Shi Ming is a TCM doctor by day and an MMA fighter by night, earning her fans’ admiration. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

A Chinese mixed martial arts (MMA) female fighter has become an online sensation not only for her recent victory in a UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) tournament but also for her role as a full-time practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

On November 23, at the Road to UFC tournament in Macau, Shi Ming delivered a stunning knockout to her opponent Feng Xiaocan with a powerful head kick in the third round of the women’s strawweight finale.

Feng, 22, stood 15cm taller than Shi, 30, and was expected to have the upper hand in the match.

Shi’s remarkable knockout left Feng unconscious for several minutes before she was carried out of the Octagon on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital. Feng later assured her followers on social media that she was fine.

Zhang Weili, the first Asian UFC champion, watched the match and was caught on camera expressing her excitement over Shi’s knockout, stating it made her “hair stand on end”.

Following her impressive win, Shi secured a contract with the UFC and earned an additional US$50,000 Performance of the Night award.

Since 2020, Shi has reportedly claimed 12 MMA championships across China, South Korea, and Myanmar.

In the post-fight interview, Shi appeared both shy and confident. She mentioned that she would gradually shift her focus to her fighting career while considering a return to her TCM practice as she ages.

She also expressed concern for Feng’s condition, a gesture many social media users praised as a reflection of her TCM doctor persona.

Shi works as a full-time acupuncturist at the Kunming Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in southwestern China’s Yunnan province by day, and as an MMA athlete by night. Her fans have affectionately dubbed her “the most formidable martial arts TCM doctor.”

In the evenings, Shi trains at the Kunming Ong Bak Muay Thai Boxing and MMA Gym, learning from US catch wrestling coach Bagher Amanolahi.

She noted that her expertise in acupuncture and massage has helped both her and her teammates receive proper treatment after injuries sustained during fights.

Shi has drawn comparisons to Wong Fei-hung, one of the most celebrated martial arts figures in Chinese history, who was also known for his skills in acupuncture.

Born in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province in 1994, Shi was inspired to pursue a career in TCM by her grandfather, who was also a TCM doctor and attended Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine.

In an interview with the UFC, Shi, who speaks sweetly and softly, revealed that most of her colleagues were unaware of her MMA career.

Her colleagues later disclosed that they were aware but chose to respect Shi’s desire to keep her fighting life low profile.

Shi began her martial arts training at the age of 13 but did not tell her parents about her involvement in MMA fights.

“Now your parents may find it hard to be unaware of your impressive fights,” one commenter noted on Douyin.

Another joked: “Shi’s hospital should play her fighting videos in its lobby to deter violence against medical workers.”

“She saves lives during the day and fights at night. What a character!” remarked a third.