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UFC 300
Yan Xiaonan's Journey To The Title Shot
Before Strawweight Yan Xiaonan Challenges Zhang Weili For The Title at UFC 300, She Spoke To UFC.com About Some Of Her Biggest Performances On Her Way Up The Ladder
Yan Xiaonan etched her name in UFC history in 2017 as the first Chinese woman signed to the UFC. While that milestone is certainly something in which to take pride, Yan took the deepest women’s division by storm and racked up six wins in a row to put herself into title contention. Although she would drop back-to-back fights, she bounced back to collect a pair of big wins to earn a shot at compatriot and China’s first champion, Zhang Weili.
The all-China title fight speaks to the growing mixed martial arts scene there and will be a landmark moment in that country’s athletic history. All that aside, though, Yan is eager to accomplish her goal of becoming champion and getting the belt wrapped around her waist at UFC 300: Pereira vs Hill.
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Before she makes that challenger’s walk, UFC.com visited her in Sacramento, California, where she trains at Team Alpha Male to talk to her about some of the biggest wins on her journey to her first title shot.
vs Kailin Curran (UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs Gastelum – November 25, 2017)
Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Kailin Curran
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Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Kailin Curran
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Yan: “My dream was to make it to the UFC. I was so happy when my dream came true. I didn't think too much if I was the first UFC female fighter from China. I was just happy. I fulfilled my dream of stepping into the UFC Octagon.”
READ: The History Of Chinese Fighters in The UFC
vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz (UFC Fight Night: Felder vs Hooker – February 23, 2020)
Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz
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Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz
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Yan: “Yes, I fought her in New Zealand. I was so young. I didn't think I was in the Top 15. I beat a former title challenger. I just got a win and I was happy. I didn't think about it too much.”
MORE UFC 300: Every Champion On UFC 300 | Watch The UFC 300 Promo | BMF Title Lineage
vs Cláudia Gadelha (UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Teixeira – November 7, 2020)
Watch Claudia Gadelha vs Yan Xiaonan
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Watch Claudia Gadelha vs Yan Xiaonan
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Yan: “I was very young when I beat Claudia. I never thought I was going to fight for the title, and I was like, ‘Just win every fight.’”
vs Mackenzie Dern (UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Yan – October 1, 2022)
Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Mackenzie Dern
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Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Mackenzie Dern
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Yan: “I worked very hard to get this victory because I lost the last two fights. I thought I'd train hard and I'd win, and I did it. I proved myself once again.”
Photo Gallery | Yan Xiaonan Prepares For UFC 300 Title Fight
vs Jéssica Andrade (UFC 288: Sterling vs Cejudo – May 6, 2023)
Yan: “I was in really good shape that fight. Everything is very well prepared, so I knocked her out. It just happens when you're ready.”
UFC 300: Pereira vs Hill took place live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 13, 2024. See the final Prelim and Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
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