The ruleset has been revealed for the upcoming fight between Nat Wondergirl and Xiong Jing Nan. It looks set to be a unique fight which could most accurately be described as modified boxing match with MMA gloves.
The bout is set for ONE Fight Night 14. A detailed explanation of the ruleset has been shared and it will definitely not be fought under regular boxing rules.
For starters both strawweights will be wearing MMA gloves. That could be cause for concern for the Thai who had her jaw broken by Jackie Buntan at the Singapore Indoor Stadium a couple of years ago.
A special rules striking showdown goes down between Xiong Jing Nan and Wondergirl on September 29 on @PrimeVideo! 🤩 Who you got? 👊#ONEFightNight14 | September 29 at 8PM ET
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch Live on Prime
🌍 Live TV broadcast in 170+ countries (check local listings) pic.twitter.com/ZT6AilgIZ0— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 7, 2023
Bad memories
The venue probably doesn’t hold good memories for Wondergirl. But Xiong Jing Nan has never lost a fight there and is bound to get good support from the local fans as she is based at Evolve MMA.
The fight will consist of just three rounds lasting three minutes each. Xiong’s last four fights have all been in this stadium, they have all lasted for 25 minutes and none of them have been action packed.
She is the reigning ONE Championship strawweight champion but her MMA fights have not been particularly entertaining for the audience. The ruleset seems designed to ensure that Xiong, who has a background in boxing, can put on more of a show.
Xiong Jing Nan with a FLURRY! How did Angela Lee survive that?! 😳#ONEonPrimeVideo2 #ONEChampionship
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch live on @primevideo 👉 https://t.co/ZJZqnWKU30
🌍 Watch live 👉 https://t.co/8MeKhRMtjy pic.twitter.com/YQ2V4kyOey— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) October 1, 2022
Non stop
Wondergirl did secure a submission win over Zeba Bano in an MMA fight at the Singapore Indoor Stadium last year. But her last Muay Thai fight in the venue ended very badly.
She was left with two broken bones in her face after getting knocked down by Buntan. The Fil-Am fighter, who was scheduled to face Smilla Sundell at ONE Fight Night 15, did the damage with her punches.
Buntan pulled out of her strawweight Muay Thai title fight with champion Sundell, leaving the Swedish fighter without an opponent. But the challenger did succeed in demonstrating that Wondergirl is not a natural boxer.
Jackie Buntan BLASTS Wondergirl to end Round 1! 🤯 #ONEFistsOfFury #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/tisidqLkYW
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 26, 2021
First time
In 2018 ONE Championship hosted a WBA super flyweight fight pitting Iran Diaz against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. That was the first and only time the promotion has out on a boxing match.
This time around the rule set will be somewhat different. Clinching will be allowed which could play into Wondergirl’s hands, she has over a decade of Muay Thai experience.
The ruleset seems tailor made to provide three rounds, or less, of non stop action. If these to strawweights produce it we could see more fights of this nature taking place on ONE Championship cards.
