Yan Xiaonan
Yan Xiaonan (Chinese: 闫晓楠; pinyin: Yán Xiǎonán; born June 16, 1989), is a Chinese mixed martial artist (MMA). She is the first Chinese female fighter signed by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)[6] and currently competes in the Strawweight division in the UFC. As of November 9, 2020, she is #3 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings[7] and as of December 9, 2020, she is #12 in UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.[8]
| Yan Xiaonan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 闫晓楠 June 16, 1989 Shenyang, Liaoning, China[1] |
| Other names | Fury[2] Nine[3] |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb) |
| Division | Atomweight Strawweight |
| Reach | 63 in (160 cm)[1] |
| Style | Sanda,[4] BJJ[4] |
| Fighting out of | Beijing, China |
| Team | China Top Team[2] Extreme Sanda[5] |
| Teacher(s) | Sanda: Zhao Xuejun[4] BJJ: Ruy Menezes[4] |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 15 |
| Wins | 13 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| University | Xi'an Physical Education University |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Yan attended Xi'an Sports University and was introduced to an MMA program by her coach Xuejun Zhao in 2009.[4]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Yan began training martial arts at the age of 13.[9] She started her professional MMA career in 2009 and she has fought in various promotions, most notably Road Fighting Championship.[10] She amassed a record of 7-1 (NC), before signing with the UFC.[5]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Yan was the first Chinese female fighter signed by UFC.[4]
Yan made her UFC debut on November 25, 2017 against Kailin Curran at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum.[11] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[12]
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.[13][14] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[15]
Yan faced Syuri Kondo on November 24, 2018 at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2.[16] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[17]
Yan was expected to face Felice Herrig on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238.[18] However, on April 30, 2019 it was reported that Herrig suffered from a torn ACL and pull from the event. [19] Herrig was replaced by Angela Hill.[20] Yan won the fight by unanimous decision.[21]
Yan was scheduled to face Ashley Yoder on October 26, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 20.[22] However, Yan pulled out of the fight in late-September citing a foot injury.[23] She was replaced by Randa Markos.[24]
Yan faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on February 22, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168.[25] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[26]
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. [27]
Yan was scheduled to face Cláudia Gadelha on September 27, 2020 at UFC 253,[28]but a knee injury sustained by Gadelha ruled her out of the bout.[29] The pair was rescheduled to UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira on November 7, 2020 instead.[30] 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.[31] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[32]
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 15 matches | 13 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 5 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 13–1 (1) | Cláudia Gadelha | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira | November 7, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–1 (1) | Karolina Kowalkiewicz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker | February 23, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 11–1 (1) | Angela Hill | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 238 | June 8, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 (1) | Syuri Kondo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 | November 24, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Beijing, China | |
| Win | 9–1 (1) | Viviane Pereira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Edwards | June 23, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 8–1 (1) | Kailin Curran | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum | November 25, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Shanghai, China | |
| NC | 7–1 (1) | Emi Fujino | NC (cut caused by accident headbutt) | Road Fighting Championship 34 | November 19, 2016 | 1 | 2:48 | Shijiazhuang, China | A cut caused by an inadvertent clash of heads rendered Fujino unable to continue. |
| Win | 7–1 | Seo Hee Lim | TKO (side kick and punch) | Road Fighting Championship 30 | April 16, 2016 | 1 | 3:28 | Beijing, China | |
| Win | 6–1 | Ye Hyun Nam | Decision (unanimous) | Road Fighting Championship 27 | December 26, 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Shanghai, China | |
| Win | 5–1 | Bayarmaa Munkhgerel | KO (punch) | WKF: Zhong Wu Fight Night | October 30, 2015 | 1 | N/A | Beijing, China | |
| Win | 4–1 | Dolores Meek | TKO (punches) | URCC 26 | July 15, 2015 | 1 | 3:25 | Pampang, Philippines | |
| Win | 3–1 | Xiaoying Wang | TKO (punches) | Xian Sports University: Ultimate Wrestle | October 30, 2010 | 2 | 0:29 | Guangzhou, China | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Karina Hallinan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Martial Combat 10 | September 16, 2010 | 1 | 3:29 | Sentosa, Singapore | |
| Win | 2–0 | Gina Iniong | Decision (unanimous) | Martial Combat 6 | July 15, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Sentosa, Singapore | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jin Tang | TKO (stomps and punches) | Xian Sports University: Ultimate Wrestle | November 21, 2009 | 1 | 0:29 | Guangzhou, China |
References
- "Yan Xiaonan | UFC". ufc.com. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- Sherdog.com. "Xiaonan". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "Xiaonan Yan ("Nine") | MMA Fighter Page | Tapology". Tapology. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "Yan Xiaonan has new calm confidence at UFC Singapore - Asia MMA". Asia MMA. 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "Welcome to the UFC: Yan Xiaonan, ROAD FC Strawweight Star - MMA Today". MMA Today. 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "Yan Xiaonan Becomes First Chinese Female Fighter Signed By The UFC | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
- "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- Blaine Henry (February 28, 2020). "Xioanan Yan: China's MMA Surge". Fight-Library.com.
- "UFC signs first female Chinese fighter, Yan Xiaonan". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "Kailin Curran-Yan Xiaonan, Gina Mazany-Yanan Wu added to UFC Fight Night 122 in China". MMAjunkie. 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "UFC Fight Night 122 results: Yan Xiaonan's striking on point in win over Kailin Curran". MMAjunkie. 2017-11-25. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "Viviane Sucuri substitui Nadia Kassem e encara Yan Xiaonan no UFC Cingapura". Sportv (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- DNA, MMA. "Viviane Pereira pakt short notice partij tegen Yan Xiaonan tijdens UFC Singapore". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "UFC Fight Night 132 results: Yan Xiaonan outworks Viviane Pereira for unanimous-decision win". MMAjunkie. 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- DNA, MMA. "Aziatisch onderonsje tussen Yan Xiaonan en Syuri Kondo tijdens UFC Beijing". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- "UFC Fight Night 141 play-by-play and live results". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
- Marcel Dorff (2019-03-25). "Felice Herrig vs. Yan Xiaonan is the fourth women's fight for UFC 238 in Chicago" (in Dutch). mmadnanl.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- Adam Guillen (2019-04-30). "Felice Herrig forced to withdraw from UFC 238 with a torn ACL". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- "UFC 238: Angela Hill steps in for Felice Herrig vs. Xiaonan Yan". MMA Junkie. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- "UFC 238 early prelims results: Chookagian, Xiaonan earn tough wins; Wineland scores KO". MMA Junkie. 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
- DNA, MMA. "Strawweights Yan Xiaonan en Ashley Yoder vechten tijdens UFC Singapore". Retrieved 2019-09-10.
- Guilherme Cruz (2019-09-25). "Yan Xiaonan out of UFC Singapore bout with Ashley Yoder". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- 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.
- Martyna Celuch (2019-12-04). "Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Yan Xiaonan at UFC Auckland". inthecage.pl. Retrieved 2019-12-04. {pl}}
- Doherty, Dan (2020-02-22). "UFC Auckland Results: Yan Xiaonan Dominates Karolina Kowalkiewicz". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
- Blaine Henry (February 28, 2020). "Xioanan Yan: China's MMA Surge". Fight-Library.com.
- Guilherme Cruz (July 6, 2020). "Claudia Gadelha returns vs. Yan Xiaonan at Sept. 26 UFC event". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- Guilherme Cruz (2020-09-01). "Knee injury forces Claudia Gadelha out of UFC 253 fight with Yan Xiaonan". MMAfighting. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- Bissell, Tim (2020-09-05). "Report: Claudia Gadelha vs. Yan Xiaonan being moved to Nov 7 UFC event". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
- Blaine Henry (October 28, 2020). "Xiaonan Yan: Brand New Version". Fight-Library.com.
- Vreeland, Daniel (2020-11-07). "UFC Vegas 13 Results: Yan Xiaonan Jabs Away, Wins Decision Over Claudia Gadelha". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-11-08.