Yan Xiaonan

Last updated
Yan Xiaonan
Born (1989-06-16) June 16, 1989 (age 34)
Shenyang, Liaoning, China [1]
Native name闫晓楠
Other namesFury [2]
Nine [3]
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
Division Strawweight (2010–present)
Flyweight (2009–2010)
Reach63 in (160 cm) [1]
Fighting out of Beijing, China
TeamChina Top Team [2]
Extreme Sanda [4]
Team Alpha Male (2021–present) [5] [6]
Teacher(s) Sanda: Zhao Xuejun [7]
BJJ: Ruy Menezes [7]
RankBlue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Urijah Faber [8]
Years active2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins17
By knockout8
By decision9
Losses4
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision2
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Yan Xiaonan (born June 16, 1989) is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). [9] As of April 16, 2024, she is #2 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings and #10 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings. [10]

Contents

Background

Yan's background is in Sanda. [11] Yan attended Xi'an Sports University and was introduced to an MMA program by her coach Zhao Xuejun in 2009. [7] At the Xi'an Sports University, Yan continued her practice in Sanda. It wasn't until 2015 that Yan switched over to MMA. [11]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Yan began training martial arts at the age of 13. [12] She started her professional MMA career in 2009 and she has fought in various promotions, most notably Road Fighting Championship. [13] She amassed a record of 9–1 (1 NC), before signing with the UFC. [4]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Yan was the first Chinese female fighter signed by UFC. [7]

Yan made her UFC debut on November 25, 2017, against Kailin Curran at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum. [14] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [15]

Her next fight came on June 23, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Edwards against Nadia Kassem; however she was replaced by Viviane Pereira due to injury. [16] [17] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [18]

Yan faced Syuri Kondo on November 24, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2. [19] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [20]

Yan was expected to face Felice Herrig on June 8, 2019, at UFC 238. [21] However, on April 30, 2019, it was reported that Herrig suffered from a torn ACL and withdrew from the event. [22] Herrig was replaced by Angela Hill. [23] Yan won the fight by unanimous decision. [24]

Yan was scheduled to face Ashley Yoder on October 26, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 20. [25] However, Yan pulled out of the fight in late-September citing a foot injury. [26] She was replaced by Randa Markos. [27]

Yan faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on February 22, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 168. [28] She won the fight by unanimous decision. [29]

Yan talked of difficulty leading up to the Kowalkiewicz fight due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. She and her team moved her camp to Thailand to train for the fight. [12]

Yan was scheduled to face Cláudia Gadelha on September 27, 2020 at UFC 253, [30] but a knee injury sustained by Gadelha ruled her out of the bout. [31] The pair was rescheduled to UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira on November 7, 2020, instead. [32] As opposed to her last camp where Yan was forced to move around three times, Yan says that the pandemic situation in China is completely under control and the fight camp for Gadelha was normal. [33] She won the fight by unanimous decision. [34]

Yan faced former UFC Women's Strawweight champion Carla Esparza on May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 188. [35] For her camp with Esparza, Yan has spent her camp splitting time between the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai and Las Vegas. [11] She lost the bout via TKO after being dominated on the ground throughout the bout. [36]

Yan faced Marina Rodriguez on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272. [37] She lost the fight via split decision. [38]

Yan faced Mackenzie Dern at UFC Fight Night 211. [39] She won the bout via majority decision. [40]

As the first bout of her new six-fight contract, Yan faced former UFC Women's Strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288. [41] [42] [43] She won the fight via knockout in the first round. [44]

Yan faced Zhang Weili for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. [45] She lost the bout by unanimous decision. [46]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
22 matches17 wins4 losses
By knockout81
By submission01
By decision92
No contests1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss17–4 (1) Zhang Weili Decision (unanimous) UFC 300 April 13, 202455:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFor the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship.
Win17–3 (1) Jéssica Andrade KO (punches) UFC 288 May 6, 202312:20 Newark, New Jersey, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win16–3 (1) Mackenzie Dern Decision (majority) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan October 1, 202255:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss15–3 (1) Marina Rodriguez Decision (split) UFC 272 March 5, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss15–2 (1) Carla Esparza TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt May 22, 202122:58 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win15–1 (1) Cláudia Gadelha Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira November 7, 202035:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win14–1 (1) Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker February 23, 202035:00 Auckland, New Zealand
Win13–1 (1) Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC 238 June 8, 201935:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win12–1 (1) Syuri Kondo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 November 24, 201835:00 Beijing, China
Win11–1 (1) Viviane Pereira Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards June 23, 201835:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win10–1 (1) Kailin Curran Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum November 25, 201735:00 Shanghai, China
NC9–1 (1) Emi Fujino NC (cut caused by accidental clash of heads) Road FC 034 November 19, 201612:48 Shijiazhuang, ChinaA cut caused by an inadvertent clash of heads rendered Fujino unable to continue.
Win9–1Lim Seo-heeTKO (side kick and punch) Road FC 30 April 16, 201613:28 Beijing, China
Win8–1Omnia GamalTKO (punches)IWFC Beat365: Changbai Mountain Hero ListJanuary 31, 201610:23 Jilin, China
Win7–1Nam Ye-hyunDecision (unanimous) Road FC 27 December 26, 201525:00 Shanghai, China
Win6–1Bayarmaa MunkhgerelKO (punch)WKF: Zhong Wu Fight NightOctober 30, 201512:34 Beijing, China
Win5–1Dolores MeekTKO (punches)URCC 26July 15, 201513:25 Pampang, Philippines
Win4–1Xiaoying WangTKO (punches)Xian Sports University: Ultimate WrestleOctober 30, 201020:29 Guangzhou, China
Loss3–1Karina HallinanSubmission (rear-naked choke)Martial Combat 10September 16, 201013:29 Sentosa, SingaporeFlyweight bout.
Win3–0Gina IniongDecision (unanimous)Martial Combat 6July 15, 201035:00 Sentosa, SingaporeStrawweight debut.
Win2–0Jin TangTKO (stomps and punches)Xian Sports University: Ultimate WrestleNovember 21, 200910:29 Guangzhou, ChinaFlyweight debut.
Win1–0Unknown FighterTKO (punches)Xian Sports University: Ultimate WrestleNovember 8, 20081N/A Guangzhou, ChinaCatchweight (119 lb) bout.

[2]

See also

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