A division closing down has allowed a dominant champion to start a new phase of their career.
In recent years, ONE Championship has shifted away from mixed martial arts, with some fighters voicing concerns over long periods of inactivity while others have been cut from the roster.
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The most recent example came on Thursday when the organisation confirmed it is shutting down its women’s strawweight (125 pounds) MMA division.
As a result, the champion at that weight – widely viewed as one of the top female fighters outside of the UFC – was also let go. So who is Stamp Fairtex?
Xiong Jing Nan released from ONE Championship as the strawweight division closes
Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
After a six-year reign, Xiong Jing Nan’s time as ONE Championship strawweight champion has come to an end, not by defeat but by the division’s closure.
The change and Xiong’s release into free agency were first reported by Nick Atkin of the Bangkok Post.
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Despite holding the title until the very end, she hadn’t defended it in over four years, a stretch that lined up with ONE’s continued move away from MMA.
She came back from a three-year break in 2025, trying to cut down to atomweight (115 pounds). Although she missed weight by 1.5 pounds, ‘The Panda’ still managed to beat Meng Bo at ONE Friday Fights 100. That win brought her record to 14 victories in her last 15 fights.
Her only loss since 2015 was against Angela Lee. Xiong later avenged that defeat when they met for a third time, taking their head-to-head record to two wins each. But before that trilogy fight, Lee had evened things up with a win when Xiong tried to drop down and take the 115-pound belt.
Fans Link Xiong Jing Nan to UFC After ONE Championship Departure
Even at 38, plenty of fans think Xiong Jing Nan would be a valuable addition to the UFC roster.
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“There aren’t many women the UFC are currently interested (in) that are free agents. This should be one they are interested in. She’s a top flyweight outside the UFC and Chinese, a market they are constantly trying to further open up. Seems like a perfect fit.”
“I think UFC should sign up Xiong Jing Nan.”
“Relative to how bad the UFC flyweight division is, not too far out of possibility.”
“I could see UFC or Rizin signing her.”
“Despite her age, she wouldn’t be a bad catch for the UFC. Strawweight feels very dry right now.”
The strawweight division has been viewed as one of the weaker divisions in recent years, and while Xiong’s experience could provide some much-needed depth, her weight issues at 115 pounds suggest she might be better suited for flyweight.
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A few fans have already floated potential debut matchups, including a fight against Jessica Andrade on May’s UFC card in Macau.
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