Chinese “fighting doctor” Shi Ming has spent the past two months working overtime to accumulate enough time off for his Ultimate Fighting Championship bout next week, when he will face another kind of pressure: fighting with “half the world” watching.
Shi, who works at a hospital in Kunming, will face India’s top female fighter in Road to UFC Season 5, which kicks off at the Octagon in Macau on Thursday. He is scheduled to participate in the opening round on the second day.
The MMA fighter, a popular favorite with a record of 17-6, will take on Puja Tomar, India’s first female UFC fighter.
Shi said on his social media that he expected the fight against Tomar, who holds a 9-5 record, to be an even fight.
“I am very excited because this is a match between China and India. That is to say, 3 billion people in the world will watch this match, half of the world will focus on our fight, and I feel a lot of pressure,” he said.
The Macau event gives fans the opportunity to get a first look at rising MMA prospects from across the Asia-Pacific as they compete for the coveted UFC contract.
