From Canvas to Combat: Chinese Woman Becomes Pioneer in UFC Power Slap League

In an unconventional career pivot, Ding Miao, 33, a former art director and fine arts graduate, has broken barriers as the first Chinese female athlete to enter the global Power Slap league, a slap-fighting competition owned by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ding, who holds an oil painting degree from the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, abandoned her career as an art director in 2016 for professional combat sports. After years in mixed martial arts, she signed up with UFC's Power Slap on August 18 this year, entering a sport that reduces combat to its most primal form: Opponents take turns slapping each other in the face, forbidden to dodge or block.

Originating in Russia and globalized by the UFC, Power Slap has drawn both fascination and condemnation for its brutally simple format.

In an exclusive interview with Shanghai-based news portal The Paper, Ding shared her motivations, defended the sport's legitimacy, and addressed its inherent risks.

"When I saw the competition, I thought, 'I'm a professional fighter – I can do this well.' I really wanted to try," Ding said of her decision to join Power Slap, which the UFC launched as a formal league in 2023.

Despite its seemingly simple premise, Ding emphasizes that the sport requires rigorous training and technique. Each competitor gets three slaps per round, must announce which hand they will use, and can win by knockout or judges' decision based on factors such as head movement, visible impairment, and strike impact. Strikes are permitted only below the cheekbone, with sensitive areas like the temples, chin, ears and throat strictly out of bounds.

When asked about the cultural stigma of face-slapping, Ding responded bluntly: "First, let me ask you – did you enjoy watching it? Honestly, I think most people watch for the spectacle, and they find it quite entertaining." She acknowledged the sport's commercial appeal but framed it as a mental test.

"When someone's hand comes toward your face to slap you, you have to look at them calmly," she said. "This is about facing fear directly. It lets me show personal strength and presence."

Speaking to the appeal of Power Slap, she added, "Ultimately, most people still find it thrilling to watch – visceral, straightforward, and powerful. At its core, it's a confrontational sport that delivers a spectacle."

Ding admitted weighing the risks, especially given previous fractures from MMA. Encouragement from her doctor, also a fan, solidified her choice. "He said he'd help me recover. That gave me faith," she said.

Her parents, however, struggled to understand her path. "They think I'm a fool," Ding said. "Once I came home injured, and my mother cried. Now, if I get hurt, I won't go home – I don't want them to see that."

Despite her Power Slap commitment, Ding's long-term goal remains in MMA. She plans to complete her six-fight contract before returning to the MMA circuit, with the dream of one day undergoing the sport's traditional retirement ceremony, which she describes as "sacred."

For now, she embraces her role as a trailblazer. "To survive as a fighter, you can't just compete – you have to create commercial value," she noted. "I may not chase online fame, but I want people to know I was the first Chinese woman in this ring."

As Power Slap continues to stir debate worldwide, Ding stands at the intersection of spectacle, sport and personal conviction – an artist who traded brushes for blows, now slapping her way into the headlines.