Yan Xiaonan looks set to become the second Chinese strawweight to crack the top 15 after her decision win over Angela Hill yesterday. She made it four wins out of four with the victory in Chicago.
The two faced off at UFC 238 in a fight that was close and competitive. The American got the better of the opening round as she was able to take Yan down and then attack with submissions when the roles were reversed.
The round finished with Yan in top position but she was the one doing the defending as Hill looked for an armbar and then transitioned to a triangle choke only for the bell to come to her opponent’s rescue.
High intensity
In the second stanza Yan was the aggressor and landed kicks to the head and body. A straight right seemed to hurry Hill who stumbled backwards and was struggling to cope with the Chinese fighter’s intensity.
Hill tried to return fire but Yan was clearly getting the better of the exchanges and she scored with another straight right towards the end of the round. It left the fight delicately poised heading into the final round with both fighters knowing that the contest was probably dead even.
In round three Hill hurt Yan with a couple of overhand rights but struggled with the pace Yan was setting. The Chinese fighter attacked relentlessly and landed low kicks, body kicks and side kicks.
Nervous wait
It made for a nervous wait while the scorecards were tabulated but all three judges had it 29-28 in favour of Yan who improves to 11-1 while Hill drops to 9-7.
A fourth straight UFC win could be enough to see Yan break into the top 15. She would join compatriot Weili Zhang who is currently ranked at #6.
UFC 238, Chicago, June 9th
Henry Cejudo def. Marlon Moraes via TKO (Punches) at 4:51 of R3 (Wins Bantamweight Title)
Valentina Shevchenko def. Jessica Eye via KO (Head Kick) at 0:26 of R2 (Defends Flyweight Title)
Tony Ferguson def. Donald Cerrone via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 5:00 of R2
Petr Yan def. Jimmie Rivera via Decision (Unanimous)
Blagoy Ivanov def. Tai Tuivasa via Decision (Unanimous)
Tatiana Suarez def. Nina Ansaroff via Decision (Unanimous)
Aljamain Sterling def. Pedro Munhoz via Decision (Unanimous)
Alexa Grasso def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via Decision (Unanimous)
Calvin Kattar def. Ricardo Lamas via TKO (Punches)at 4:06 of R1
Xiaonan Yan def. Angela Hill via Decision (Unanimous)
Darren Stewart def. Bevon Lewis via Decision (Unanimous)
Eddie Wineland def. Grigory Popov via TKO (Punches) at 4:47 of R2
Katlyn Chookagian def. Joanne Calderwood via Decision (Unanimous)
