Xiaonan Yan

Yan Xiaonan (born June 16, 1989) is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of August 29, 2026, she is #9 in the Meta UFC women's strawweight rankings and #14 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

Background Yan's background is in Sanda. Yan attended Xi'an Sports University and was introduced to an MMA program by her coach Zhao Xuejun in 2009. 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. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Her next fight came on June 23, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 132 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 141. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

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 Fight Night 162. However, Yan pulled out of the fight in late-September citing a foot injury. She was replaced by Randa Markos.

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. 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.

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. She won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Yan faced Zhang Weili for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. She lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Yan faced Tabatha Ricci on November 23, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 248. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Yan faced Virna Jandiroba on April 12, 2025 at UFC 314. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Yan faced Denise Gomes on August 30, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 286. She lost the fight by knockout at the end of the first round.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) Tied (Carla Esparza, Tatiana Suarez & Loopy Godinez) for the second longest win streak in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (6) Seventh most significant strikes landed in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (821) UFC.com Awards 2024: Ranked #9 Fight of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Denise Gomes KO (elbow and punches) UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song

Shanghai, China Loss

Virna Jandiroba Decision (unanimous) UFC 314

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Tabatha Ricci Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo

Macau SAR, China Loss

Zhang Weili Decision (unanimous) UFC 300

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jéssica Andrade KO (punches) UFC 288

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Mackenzie Dern Decision (majority) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Marina Rodriguez Decision (split) UFC 272

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Carla Esparza TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Cláudia Gadelha Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker

Auckland, New Zealand Win

Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC 238

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Syuri Kondo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2

Beijing, China Win

Viviane Pereira Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards

Kallang, Singapore Win

Kailin Curran Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum

Shanghai, China NC

Emi Fujino NC (accidental clash of heads) Road FC 34

Shijiazhuang, China Win

Luo Xuanzhen Submission (armbar) Zhenghan Wind Cup 2016

Beijing, China Win

Lim Seo-hee TKO (side kick and punch) Road FC 30

Beijing, China Win

Omnia Gamal TKO (punches) International Wushu FC: Changbai Mountain Heroes List

Jilin, China Win

Nam Ye-hyun Decision (unanimous) Road FC 27

Shanghai, China Win

Bayarmaa Munkhgerel KO (punch) Zhong Wu Fight Night 2015

Beijing, China Win

Dolores Meek TKO (punches) URCC 26

Angeles City, Philippines Win

Wang Xiaoying TKO (punches) Xian Sports University: Ultimate Wrestle

Guangzhou, China Loss

Karina Hallinan Submission (rear-naked choke) Martial Combat 10

Sentosa, Singapore Win

Gina Iniong Decision (unanimous) Martial Combat 6

Sentosa, Singapore Win

Jin Tang TKO (stomps and punches) Xian Sports University: Ultimate Wrestle

Guangzhou, China Win

Unknown Fighter TKO (punches) Xian Sports University: Ultimate Wrestle

Guangzhou, China