LAS VEGAS, NV — While attending the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Las Vegas Thursday night, Chinese heavyweight Yan Xiaonan made it clear to media including Cageside Press that she believes she should have fought for the gold next.
Instead, Amanda Lemos will get that chance, as she takes on champ Weili Zhang at UFC 292 in Boston next month.
And so Xiaonan (17-3) will play, the wait came, hoping to fight back in her native China at the end of the year.
“Maybe December. What I heard is that there will probably be a Chinese event in December. So I hope I’m on that card, and of course I hope it’s a title fight,” Xiaonan said on Thursday.
When asked if the UFC’s failure in her bout against compatriot Zhang was a missed opportunity, Xiaonan replied, “I don’t know how the UFC thinks about that bout, but what I do know is all the Chinese MMA fans, they want to fight. Because then we [we have] Two girls from China represent the highest level of the sport.”
“In many other sports that we are really good at, such as table tennis and diving, it is always China against China,” Xiaonan continued. “So I think if we can get that one day in MMA, that would be huge in the sport in China. So that is the fight that the UFC has to fight.”
After defeating Mackenzie Dern and former champion Jessica Andrade in her last two rounds, Xiaonan made it clear that she felt gold should be next. No matter who carries it. “I want to fight for the belt. Whoever is the champion, I will fight with whom [has the belt]she declared.
Having said that, when it comes to Zhang against Lemos, Yan Xiaonan sides with champion Weili.
“I still think Weili can win and defend her title, because Weili is at her peak, I think [in] Everything, it’s better than Lemos.”
Xiaonan said in the past that she would be a better heroine than Zhang, and confirmed it again. She jokingly added, “Yeah, I’m prettier, and I’m a more technical fighter. I think in every aspect, I’m pretty sure I’m better than her.”
It’s more of a professional rivalry, she continued to explain, than anything else.
“I don’t know about it, but for me, I think the relationship between Weili and I is kind of competitive. Everybody in this sport, in this business wants to be the champion, and that’s why I’m here. Some people criticize me.” [saying] “Hey, you shouldn’t be called Weeley, and if she’s a champion she shouldn’t be fighting for the championship.” I don’t care, because that’s why I’m here. This is also my goal, my ultimate goal is to be the champion.”