A healer and a fighter: the double life of UFC star Shi Ming

SHANGHAI: By day Shi Ming heals patients as a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. By night she trains to deliver brutal knockouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Shi shot to fame in November when she won a contract with UFC with a devastating kick that saw Chinese compatriot Feng Xiaocan carried out of the octagon on a stretcher.

There was no trace of that ferocity in the demure, softly spoken figure AFP met last week ahead of her UFC debut.

Dressed in baby pink with large round glasses resting gently on her nose, Shi said she has to “brainwash” herself before each fight to overcome her instinct not to cause harm.

“I do hold back a little,” the 30-year-old said.

“In several past matches I didn’t finish someone off when I had the chance, which allowed my opponents to recover and nearly reverse the outcome.”

“I need to adjust myself for every match, not overthinking things. Before each competition I always brainwash myself to stay focused on the match,” she added.

The ruthless victory over Feng in Macau propelled her into the mixed martial arts spotlight, in the process also revealing her other life to her parents, who had been unaware she was involved in the sport at all.

On Friday thousands of Chinese fans packed a Shanghai arena to rally behind her, cheering loudly every time she landed a strike.

Shi ultimately lost by decision, but still received a huge ovation, with fans screaming “Go Dr. Shi!” as she bowed gratefully.

The diminutive fighter still works full-time in her home city of Kunming, in southwest Yunnan province.

“I still prioritize my medical work and only focus on training after I finish all my duties,” she said.

Her days typically begin at the hospital, where she consults patients,