xiong, who is eagerly awaiting the change of pace.
She told onefc.com:
“I was very excited when I received this offer. I am a person who likes a challenge, and I can not wait to show a different side of my skill set.
“Every contest has risk, especially when you can win or lose. And every contest must also have pressure, but I will transfer this pressure into motivation.”
“The Panda” was once a member of the Chinese National Boxing Team before making the switch to mixed martial arts, but she’s been focused on her new sport for the last 10 years.
Still, with boxing a fundamental element of MMA, Xiong has never let her hands slip and continues to work on her skills in that area.
That means her training hasn’t needed a complete overhaul for this matchup, though she has zoned back in on her punches to deliver the best performance possible in “The Lion City.”
She said:
“Boxing is actually included in my daily MMA training routine, so I have not changed all my training modes. But of course, I have put more focus on boxing now.
“I have trained with different partners because everyone has a different fighting style. I want to learn more about it to enrich my experience. I will try my best to show my skills in this contest.”
Xiong Eager To ‘Conquer’ New Area Of Combat Sports
Given Xiong Jing Nan’s lengthy stranglehold on the women’s strawweight MMA division, fans will be curious to see how she handles a fresh test against Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak.
“The Panda” is also eager to break down a new wall after seven successful World Title defenses. She hopes to show that with the right work ethic and dedication, she can succeed in different formats.
Xiong said:
“Victory would mean that I can go into a new area and conquer it. I hope it will let more people know that you can be the best, even in a different style.”
Despite the special rules, Xiong feels supremely confident that her prior success inside the Circle will set her up for success against ‘Wondergirl’ – a lifelong Muay Thai practitioner.
The Thai striker has competed with smaller gloves since entering ONE in 2020, but “The Panda” has been doing it since 2014 – and at the elite level for the last six years.
With that in mind, Xiong thinks she’ll have the advantage, and she’s planning a big finish to prove that she’s the biggest hitter at strawweight, regardless of style.
The 35-year-old added:
“It is very helpful for me to use small gloves in this contest as they are the same as those in MMA. It will make for more speed and power.
“I think I have rich experience in the skills required and my previous contests. Of course, I will knock her out.”
