Yan Xiaonan, a 35-year-old Chinese MMA athlete, currently competes in the women's strawweight division of the UFC, holding the top contender spot in the division and ranking 11th in the UFC's women's pound-for-pound rankings. Before joining the UFC, Yan had a successful career in various fight promotions since her professional debut in 2008. With a record of 9 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no-contest, she made her transition to the UFC. Yan's UFC journey began with a victory over Kailin Curran at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum, where she secured a unanimous decision win.
Since then, she has defeated notable opponents such as Angela Hill, Jessica Andrade, and Mackenzie Dern, establishing herself as a top contender in her division. For her next fight, Xiaonan is gearing up to fight UFC strawweight Tabatha Ricci on November 23, 2024, in China.
First female Chinese UFC fighter
Yan Xiaonan made history as the first Chinese woman to compete in the UFC, debuting at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs Gastelum in Shanghai. At 26 years old, Yan secured a decision victory over Kailin Curran, marking the beginning of a six-fight winning streak in the UFC. Although she faced setbacks with consecutive losses to Carla Esparza and Marina Rodriguez, Yan regained momentum with a notable main event victory over Mackenzie Dern.
She solidified her title contention by securing a knockout win over Jéssica Andrade at UFC 288, further cementing her position as a top contender in the strawweight division.
Also Read: Who has Yan Xiaonan lost to?
First Chinese fighter in the UFC
Tiequan Zhang transitioned from the WEC to become the first mixed martial artist from China to compete in the UFC. His UFC debut saw him swiftly submit Jason Reinhardt in under a minute into the first round, adding to his impressive tally of tap-out victories.
Zhang continued to compete in the UFC, participating in three more bouts, and additionally took on a coaching role on The Ultimate Fighter in 2013.
Last Updated On November 21, 2024.
FAQs
A. Yan Xiaonan was the first female competitor from China to fight in the UFC.
A. Yan Xiaonan has lost 4 times in her professional MMA career, including 3 losses in UFC.
A. Yan Xiaonan is a Chinese national.
A. Yan Xiaonan holds the #2 spot in the UFC strawweight rankings. She also holds the eleventh position in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
A. Yan Xiaonan’s next fight is against Tabatha Ricci on November 23, 2024 in China.
A. Yan Xiaonan has losses against Karina Hallinan, Carla Esparza, Marina Rodriguez, and Zhang Weili.
