2010 Expo mascot death match

It's the time we've all been waiting for, the Rumble in the Expo! Haibao may have beaten 26,654 other creatures to become the official mascot of Expo 2010, but how would he fare against the representatives from other nations? In our own version of inter-pavilion Mortal Kombat, we've set Haibao against the top challengers from elsewhere in the Expo, just in case his cool exterior falls away under all the pressure to reveal Haibao the Destroyer! Seconds out... fight!

Shanghai 2010 Expo champion: Haibao

Appearance: A cross between toothpaste and Gumby, Haibao is meant to be an anthropomorphic “人,” the Chinese character for “person.” According to the official Expo site, Haibao’s “round body represents a well-off life, which is also lovely and cute.” 
Defining characteristic: Ubiquity. He’s on our TV screens, pruned into our shrubbery, and there are at least 10 statues of him in downtown Shanghai.
Annoying quality we've grown to love: At first, Haibao’s wardrobe struck us as a bit excessive, especially for someone who spends so much time in the nude. But he’s won us over little by little with his sartorial flair. 
Secret weapon: With his sick breakdancing skills, Haibao could surely take any of the other mascots in a dance-off.

Round 1: Haibao vs Thailand’s Tai

Appearance: Based on the mythical Thai character Indrajit, Tai is like Shrek, with fangs and a funky hat.
Defining characteristic: That crazy gleam in his eye.
Secret weapon: Did you think that stick he’s holding was a kaleidoscope? According to the official Expo site, it’s “a magical wand that can morph into powerful weapons or genies that would bring about victory or fulfillment of wishes.”
First blow: Did we mention he’s a giant? He could crush Haibao with his pinky finger.
Knockout punch: The dude’s got a magic wand, fangs, and he’s a freakin’ giant. Sorry, Haibao. You got served.

2010 Expo mascot count: Haibao - 0, Pavilion mascots - 1

Round 2: Haibao vs France’s Leon

Appearance: This gray cat sports overalls, a beret and mismatched shoes.
Defining characteristics: Seven-year-old Leon is described on the French Pavilion site as being “greedy,” “impulsive,” and prone to doing “silly things.”
Secret weapon: His childish pride means he’s in it to win it. Don’t expect this kitten to back down without a fight.
First blow: A forgetful little kitty who sometimes “forgets to turn off the tap,” Leon would be easily outfoxed by the cunning Haibao.
Knockout punch: Haibao distracts Leon with a chocolate croissant, then ties his shoelaces together. Victory!

2010 Expo mascot count: Haibao - 1, Pavilion mascots - 1

Round 3: Haibao vs Singapore’s Durian Star

Appearance: Decked out in a Merlion bodysuit, Durian Star’s head is as pointy as the eponymous fruit.
Defining characteristics: With an extremely detailed back story, Durian Star feels more real to us than some of our closest friends. He travels the world with his musician parents, has an unhealthy obsession with durians, and plays the piano, violin, erhu and tabla.
Secret weapon: No man (or ambiguous blue creature) is a match for the all-powerful stench of “The King of Fruits.”
First blow: Durian Star lulls Haibao into a false sense of security with his bubbly charm, before headbutting him with his prickly dome.
Knockout punch: With Haibao incapacitated by the durian smell, Singapore’s mascot takes this round.

2010 Expo mascot count: Haibao - 1, Pavilion mascots - 2

Round 4: Haibao vs the Oil Pavilion’s Oil Baby

Appearance: With an apostrophe-shaped head and humongous feet, Oil Baby is just as instantly lovable (and mock-able) as Haibao.
Defining characteristics: Representing a corporate pavilion means Oil Baby is unfettered by concerns of diplomacy and statecraft. In other words, he can play dirty.
Secret weapon: Strength in numbers. While most other mascots are solo operatives, there are at least four Oil Babies.
First blow: With Big Oil backing him, Oil Baby can afford to pay someone to fight this battle for him with state-of-the-art weaponry.
Knockout punch: Haibao goes into robot mode and crushes the competition. Don’t mess.

2010 Expo mascot count: Haibao - 2, Pavilion mascots - 2

Round 5: Haibao vs Belgium’s Smurfs

Appearance: Bright blue and googly-eyed, with no resemblance to any actual living thing. Sounds familiar…
Defining characteristics: Studied by sociologists for decades, Smurf communities are very insular and difficult for outsiders to understand. They subsist on sarsaparilla, live inside mushrooms, and speak in code.
Secret weapon: Longevity. The Smurfs have been around since 1958, which means they’ve had plenty of time to hone their fighting techniques against Gargamel and other foes.
First blow: Haibao woos Smurfette by taking her out for some of her indigenous eats from Michelin-starred chefs at the Expo site’s Belgian joint, Essence.
Knockout punch: The other Smurfs die of jealousy. Somewhere, Gargamel does a victory dance.

2010 Expo mascot count: Haibao - 3, Pavilion mascots - 2

The winner: Haibao!