Shi Ming, a Chinese doctor and a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter, is setting her sights on the bigger competition arena while continuing to diligently care for her patients.
By day, Shi practices acupuncture at a hospital in Kunming City of southwest China's Yunnan Province; by night, she transforms into a fearless fighter stepping into the octagon.
Nicknamed "The Doctor," Shi embodies a unique duality, balancing the Hippocratic Oath of her medical career with the controlled violence of her burgeoning profession in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
The 30-year-old straw-weight made her full UFC debut in late August, headlining the Road to UFC card against Brazil's Bruna Brasil in Shanghai.
However, Shi fell to a unanimous 30-27 decision, as she was unable to build momentum or establish her offense against the taller Brazilian opponent.
"It was also because this time the competition was in Shanghai, with so many home fans supporting and cheering for me. If I didn't retain the championship, I think it would be a big regret," said Shi.
"This competition is the biggest international stage I've ever competed on, and I haven't managed to turn the pressure into motivation yet. Every night before falling asleep, I reflect a lot, review my notes, and try to recall what I did wrong and how I can improve," she added.
Driven by her passion for sports, Shi has explored various disciplines, including taekwondo, sanda and free fighting. The pure joy of sports itself is what keeps her motivated.
"For example, after training, I feel invigorated, especially during taekwondo sessions, where I can practice numerous performance techniques, which is quite fun. And every time I compete, I get to visit a new place," she said.
In 2015, after dedicated studies, Shi was admitted to Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine as a medical student. That same year, she began her journey into MMA.
The rising star proved herself dramatically in November 2024 in Macao, where a crushing head kick knockout of compatriot Feng Xiaocan at the Road to UFC finals electrified the crowd.
Down two rounds to Feng, Shi delivered one of those bludgeoning head kicks that immediately incapacitated her opponent.
Fans have been equally impressed by her dual career. Dubbed "the world's most powerful acupuncturist" by Chinese netizens and even compared her to martial arts legend Huang Feihong, Shi embraces the unique juxtaposition.
"There are actually very few female fighters in the fighting arena like me with low testosterone levels, which is probably why I have attracted so much attention," she said.
Shi has been training under Iranian coach Bagher Amanolahi since 2017. Despite training only six hours a week -- far less than her peers -- Shi's progress astonishes her coach.
"After every fight, we sit down and we go through the match, we check what she did wrong. Win or lose, there's always a lot to learn. Maybe it's not even a good thing to say you lose -- I think it's more like you win or you learn," said Amanolahi.
Shi specializes in stroke, pain management and chronic geriatric conditions, and she remains committed to her medical career even after signing with the UFC.
"It has been an arduous journey to go from a medical student to a doctor, costing me a lot of time and energy, and I don't want to give it up so easily. I also have many patients to care for, and I believe that being a doctor is a responsibility," she said.
MMA is a sport that allows and encourages competitors to inflict maximum damage on their opponents through pummeling fists, cutting elbows, suffocating grappling and bludgeoning kicks.
Despite China's historic links with martial arts, MMA is a relatively new arrival in the country, with the sport only breaking through to the mainstream after Zhang Weili became China's first-ever UFC world champion in Shenzhen in 2019.
Chinese doctor balances passion as UFC fighter with responsibility of medical profession
