Before stepping into the octagon, Wang Cong transforms her appearance by dyeing her hair green, painting her face white, and drawing a vivid red smile stretching from cheek to cheek. While many fans might think she’s channeling the Joker from Batman, Wang reveals that her look actually draws inspiration from the joker playing card that influenced the comic villain’s character.
At 34 years old and riding a four-fight winning streak, Wang says wearing the face paint gives her an edge, allowing her to “feel the fear” in her opponents. This Saturday at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, she hopes to intimidate Brazilian fighter Natalia Silva in their bout for the vacant flyweight world championship. “The joker is the most powerful card, and I want to be the most powerful,” Wang told BBC Sport. She added that the paint unlocks a crazier, more inspired version of herself – a genuine expression rather than a facade.
Wang’s eccentric antics have rattled opponents even during weigh-ins, and she sometimes adopts the Joker persona when interacting on social media back home in China. Notably, before her 2024 fight with Gabriella Fernandes, she mimed flipping a coin and shooting a gun, and earlier this year surprised Tracy Cortez with a pack of fake eyelashes prior to their matchup. Wang laughs as she hints at another surprise for Silva but quickly shifts to praise her adversary.
Silva, 29, boasts a 14-fight win streak across various fight promotions and is favored to claim the title after Valentina Shevchenko relinquished it due to injury last month. Wang describes Silva as “an incredible fighter” with impressive footwork, distance control, and kicking, highlighting her eight-fight winning run in the UFC that includes victories over three former champions.
While Silva was expected to challenge for the title after Shevchenko’s withdrawal, some were surprised Wang, ranked sixth, was also chosen for the title fight. Wang admits she shared that surprise initially but explained that higher-ranked fighters were either already booked for fights or had just competed, making her four-win streak a strong argument for the title shot.
This matchup marks the first women’s main event in the UFC since Mackenzie Dern’s victory over Amanda Ribas in January 2025. The last time two women headlined a major numbered UFC event was Amanda Nunes’ win in June 2023. Wang considers it a significant moment for women’s MMA, especially following a period when female fighters were underrepresented. She’s hopeful her success will open doors for more Chinese athletes to embrace mixed martial arts.
If victorious, Wang will become only the second Chinese UFC champion, following strawweight titleholder Zhang Weili. “MMA is my final step in my combat sports journey,” she says. “I hope my achievements will inspire more athletes in China to take up mixed martial arts.”
Despite excitement around the event, some fans on social media criticized the main card, arguing that fighters like Jiri Prochazka, Ciryl Gane, and Alex Pereira should have been featured instead. When asked about the criticism, Wang kept her response brief: “I have nothing to say now. After my fight, I think they will be quiet.”
Fan Take: Wang Cong’s confident embrace of a unique persona and her upcoming title fight highlight the growing global diversity within MMA and the UFC. This event not only elevates women’s MMA but also signifies expanding opportunity and inspiration for fighters from China and beyond, potentially reshaping the sport’s future landscape.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
