Shaolin Monk Redeems Self with Win Over Navy Seal
By wchung | 28 May, 2025

Disgraced Chinese Shaolin monk Yi Long redeemed himself by defeating American IKF champion Xin Yili in a kickboxing match in Las Vegas.

Chinese Shaolin monk Yi Long won a kickboxing match in Las Vegas last Thursday against Xin Yili, an IKF kickboxing champion who happens to be a former US Navy Seal. The win helps the top-rated Shaolin martial artist make up for a humiliating loss last November at Harrah’s to US police officer Adrien Grotte.

Yi Long, who had an undefeated record in professional bouts prior to the Grotte match, had been touted as China’s top Shaolin fighter. During the first minutes of the Grotte match Yi appeared to be in complete control, knocking Grotte down twice in rapid succession after Grotte’s effort at landing kicks were easily countered by Yi. However, toward the later minutes, Grotte began asserting himself with burst of punching. He is known for having a powerful right hand.

In the 44th second of the 2nd round Grotte countered a kick from Yi with a left hook that sent Yi to the floor on his back. Yi appeared dazed for a few seconds and the referee ended the fight on a TKO.

After losing to Grotte, a former Marine, Yi suffered abuse from Chinese fans who reviled him for letting down the image of Chinese kung fu and failing to try harder to shake off the knockdown. Yi is also reported to have gone through an emotional crisis back at his temple. There have even been reports of aberrant behavior as he tried to cope with what everyone in China considered an unspeakably humiliating defeat.

Since then Yi seems to have boned up on some of the boxing techniques used frequently in international mixed martial-arts matches in preparation for what was to have been a rematch with Grotte last week. But Grotte withdrew from the fight due to an injury and was replaced on the card by Xin Yili, a black belt in karate and aikido.

This Las Vegas match had a very different outcome for Yi. He appeared in full control throughout the match against Xin Yili, and apparently redeemed some of the respect he had lost with an easy win.