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Yan Xiaonan of China reacts after her knockout victory over Jessica Andrade of Brazil in a strawweight fight during the UFC 288 event at Prudential Center on May 06, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
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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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Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

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Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Kailin Curran
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(Watch on UFC FIGHT PASS)

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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Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

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Yan Xiaonan vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz from UFC Fight Night: Felder vs Hooker on February 22, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(Watch on UFC FIGHT PASS)

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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Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

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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.’”

View Yan's Athlete Profile

vs Mackenzie Dern (UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Yan – October 1, 2022)

Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Mackenzie Dern
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Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

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Watch Yan Xiaonan vs Mackenzie Dern
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(Watch on UFC FIGHT PASS)

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.”

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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