Yan Xiaonan may have punched her way to a title shot.
On Saturday at UFC 288, Xiaonan (17-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) floored and finished an aggressive former UFC women’s strawweight champion, Jessica Andrade (24-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC). The stoppage came at 2:20 of Round 1.
The bout was part of the main card at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Xiaonan remained calm when met with a vintage Andrade storm of forward-pressure and striking. As Andrade moved forward with repetitive left hands, Xiaonan sat her down with a counter right hand. Follow-up shots finished off the job.
WE HAVE A NEW STRAWWEIGHT CONTENDER!!
Yan Xiaonan stops Jessica Andrade in the first round!! #UFC288 pic.twitter.com/l0Jb7xHMWk
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023
Xiaonan, 33, has won back-to-back fights. In October, she defeated Mackenzie Dern by majority decision. Unlike many of her strawweight contender counterparts, Xiaonan presents a fresh matchup to titleholder Zhang Weili (23-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who does not currently have a fight on the books.
“I think if both of us can represent the growth of the females from China at the highest levels of MMA, represent the highest levels of this sport, I think this is the pride,” Xiaonan said through an interpreter. “We’re proud of our country. So, Dana, let’s make it happen.”
With the defeat, Andrade falls into a two-fight skid. In February, Andrade was submitted by Erin Blanchfield at flyweight.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 288 results include:
- Yan Xiaonan def. Jessica Andrade via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:20
- Movsar Evloev def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Charles Jourdain def. Kron Gracie via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Matt Frevola def. Drew Dober TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:08
- Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Devin Clark via technical submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:28
- Khaos Williams def. Rolando Bedoya via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
- Virna Jandiroba def. Marina Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Parker Porter def. Braxton Smith via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:10
- Ikram Aliskerov def. Phil Hawes via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:10
- Claudio Ribeiro def. Joseph Holmes via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:21
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 288.
