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Nicolas Atkin

When Xiong Jingnan steps out to defend her ONE Championship strawweight title against Michelle Nicolini on Friday night in Singapore, she knows there will be extra pressure on her shoulders.
“The Panda” is now China’s sole MMA world, champion following former UFC strawweight titleholder Zhang Weili’s shock first-round TKO defeat by Rose Namajunas in April.
Zhang will get the chance to reclaim her belt at UFC 266 in November, but for now Xiong will be flying the flag for her country in the cage alone.
“I haven’t studied Nicolini much – I had a little conversation with her before but I don’t know her that well,” Xiong said during Tuesday’s media day. “But she wants to take my belt, and that’s impossible.”


“I’ve been feeling pressure all the time from all my fights,” she added. “I feel like this is a must-win situation. I want to keep this belt in my country forever.”
Xiong may be in the main event of Asian promotion ONE’s all-female Empower card, but it is the atomweight grand prix quarter-finals which have been stealing all the spotlight.
ONE Championship: Zamboanga vows to prove Angela Lee wrong
“I see all eight competitors in this grand prix could be a potential contender to fight against me, so I’m very interested in this tournament,” she said. “I thought about joining it before, I’m very interested in fighting the winner in the future.”
Xiong also hopes a successful tournament could prompt ONE to strengthen her own division for a grand prix to determine her next challenger, should she beat Nicolini.
“I would definitely like to see more fighters sign for ONE in strawweight,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about it all the time. Here’s the thing – if you want to be a better version of yourself, you have to fight better athletes, fight more masters. It’s the only way to find out your own weaknesses.”

China’s Meng Bo – who will fight Ritu Phogat in the first round of the atomweight grand prix – spoke on Tuesday of how Xiong was like a big sister to her, and has inspired her in her bid to win her own title.
“I feel glad and honoured to inspire so many athletes in my country and I always want to show respect and honour in fights,” Xiong said.
“Although this is the fight game, and one is standing while another is landing on the ground, I’m always trying to show people how to be a good person, show people justice and kindness. I hope more fighters will be inspired by this.”


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K-1 star Kana Morimoto makes switch to ONE Championship, wants Phetjeeja’s atomweight belt

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ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Xiong Jingnan knows pressure is on as China’s only MMA world champ

Xiong Jingnan celebrates with her strawweight title after beating Tiffany Teo by unanimous decision. Photos: ONE Championship

Xiong Jingnan punches Tiffany Teo.

ONE Championship: Denice Zamboanga vows to prove Angela Lee wrong over Ham Seo-hee prediction

Denice Zamboanga poses ahead of ONE: Empower. Photos: ONE Championship

Denice Zamboanga celebrates her win after leaving Mei Yamaguchi bruised and battered in Singapore.

Mixed martial artist Denice Zamboanga throws a punch at Jihin Radzuan

ONE Championship: Ham Seo-hee says Denice Zamboanga doesn’t have ‘anything dangerous’, sees ‘comfortable night’

Ham Seo-hee is set for her ONE Championship debut at Empower. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Meng Bo plans to ‘effortlessly’ finish Ritu Phogat in atomweight grand prix

Meng Bo delivers ground and pound to Samara Santos. Photos: ONE Championship

Ritu Phogat celebrates after defeating Lin Heqin. Photo: David Ash/ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Itsuki Hirata sees submission win vs Alyse Anderson in atomweight grand prix

Itsuki Hirata poses at a press conference in Japan. Photos: ONE Championship

Itsuki Hirata applies an arm bar. Photo: ONE Championship

Itsuki Hirata celebrates winning her professional debut in ONE Championship.

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘The Panda’ insists strawweight title defence against Michelle Nicolini at Empower is a must-win situation
‘She wants my belt and that’s impossible ... I want to keep it in my country forever,’ says Xiong



Xiong Jingnan says ONE Championship strawweight title bout vs Michelle Nicolini is a must-win – ‘she wants my belt, that’s impossible. I want to keep it in my country forever’.


ONE Championship: Xiong Jingnan knows pressure is on as China’s only MMA world champ

‘The Panda’ insists strawweight title defence against Michelle Nicolini at Empower is a must-win situation ‘She wants my belt and that’s impossible ... I want to keep it in my country forever,’ says Xiong

‘The Panda’ insists strawweight title defence against Michelle Nicolini at Empower is a must-win situation

‘She wants my belt and that’s impossible ... I want to keep it in my country forever,’ says Xiong