“I Cannot Wait To Show a Different Side” – Xiong Jing Nan Teases a Standup Battle Against Wondergirl at ONE Fight Night 14

Xiong Jing Nan has defeated every opponent she has faced in ONE Championship’s women’s strawweight MMA division, and the longtime divisional queen is looking forward to a new kind of challenge in her upcoming bout.

Xiong is set to compete in a special rules striking contest against Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak at ONE Fight Night 14: Stamp vs. Ham on Friday, September 29, inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Xiong Jing Nan eager to showcase her striking prowess against Wondergirl

After thwarting ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Angela Lee’s second attempt to take her strap at ONE on Prime Video 2 in October last year, the Chinese superstar has effectively shut down the most dangerous threats to her reign. But in her return to action, Xiong will venture into new territory as she steps outside mixed martial arts for the first time in her tenure at the world’s largest martial arts organization when she enters a specially designed hand-strikes-only match.

The competitors will don MMA gloves, but they will only be allowed to throw punches–no kicks, elbows, or knees will be allowed. While she understands the risk she is taking, she embraces the opportunity to show a different side of her arsenal.”I was very excited when I received this offer. I am a person who likes a challenge, and I cannot wait to show a different side of my skill set,” Xiong told ONE in a recent interview. “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.”

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The Evolve MMA standout will be facing a talented striker in Jaroonsak–a two-time Thailand National Muay Thai Champion with over 50 fights under her belt. “Wondergirl” recently transitioned to MMA, and she claimed her first win in the sport at ONE 157 in May 2022. She suffered a tough loss in her latest outing at ONE Friday Fights 26 this past July, which would put Xiong squarely as the favorite if they were competing in MMA in their upcoming tussle. But the special rules set for them put the two strikers on a relatively even footing.

Xiong Jing Nan is no stranger to striking with a decorated boxing career under her belt 

Nonetheless, Xiong, a former national boxer in China, says she has kept her boxing sharp throughout the years, and she won’t have to make too much of an adjustment when preparing to meet Jaroonsak on September 29. “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,” she said.

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“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.”