Stepping Into a New Arena
China’s Miao Ding is set to make her Power Slap debut at Power Slap 16 in Abu Dhabi, facing off against the experienced Destiny McCubbin. For Miao, this marks not just her first appearance on the Power Slap stage, but also the first time she’ll compete in slap fighting altogether.
“I’m excited now—it’s my first time slap fighting,” Miao said with a smile. “I’ve always admired combat sports. I think they’re for brave people, and when I learned Power Slap became official, I wanted to try it myself.”
Her introduction to Power Slap came unexpectedly. During a dinner with her manager, she learned about opportunities to compete and decided to take the leap. Inspired by a former training partner who joined the sport, Miao began her own journey toward Abu Dhabi.
Learning the Art of the Slap
Unlike many of her peers, Miao started slap training only in mid-September, leaving her a short preparation window before her international debut.
“At first, it was difficult to control my head tilt,” she admitted. “But with the help of my coach Alexi, I learned how to control my movement and adapt to the important rules.”
Despite the time crunch, she’s dedicated to putting in the work. Balancing another job, Miao had to request time off to train full-time leading up to Power Slap 16. “The time is short,” she said, “but I will train hard. Right now, I just want the opportunity to strike first—so I’m waiting for what the coin says.”
Respect for Her Opponent
Miao enters her debut with full respect for her opponent, Destiny McCubbin, who made an impressive showing in her Power Slap 12 performance.
“My opponent performed very well in her last fight,” Miao noted. “Her slap is very powerful, and you can tell she has professional combat training experience.”
Still, the Chinese athlete is confident in her preparation and approach. “We’re both MMA fighters,” she said. “We both study each other’s videos and train hard. She said she will put me down this time—let’s see who lands first on October 24.”
A Brave Debut on the Global Stage
Power Slap 16 in Abu Dhabi will be Miao Ding’s first opportunity to showcase her skills to an international audience. While she may be new to the sport, her determination, composure, and courage reflect the spirit that Power Slap thrives on.
As she summed it up simply:
“I believe combat sports are for brave people. I’m ready to show my power and my heart.”