In a groundbreaking moment for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), two powerhouse Chinese fighters, Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan, clashed in a thrilling title bout at UFC 300 held at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, on Saturday. Zhang emerged victorious with a unanimous decision of 49-45 after an intense five-round battle, successfully defending her strawweight belt.
Yan Xiaonan, known for her aggressive stand-up style with eight of her 17 wins by knockout (KO), didn't hold back, landing multiple knocks on Zhang throughout the fight. However, Zhang showcased her formidable ground offense, creating numerous takedown opportunities and threatening to dominate from the top position. Despite her strategic prowess, Zhang showed signs of fatigue in the second round, allowing Yan to escape her grips several times.
This victory marks Zhang's fifth win in title bouts, placing her just one behind Poland's legendary Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the all-time rankings for women's strawweight fighters.
Expressing her respect for her opponent, Zhang stated, \"Yan is a true warrior and she is so resilient. I respect her very much and hope we can become friends after this fight.\" 🤝🏆
