Wang Cong’s 'Joker' persona isn’t just for show - here’s how it affects her rivals during UFC fights

Wang Cong’s rise through the UFC women’s flyweight division has come with powerful striking, growing confidence and a personality that is increasingly difficult to ignore. The Chinese fighter, nicknamed 'The Joker', has embraced the character as more than simply an entertaining image. For Wang, the smile, gestures and playful behavior inside the Octagon can become part of the battle itself. Wang believes her unusual approach allows her to sense something every fighter wants to see in an opponent - fear.

According to the BBC, Wang undergoes a striking transformation before entering the Octagon, dyeing her hair green, painting her face white and completing the look with a bright red grin stretching from cheek to cheek.

WHY WANG CONG EMBRACES HER 'JOKER' PERSONA

Wang’s 'Joker' look has become a defining part of her UFC persona, but there is more to it than showmanship. She also uses the character as a psychological tool to unsettle her opponents inside the Octagon.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Wang explained that she enjoys smiling during fights and believes she can recognize when her opponents begin to feel uncomfortable or afraid. That reaction gives her added confidence and allows her to enjoy herself even more inside the Octagon.

"I can feel their fear," Wang told the BBC while discussing what happens when she smiles at opponents during fights.

It fits naturally with the persona of a fighter nicknamed 'The Joker'. Instead of approaching competition with an entirely serious expression, Wang uses smiles and her playful character to put a different kind of pressure on the woman standing across from her.

Wang has established herself as a genuine threat in the flyweight division, winning four consecutive fights and five of her six UFC appearances. Her recent run includes a victory over Tracy Cortez at UFC 329.

‘THE JOKER’ FACES HER BIGGEST UFC CHALLENGE

Wang’s combination of personality and fighting ability has now taken her to the biggest opportunity of her UFC career. She faces Natalia Silva for the vacant UFC women’s flyweight championship at UFC 332 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The title became vacant after Valentina Shevchenko was forced to relinquish it because of an injury.

Silva represents a formidable challenge. The No. 1 contender has won all eight of her UFC fights and entered the championship bout riding a 14-fight overall winning streak, having beaten former champions Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas along the way.

For Wang, however, the occasion provides another opportunity to unleash 'The Joker'. The smiles may entertain fans, but for her opponents, they are intended to send a very different message.