NEWARK, NJ — The UFC may be about to stage its first ever title fight between China and China, something Yan Xiaonan is hoping will come to fruition.
At UFC 288, Xiaonan (17-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) defeated Jessica Andrade (24-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) with a quick TKO. The stop came at 2:20 of the first round, and Xiaonan hoped the brevity would give her an extra push to compete for the title.
“I don’t know what the plan is on the side of (Zhang) Weili, if she booked a fight,” Xiaonan told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight press conference. “But if they give me the chance, I can definitely fight for the belt because when I step into the octagon, my goal is just the championship. I hope Dana (White) can make this fight happen.”
Weili, the women’s strawweight champion (23-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), doesn’t have a fight on the books. If this match is next, Xiaonan admitted that she would not win a popularity contest against the first Chinese UFC champion.
“Because Weili is the heroine, I think Chinese fans like her more,” Xiaonan said. “Now, there are a lot of Chinese fans who are criticizing me. They don’t like me. I can’t share love with Weili, so I just want to shut them up.”
No matter when and where it happens, UFC President White has indicated that he sees the Weili vs Xiaonan match as a big win for the promotion in Asian markets.
White said Press conference after the event. “…I’m looking at it now.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie Event Center for UFC 288.