MMA Junkie expert Dan Tom goes in depth to break down the greatest battles in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer appearance at the UFC 300 co-main occasion inbetween strawweight champ Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan, who will make history as the veryfirst all-Chinese title-fight match in UFC history.
Zhang Weili UFC 300 sneakpeek
Staple information:
- Height: 5’4″ Age: 34 Weight: 115 pounds. Reach: 63″
- Record: (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC)
- Last battle: Decision win over Amanda Lemos (Aug. 19, 2023)
- Camp: Team Zhang (China)
- Stance/striking design: Orthodox/muay Thai
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental details:
+ UFC strawweight champ
+ Wushu sanda background
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 11 knockout success
+ 8 submission wins
+ 11 first-round surfaces
+ KO power
+ Explosive professionalathlete
+ Wide variation of striking toolbox
^ From principles to spinning attacks
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Elbows, knees, journeys, tosses
+ Improved fumbling and rushing
+ Solid transitional grappling from topside
Yan Xiaonan UFC 300 sneakpeek
Staple information:
- Height: 5’5″ Age: 34 Weight: 115 pounds. Reach: 63″
- Record: (17-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC)
- Last battle: Knockout win over Jessica Andrade (May 6, 2023)
- Camp: China Top Team/Team Alpha Male (Calif.)
- Stance/striking design: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental details:
+ Regional MMA title
+ Wushu sanda background
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 8 KO success
+ 1 submission win
+ 8 first-round surfaces
+ KO Power
+ Hard hooks and crosses
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Dynamic kicking range
^ Good switch kicks and partners
+ Shows enhanced battling
^ Solid frames and basics
+ Serviceably grappling capability
Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan point of interest: Sanda strikers
Jessica Andrade (red gloves) battles Yan Xiaonan throughout UFC 288 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports)
The co-main occasion in Las Vegas functions a ladies’s strawweight title battle inbetween 2 fighters from a wushu sanda background.
Though noted as a fighter who grew up with stated base, Zhang continues to include to her striking toolbox as her MMA profession continues.
The previous strawweight champ can come forward strongly however eventually chooses staying light on her feet, all while utilizing feints to open up kicks and hooking mixes that come with a muay Thai flare in tow.
Like numerous sanda professionals, Zhang is likewise not shy about utilizing spinning attacks when the positions call for it. Whether she’s confining her challengers into turning partners or countering outside-foot methods with spinning backfists, the 34-year-old appears positive striking from several functions and varieties.
However, exterior of a natural feel for range and the periodic slip off the center, Zhang hasactually revealed that she is not beyond being stung by difficult counters throughout her aggressive engagements. With that in mind, I will be curious to see how much she’s prepared to come forward thinkingabout the countering risks of Yan.
A more conventional sanda stylist who has plainly worked on her boxing giventhat training stateside, Yan has tough hooks and crosses that she can sit down on and counter with when the event calls for it.
Although Yan appears to haveactually gotten a bit sharper with her jab, she likes to use her partners to help her distancing efforts. Yan has fortunately toned down the temperaturelevel in the spinning department, however will still punch off of kicks and counter in mix when sensation in stride.
In truth, I wouldn’t be stunned to see Yan mix in more lead-sided kicks thinkingabout the success fighters like Namajunas had with it in the past.
Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan breakdown: Potential grappling hazards
Weili Zhang (red gloves) battles Amanda Lemos throughout UFC 292 at TD Garden in Boston. (Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports)
Considering where the mostsignificant on-paper variations are inbetween these 2, no one must be surprised if Zhang looks to tie up with the opposition in closed quarters.
As we saw in her veryfirst title-winning effort in Shenzhen, China, Zhang has the power to destroy longlasting opposition with difficult knees and elbows within close quarters.
The champ’s sanda background likewise comes in useful when hanging out in this area, proving the capability to hit slick journeys and takedowns at the