Xu Xiaodong

Over the past week, nationalist fury has enveloped China’s internet, prompting actors, musicians and other public figures in the mainland to criticize the continuing anti-government protests in Hong Kong. Against this backdrop, outspoken Chinese mixed martial arts fighter Xu Xiaodong has bucked the trend by speaking up for Hongkongers on social media. On Sunday, Xu, who has controversially made a name for himself by challenging what he calls “fake” kung fu masters, wrote on Twitter that Hong Kong is a world-class free market with quality higher education and a robust entertainment industry. He condemned some violent clashes between protesters and police as illegal acts that must be punished

Xu Xiaodong, the Chinese mixed martial arts fighter who angered Chinese officials by exposing so-called fake kung fu masters, says he will keep fighting them, even if it means he has to acquire foreign citizenship. Xu told Inkstone that he hopes to acquire Australian citizenship in order to counter-sue Chen Xiaowang, a tai chi master who sued Xu for defamation and won. “I want to acquire Australian citizenship, if I can find someone to sponsor and help me with that,” Xu told me over WeChat, China's WhatsApp-like mega app. “Chen’s tai chi is not real kung fu, it’s more for show. I think he’s promoting fraudulent information in China, so I want to acquire Australian citizenship so I can bring

In a boxing ring in northwestern China last month, controversial mixed martial arts fighter Xu Xiaodong found himself up against a kung fu master who professed the ability to paralyze an opponent with the jab of his finger. This mystical technique is sometimes called the “death touch.” But on May 18, touch was probably the last thing the kung fu master Lu Gang wanted. Xu landed punch after punch to his face. Forty seconds and one broken nose later, the fight was over. Over the past two years, 41-year-old Xu has made headlines for winning bouts against self-proclaimed masters of kung fu, or Chinese martial arts, in unusually high-profile matches. His challenge to old-school kung fu masters h