Claims extracted
22
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
9%
2 of 22 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
66/100
BBC News's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
- Published
Before Wang Cong faces off with her opponents, she dyes her hair green, paints her face white and draws a bright red grin from cheek to cheek.
asserted
she → publish → cheek
Fans may assume Cong is paying tribute to Batman's notorious arch-enemy the Joker, but the Chinese fighter says her persona is rooted in the joker playing card that inspired the comic-book villain.
uncertain
that → assume → villain
The 34-year-old, who is on a four-fight win streak, says she can "feel the fear" in her opponents when she wears the face paint.
asserted
she → say → paint
On Saturday at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, Cong will be hoping she can invoke the same emotions in Brazilian Natalia Silva, when the pair fight for the vacant flyweight world title.
asserted
pair → hop → title
"It means the most powerful card, so I want to be the most powerful," Cong tells BBC Sport.
"
asserted
Cong → mean → Sport
When I have paint on I feel crazy.
asserted
I → have → paint
It makes me perform better, it inspires me.
asserted
it → make → me
There's not much different between paint and no paint, this is my true personality."
Cong has bewildered opponents at weigh-ins while wearing the face paint, and says she even adopts the Joker alias when using social media messaging back home in China.
asserted
she → be → China
She tossed an imaginary coin and pretended to shoot a gun before her fight against Gabriella Fernandes in 2024, while in July she bizarrely gifted Tracy Cortez a pack of fake eyelashes before the pair's flyweight encounter.
asserted
she → toss → encounter
Cong laughs as she reveals Silva can expect a "surprise" of her own before their fight at the Delta Centre, although she then turns serious as she pays tribute to her opponent.
asserted
she → laugh → opponent
Silva, 29, enters the contest on a 14-fight win streak across different promotions and is the favourite to capture the vacant title after Valentina Shevchenko was forced to vacate the belt last month through injury.
asserted
Shevchenko → enter → injury
"She's an incredible fighter, an eight-fight win streak in UFC, beaten three former champions, she has amazing footwork, distance control and kicks," adds Cong.
asserted
Cong → beat → footwork
Silva, who is number one in the UFC's flyweight rankings, was set to face Shevchenko for the belt before the bout was cancelled, so was expected to challenge for the vacant title.
asserted
bout → set → title
Some fans were surprised that sixth-ranked Cong was chosen for the title fight however, and she admits she felt the same way.
"To be honest I was a little bit surprised but if you see the rankings, the girls ranked higher than me have either a fight booked or they have just fought," said Cong.
"I'm on a four-win streak so that makes sense."
The fight represents the first women's main event in the UFC since Mackenzie Dern beat Amanda Ribas is January 2025.
asserted
Dern → rank → Ribas
The last time two women headlined one of the UFC's flagship numbered events was when Amanda Nunes defeated in June 2023.
asserted
Nunes → headline → June
Cong says it's "meaningful" to be flying the flag for women's MMA after a period of under representation in the UFC, and is excited for the opportunities her success could create in China.
uncertain
success → say → China
If Cong wins, she will become only the second Chinese UFC champion after former strawweight title holder Zhang Weili.
asserted
she → win → Weili
I think my success will encourage more athletes to be brave and try mixed martial arts in China," said Cong.
asserted
Cong → think → China
The event has received criticism from some fans on social media, who instead called for the main event to feature fighters such as Jiri Prochazka, Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira.
asserted
event → receive → Prochazka
When asked if Cong has a message for her critics, she was concise in her response.
asserted
she → ask → response
"I've got nothing to say right now.
asserted
I → get → nothing
After my fight I think they will shut up," she said.
asserted
she → think → fight
The Aporia
