“The Panda” will put her One Championship women’s strawweight title on the line against eight-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Michelle Nicolini in the “Empower” main event on Sept. 3 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Xiong has rattled off 10 wins across her past 11 outings. She last appeared at One Championship “Inside the Matrix,” where she took a five-round unanimous decision from Tiffany Teo in their Oct. 30 rematch. Nicolini, meanwhile, has won four of her last five bouts. She has not competed since she was awarded a three-round unanimous verdict over Angela Lee at One Championship “Masters of Destiny” on July 12, 2019.
As Xiong and Nicolini make final preparations for their high-stakes showdown, a look at some of the numbers that have accompanied them to this point:
33: Years of age for Xiong, who was born in Jining, China, on Jan. 12, 1988.
10: Xiong victories by knockout or technical knockout, accounting for 67% of her career total (15). Her list of One Championship victims: Teo, Lee, Samara Santos Cunha and April Osenio. Xiong owns one other victory by submission and four more by decision.
2: Promotions in which Xiong has competed as a mixed martial artist. She has gone 9-1 in Kunlun Fight and 6-1 in One Championship.
1,322: Days spent by Xiong as One Championship women’s strawweight titleholder. She laid claim to the 125-pound crown with a fourth-round technical knockout of Teo at “Kings of Courage” on Jan. 20, 2018. Xiong has successfully defended the championship on four different occasions.
50: Seconds needed for Xiong to dispatch Inna Hutsal with an armbar in her professional debut at Kunlun Fight 9 on Aug. 31, 2014. It remains the fastest finish of her 17-fight career.
39: Years of age for Nicolini, who was born on Jan. 5, 1982 in Itu, Brazil.
5: Nicolini wins by submission, accounting for 83% of her career total (six). Her methods of choice: three armbars and two rear-naked chokes. Nicolini holds one other win by decision.
4: Medals won by Nicolini at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships. She took silver in 2011 and 2015, struck gold in 2013 and captured bronze in 2017.
6: Countries in which Nicolini has fought as a mixed martial artist. She has gone 2-0 in Malaysia, 1-1 in Singapore, 1-0 in the Philippines, 1-0 in England, 1-0 in Peru and 0-1 in the United States.
1,029: Days since Nicolini experienced a defeat. She lost a unanimous decision to the aforementioned Teo at One Championship “Heart of the Lion” on Nov. 9, 2018.