Yan Xiaonan

In this Chinese name, the family name is Yan.
Yan Xiaonan
Born (1989-06-16) June 16, 1989 (age 35)
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)
DivisionStrawweight (2010–present)
Flyweight (2009–2010)
Reach63 in (160 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofBeijing, 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
Total24
Wins19
By knockout8
By submission1
By decision10
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 women's 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 as of October 8, 2024, she is #11 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.[10]

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]

Yan faced Tabatha Ricci on November 23, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 248.[47] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[48]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
24 matches 19 wins 4 losses
By knockout 8 1
By submission 1 1
By decision 10 2
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 19–4 (1) Tabatha Ricci Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo November 23, 2024 3 5:00 Macau, SAR, China
Loss 18–4 (1) Zhang Weili Decision (unanimous) UFC 300 April 13, 2024 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship.
Win 18–3 (1) Jéssica Andrade KO (punches) UFC 288 May 6, 2023 1 2:20 Newark, New Jersey, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 17–3 (1) Mackenzie Dern Decision (majority) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan October 1, 2022 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 16–3 (1) Marina Rodriguez Decision (split) UFC 272 March 5, 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 16–2 (1) Carla Esparza TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt May 22, 2021 2 2:58 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 16–1 (1) Cláudia Gadelha Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira November 7, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 15–1 (1) Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker February 23, 2020 3 5:00 Auckland, New Zealand
Win 14–1 (1) Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC 238 June 8, 2019 3 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 13–1 (1) Syuri Kondo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 November 24, 2018 3 5:00 Beijing, China
Win 12–1 (1) Viviane Pereira Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards June 23, 2018 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 11–1 (1) Kailin Curran Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum November 25, 2017 3 5:00 Shanghai, China
NC 10–1 (1) Emi Fujino NC (cut caused by accidental clash of heads) Road FC 034 November 19, 2016 1 2:48 Shijiazhuang, China A cut caused by an inadvertent clash of heads rendered Fujino unable to continue.
Win 10-1 Luo Xuanzhen Submission (armbar) Zhenghan Wind Cup June 26, 2016 1 N/A Beijing, China
Win 9–1 Lim Seo-hee TKO (side kick and punch) Road FC 030 April 16, 2016 1 3:28 Beijing, China
Win 8–1 Omnia Gamal TKO (punches) IWFC: Changbai Mountain Hero List January 31, 2016 1 0:23 Jilin, China
Win 7–1 Nam Ye-hyun Decision (unanimous) Road FC 027 December 26, 2015 2 5:00 Shanghai, China
Win 6–1 Bayarmaa Munkhgerel KO (punch) WKF: Zhong Wu Fight Night October 30, 2015 1 2:34 Beijing, China
Win 5–1 Dolores Meek TKO (punches) URCC 26: Domination July 15, 2015 1 3:25 Pampang, Philippines
Win 4–1 Xiaoying Wang TKO (punches) Xian Sports University: Ultimate Wrestle October 30, 2010 2 0:29 Guangzhou, China
Loss 3–1 Karina Hallinan Submission (rear-naked choke) Martial Combat 10 September 16, 2010 1 3:29 Sentosa, Singapore Flyweight bout.
Win 3–0 Gina Iniong Decision (unanimous) Martial Combat 6 July 15, 2010 3 5:00 Sentosa, Singapore Strawweight debut.
Win 2–0 Jin Tang TKO (stomps and punches) Xian Sports University: Ultimate Wrestle November 21, 2009 1 0:29 Guangzhou, China Flyweight debut.
Win 1–0 Unknown Fighter TKO (punches) Xian Sports University: Ultimate Wrestle November 8, 2008 1 N/A Guangzhou, China Catchweight (119 lb) bout.

[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Yan Xiaonan | UFC". ufc.com. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  2. ^ a b c Sherdog.com. "Xiaonan". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  3. ^ "Xiaonan Yan ("Nine") | MMA Fighter Page | Tapology". Tapology. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  4. ^ a b "Welcome to the UFC: Yan Xiaonan, ROAD FC Strawweight Star - MMA Today". MMA Today. 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  5. ^ "Xiaonan Yan looking sharp at Team Alpha Male". Asian MMA. 18 October 2021.
  6. ^ Asian MMA (February 21, 2022). Yan Xiaonan is a big Conor McGregor fan – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c d "Yan Xiaonan has new calm confidence at UFC Singapore - Asia MMA". Asia MMA. 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  8. ^ Yan Xiaonan [@xiaonan_yan] (January 31, 2023). "Tonight I won the blue belt in Jiu Jitsu! Very happy 🥳 Thank you 🙏 coach!" – via Instagram.
  9. ^ "Yan Xiaonan Becomes First Chinese Female Fighter Signed By The UFC | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  10. ^ "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  11. ^ a b c Blaine Henry (May 7, 2021). "Xiaonan Yan: A Step Towards The Title". Fight-Library.com.
  12. ^ a b Blaine Henry (February 28, 2020). "Xioanan Yan: China's MMA Surge". Fight-Library.com.
  13. ^ "UFC signs first female Chinese fighter, Yan Xiaonan". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  14. ^ "Kailin Curran-Yan Xiaonan, Gina Mazany-Yanan Wu added to UFC Fight Night 122 in China". MMAjunkie. 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
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  16. ^ "Viviane Sucuri substitui Nadia Kassem e encara Yan Xiaonan no UFC Cingapura". Sportv (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-11-24.
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  19. ^ Marcel Dorff (25 August 2018). "Aziatisch onderonsje tussen Yan Xiaonan en Syuri Kondo tijdens UFC Beijing". mmadna.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  20. ^ "UFC Fight Night 141 play-by-play and live results". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
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  24. ^ "UFC 238 early prelims results: Chookagian, Xiaonan earn tough wins; Wineland scores KO". MMA Junkie. 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
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  26. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2019-09-25). "Yan Xiaonan out of UFC Singapore bout with Ashley Yoder". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  27. ^ Nolan King and Farah Hannoun (2019-09-26). "With Yan Xiaonan out, Randa Markos steps in to fight Ashley Yoder at UFC on ESPN+ 20". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  28. ^ Martyna Celuch (2019-12-04). "Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Yan Xiaonan at UFC Auckland". inthecage.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  29. ^ Doherty, Dan (2020-02-22). "UFC Auckland Results: Yan Xiaonan Dominates Karolina Kowalkiewicz". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
  30. ^ Guilherme Cruz (July 6, 2020). "Claudia Gadelha returns vs. Yan Xiaonan at Sept. 26 UFC event". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
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  39. ^ Danny Segura and Mike Bohn (2022-07-08). "Mackenzie Dern vs. Yan Xiaonan headlines October UFC Fight Night event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
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  49. ^ "Bonus Time! Frevola Cashes In For Dober TKO". www.mmamania.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
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