Xia Li hits like a bolt of lightning: The exact moment of impact is often too quick to see with the naked eye, but the devastation left in its wake is never in doubt, as Karen Q found out.
The two competitors displayed mutual respect before the action got underway by bowing to each other and taking a martial arts fighting stance. Proving to be very evenly matched, they each set off a flurry of kicks, all of which were deftly avoided. After the early stalemate, they bowed again, but this time Karen Q followed up by slapping Li in the face, which incensed the Chinese Superstar. Li lost her composure, playing right into Q’s hands and allowing the standout from the U.S. independent scene to take control.
Karen Q drilled Li with a handspring forearm, but later missed the mark on a frog splash. Taking advantage of the opening, Li hit a blink-and-you-miss-it flipping axe kick to down Q for the three-count. Despite her aggressive tactics during the bout, Karen Q showed grace in defeat, bowing to Li once more in a final show of respect. Li, meanwhile, goes on to the Second Round, where she will face Deonna Purrazzo.