Shi Ming secured a memorable victory in the Road to UFC strawweight tournament with a stunning third-round knockout of Feng Xiaocan, earning a UFC contract despite struggling in the earlier rounds.
Shi Ming’s victory in the Road to UFC is one for the books.
In the first two rounds, she found it tough to out-strike Feng Xiaocan, who had the height advantage. But then, bam! Shi delivered a jaw-dropping knockout in round three, clinching the title as the first Road to UFC strawweight tournament winner. This win earned her a contract at Saturday’s UFC Macau show.
Catch the KO video below. It’s wild!
After that knockout, Feng lay on the canvas for several minutes. Eventually, they had to carry her out of the octagon on a stretcher.
Later, John Gooden, the commentator, gave an update on Feng’s condition. In the ambulance, Feng was responsive and headed for a precautionary CT scan at the hospital. She could move her limbs but didn’t quite know what hit her. If she’s cleared at the hospital, she’ll head home; otherwise, a UFC medical staff member will stay with her until she’s better.
Before this showdown, Shi faced a five-inch height and six-inch reach disadvantage against Feng. It was evident from the get-go. Although Feng didn’t put Shi in serious trouble during those initial ten minutes, she seemed poised for a decision win unless Shi flipped the script in round three.
And flip it she did! Shi cranked up her aggression and unleashed that game-changing head kick that floored Feng instantly. The official stoppage time? Just 46 seconds into Round 3.
With this win, Shi’s record improved to 17-5 as a pro. She’s now won 11 of her last 12 fights! In her post-fight interview, Shi expressed concern for Feng and hoped she’d be okay.