Yan Xiaonan (born June 16, 1989) is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist.
She currently competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
As of January 23, 2024, she is #1 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings and #10 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.
Yan's background is in Sanda.
2009
Yan attended Xi'an Sports University and was introduced to an MMA program by her coach Zhao Xuejun in 2009.
At the Xi'an Sports University, Yan continued her practice in Sanda.
She started her professional MMA career in 2009 and she has fought in various promotions, most notably Road Fighting Championship.
She amassed a record of 9–1 (1 NC), before signing with the UFC.
Yan was the first Chinese female fighter signed by UFC.
2015
It wasn't until 2015 that Yan switched over to MMA.
Yan began training martial arts at the age of 13.
2017
Yan made her UFC debut on November 25, 2017, against Kailin Curran at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum.
She won the fight via unanimous decision.
2018
Her next fight came on June 23, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Edwards against Nadia Kassem; however she was replaced by Viviane Pereira due to injury.
She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Yan faced Syuri Kondo on November 24, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2.
She won the fight via unanimous decision.
2019
Yan was expected to face Felice Herrig on June 8, 2019, at UFC 238.
However, on April 30, 2019, it was reported that Herrig suffered from a torn ACL and withdrew from the event.
Herrig was replaced by Angela Hill.
Yan won the fight by unanimous decision.
Yan was scheduled to face Ashley Yoder on October 26, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 20.
However, Yan pulled out of the fight in late-September citing a foot injury.
She was replaced by Randa Markos.
2020
Yan faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on February 22, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 168.
She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Yan talked of difficulty leading up to the Kowalkiewicz fight due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
She and her team moved her camp to Thailand to train for the fight.
Yan was scheduled to face Cláudia Gadelha on September 27, 2020 at UFC 253, but a knee injury sustained by Gadelha ruled her out of the bout.
The pair was rescheduled to UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira on November 7, 2020, instead.
As opposed to her last camp where Yan was forced to move around three times, Yan says that the pandemic situation in China is completely under control and the fight camp for Gadelha was normal.
She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Yan faced former UFC Women's Strawweight champion Carla Esparza on May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 188.
For her camp with Esparza, Yan has spent her camp splitting time between the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai and Las Vegas.
She lost the bout via TKO after being dominated on the ground throughout the bout.
Yan faced Marina Rodriguez on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272.
She lost the fight via split decision.
Yan faced Mackenzie Dern at UFC Fight Night 211.
She won the bout via majority decision.
As the first bout of her new six-fight contract, Yan faced former UFC Women's Strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288.
