ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan has put in many convincing performances in her run as the most successful female MMA World Champion in ONE Championship history. 

However, her latest challenger to the throne, “Unstoppable” Angela Lee – who meets the Chinese superstar in a much-anticipated trilogy showdown at ONE on Prime Video 2 on September 30 – doesn’t make much of the Chinese star’s recent title-winning displays inside the Circle.

Xiong Jing Nan is doing everything to hold to ONE Championship gold

“I feel like when I watched Xiong in [lately], she wasn’t fighting to win – she was fighting not to lose,” the atomweight queen offered.

“Sometimes when you’re champion for a while, you become stagnant, and you’re just fighting to keep your belt, not fighting to win and destroy every person that’s in front of you.”

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Xiong has defended her ONE Strawweight World Title a jaw-dropping six times, but with her last three outings ending in unanimous decision wins, some have begun to question “The Panda’s” drive to hunt for highlight-reel finishes. 

Angela Lee ‘Returned From Childbirth’ Under Disadvantage Against Chinese World Champion Xiong Jing Nan Believes Ex-Rival Stamp Fairtex

Even ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong questioned her lack of game strength and killer instinct after her record-breaking sixth title defense against Ayaka “Zombie” Miura in the Singapore Indoor Stadium this past January.

Angela Lee submits Xiong Jing Nan has a lot to prove 

Though Lee shares a similar view, she feels that, with the recent criticism surrounding Xiong’s below-average performances, “The Panda” could turn over a new leaf when they square off in their main event tussle next Friday.

“With that being said, I do think that she’s going to hear that. She’s going to get angry and think that she wants to make a statement in this fight,” the United MMA and Evolve product said.

“She wants to prove to everyone that, ‘No, I’m still dangerous. I’m a killer. I’m a finisher.’ And so I’m not going to be overlooking her and using her previous fights as something to base my assumptions of her on.”

After all, Lee tasted some of Xiong’s most potent weapons when the pair met twice in 2019. She knows she can never discredit what her longtime foe brings to the Circle.

Overall, Lee loves engaging in a barnburner of a fight, and she’s game to face the very best version of Xiong when they square off on September 30.

“Me and Xiong Jing Nan, we’ve had 10 rounds, and we are pretty familiar with each other styles. But the one thing I can say is that I definitely feel like I’ve evolved much more as a fighter, as a mixed martial artist, and as a champion,” she said.

“I have gained a lot more experience since our first two encounters. So this is round 11. I know she’s a tough fighter, but I’m excited for what I’m going to be bringing to the table.”

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