UFC 300 will feature a historic strawweight title fight between Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan, marking the first time in history that two Chinese fighters will compete for UFC gold. Despite sharing some similarities, the two fighters display significant differences in their fighting techniques.
Both Zhang and Yan are similar in physical dimensions, with Zhang standing at 5 feet 4 inches tall, Yan at 5 feet 5 inches tall, and both having a reach of 63 inches. They both also possess a background in Sanda. However, Zhang seems to have the grappling advantage, thanks to her experience in Shuai jiao, a traditional Chinese wrestling, and a higher-ranking Brazilian jiu-jitsu belt. Yan, on the other hand, has no submission wins on her record.
In contrast, Zhang has managed to secure eight career submissions and has never been submitted herself. She is also a more potent finisher, scoring her first UFC finish by knocking out Jéssica Andrade in one of her five UFC finishes, while Yan only recently scored her first UFC finish. Both women have UFC records of eight wins and just two losses across ten fights.
The overall MMA records of the fighters differ, with Zhang’s record standing at 24-3, and Yan’s at 17-3. While fans eagerly await other matchups for UFC 300, the stylistic intrigue of the Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan fight is undeniable.
Zhang Weili is a two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion, having won the title in a fight against Jéssica Andrade and then later against Carla Esparza. With two title defenses on her record, Zhang will aim to secure consecutive title defenses for the first time in her career when she faces Yan Xiaonan.
