Wang Cong, a rising star in mixed martial arts, has won 10 of her 11 professional MMA fights. Before stepping into the octagon, she transforms into a striking persona by dyeing her hair green, painting her face white, and drawing a bright red grin from cheek to cheek. While fans might think she is channeling Batman's infamous nemesis, the Joker, Cong clarifies that her persona is inspired by the joker playing card that influenced the comic-book character.

Fight Background

At UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Cong will face Brazilian Natalia Silva for the vacant flyweight world title. Currently on a four-fight win streak, Cong believes her unique appearance allows her to "feel the fear" in her opponents. "It means the most powerful card, so I want to be the most powerful," she told BBC Sport. "When I have paint on I feel crazy. It makes me perform better, it inspires me. There's not much different between paint and no paint, this is my true personality."

Pre-Fight Antics

Cong has a history of bewildering her opponents at weigh-ins with her face paint. She even adopts the Joker alias on social media back home in China. Notably, she tossed an imaginary coin and pretended to shoot a gun before her fight against Gabriella Fernandes in 2024. In July, she humorously gifted Tracy Cortez a pack of fake eyelashes before their flyweight encounter.