Fans at UFC Fight Night in Cotai, Macau were growing restless on Saturday before Shi Ming and Feng Xiaocan squared off in the women’s strawweight bout.
The first two rounds were arguably won by Xiaocan, the betting favorite entering the night, but everything changed 46 seconds into Round 3. That’s when Ming unloaded a brutal kick to the head, knocking Xiaocan out on her feet.
The referee quickly dove in and pulled Ming off her opponent but the damage had already been done. An unconscious Xiaocan snored as Ming celebrated the victory. Then reality set in. Xiaocan was in bad shape.
MASSIVE HEADKICK K.O. FROM SHI MING 🤯 #UFCMacau pic.twitter.com/Mi4ufMJ7Kh
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 23, 2024
Medics hustled into the octagon and stabilized Xiaocan’s head before putting her onto a stretcher, loading her into an ambulance, and rushing her to the Kiang Wu Hospital in Cotai.
Later in the night, announcers did provide a positive update, revealing that Xiaocan had woken up and was alert in the ambulance but unaware of what had happened. She was also able to move her limbs.
Ming was visible shaken in the aftermath.
“I actually worry about my opponent, I really hope she’s ok,” Ming, who was choking back tears, said during the post-fight interview. “She’s young.”
It’s been quite some time since the UFC needed a stretcher in the cage and it speaks to the violate nature of this fight. And while Ming and Xiaocan put on an impressive showing, the end result is a reminder of just how dangerous the sport of mixed martial arts is.
With the win, Ming secured a UFC contract.
