Wang Cong Bio
Wang Cong (Chinese: 王聪; pinyin: Wáng Cōng; born 15 May 1992) is a Chinese mixed martial artist, boxer, and Sanda kickboxer currently competing in the women’s Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She previously held the Kunlun Fight Women’s Lightweight Championship and won the Kunlun Fight 2018 Legend of Mulan Tournament. Known by the ring name “The Joker,” she is also a standout amateur combat sports athlete with a gold medal from the 2013 World Wushu Championships and a silver medal in amateur boxing at the 2019 World Championships.
Early Life and Background
Wang Cong was born on 15 May 1992 in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. She grew up in a region of China with a strong tradition of martial arts, and that environment helped shape her early interest in striking sports such as Sanda and boxing. Her training foundation in these disciplines gave her the technical base she would later use in mixed martial arts competition.
Wang Cong later moved to represent her country in international amateur competition, where she built a reputation as a disciplined striker with strong footwork and finishing instincts. Her amateur career included high-level achievements in both Sanda and boxing, two of China’s most respected combat sports. These accomplishments helped establish her as one of the top female strikers from her country before she turned to professional mixed martial arts.
Path to MMA
Wang Cong’s path toward professional mixed martial arts began with a successful run in kickboxing. In 2015, she defeated future UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision at Kunlun Fight 33, a major victory that raised her profile in the global striking scene. Three years later, she won the Kunlun Fight 76 Legend of Mulan tournament, taking three unanimous decisions in one night to claim the title and the Women’s Lightweight Championship.
After establishing herself in kickboxing, Wang Cong transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2014. She won her first three professional MMA bouts and then faced UFC veteran Wu Yanan at Kunlun Fight 95 in January 2024, earning a unanimous decision victory. The performance confirmed that her striking game could translate to the multi-discipline demands of MMA, and it set the stage for her opportunity to join the UFC roster.
Wang Cong Career
Early Career (2014–2023)
Wang Cong began her professional career in 2014, competing in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts on Chinese fight cards. She built her early resume in regional promotions, where she earned a reputation as a powerful striker with excellent conditioning. Her kickboxing and Sanda pedigree allowed her to control range and pace against a variety of opponents during her developmental years.
By the time she reached Kunlun Fight 95 in January 2024, Wang Cong had compiled an unbeaten MMA record. The unanimous decision win over Wu Yanan served as her final test on the regional circuit and a clear statement that she was ready for the highest level of the sport. The victory positioned her for a contract opportunity on the Road to UFC.
UFC Breakthrough (2024–Present)
Wang Cong made her UFC debut through the Road to UFC Season 3, where she submitted Paula Luna in the first round in May 2024 to earn a UFC contract. She then faced Victoria Leonardo on August 24, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 62, and finished the fight with a first-round knockout. UFC CEO Dana White recognized the performance with a Performance of the Night award, marking an impressive first official UFC appearance.
Wang Cong suffered her first career loss on November 23, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 248, when Gabriella Fernandes caught her with a left hook and finished the fight with a rear-naked choke in the second round. The setback was a brief interruption, as Wang Cong returned to the win column at UFC 312 in February 2025, defeating Bruna Brasil by unanimous decision. She followed that with another unanimous decision win over Ariane da Silva at UFC 316 in June 2025.
Team Alpha Male Era (2024–Present)
Wang Cong now trains with Team Alpha Male, a respected gym based in Sacramento, California. The move gave her access to high-level training partners and coaching that complemented her striking base. Her association with the team has coincided with the most productive stretch of her professional career, including her UFC debut and her first promotional award.
As of September 9, 2025, Wang Cong is ranked #12 in the UFC women’s flyweight rankings. She has continued to develop her ground game, but her greatest strengths remain in striking, where her Sanda and boxing background allows her to dictate exchanges with opponents. The Team Alpha Male environment is expected to help her close the gap on the division’s elite competitors.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wang Cong is best known for her precise boxing, aggressive Sanda-based striking, and ability to walk opponents down with forward pressure. Her background in Chinese kickboxing allows her to mix punches and kicks effectively, while her length and conditioning make her a difficult matchup over the course of a full fight. In her UFC run, she has shown a willingness to evolve her grappling and has already recorded a professional submission win in the first round.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature moments, Wang Cong’s unanimous decision over Valentina Shevchenko at Kunlun Fight 33 in 2015 stands out as one of the most impressive wins of her career. She also captured the 2018 Legend of Mulan tournament in a single night and earned a Performance of the Night bonus for her first-round knockout of Victoria Leonardo in her UFC debut event. She has also held the Kunlun Fight Women’s Lightweight Championship.
Wang Cong Career Wins
Wang Cong has compiled a professional mixed martial arts record of 8 wins and 1 loss across 9 total bouts, with finishes coming by knockout, submission, and decision. Her victories include high-profile wins over future UFC champions and established veterans in regional and international competition. The table below summarizes her verifiable career numbers across finishes and decisions.
UFC Highlights
Wang Cong’s UFC run began with a first-round knockout of Victoria Leonardo in August 2024, which earned her a Performance of the Night bonus. After a second-round submission loss to Gabriella Fernandes in November 2024, she bounced back with consecutive unanimous decision wins over Bruna Brasil and Ariane da Silva in 2025. These results have placed her inside the official women’s flyweight top fifteen.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside the UFC, Wang Cong captured the Kunlun Fight Women’s Lightweight Championship and won the 2018 Legend of Mulan tournament with three unanimous decisions in one evening. She also holds a unanimous decision win over former UFC title challenger Wu Yanan at Kunlun Fight 95 in January 2024. On the amateur side, she won gold in Sanda at the 2013 World Wushu Championships, gold at the 2014 Asian Games, and silver in amateur boxing at the 2019 World Championships.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFC Women’s Flyweight | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Pre-UFC MMA | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Wang Cong Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wang Cong was raised in Dalian, Liaoning Province, in northeastern China. Public information about her parents and family background is limited, and verified details about her immediate family are not widely available.
Personal Life
Wang Cong currently resides in Liaoning Province, China, and is professionally based out of Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California. She is known by the ring name “The Joker.” Publicly available verified information about her spouse, marital status, or children is limited.
2025 Season Performance
Wang Cong’s 2025 campaign has positioned her as a rising contender in the UFC women’s flyweight division. She opened the year with a unanimous decision win over Bruna Brasil at UFC 312 in February, a result that steadied her course after her first professional loss. She then added a second consecutive unanimous decision victory over Ariane da Silva at UFC 316 in June, with the bout taking place at a catchweight after da Silva missed the flyweight limit.
By September 9, 2025, Wang Cong had climbed to the #12 spot in the official UFC women’s flyweight rankings. Her ability to grind out decisions and remain composed in extended exchanges has been a defining trait of her season, complementing the knockout power she showed in her UFC debut. With continued development in her ground game at Team Alpha Male, her trajectory inside the division appears to be on the rise.
Looking ahead, Wang Cong is expected to remain active in the women’s flyweight division as she pursues a path toward a top-ten ranking. The combination of her elite striking pedigree, her improving overall MMA game, and her current ranking provide a strong foundation for the rest of 2025 and beyond.