Yan Xiaonan will be back in action on October 1st. The Chinese strawweight has been matched with BJJ black belt Mackenzie Dern at UFC Fight Night 211.
Xiaonan (14-3-0-1) won her first six UFC fights and was hot on the trails of compatriot Weili Zhang as she stormed up the strawweight rankings. But the 33 year old is coming off back to back losses although she is still ranked #5 in the division and appears to have recovered from the injury she suffered at UFC 272.
Dern is currently #4 and has won five out of her last six. She is coming off a closely contested split decision win over Tecia Torres and the winner of this contest could move into title contention.
The fight looks set to headline UFC Fight Night 211 and was announced by Xiaonan’s management team last weekend:
It’s official. Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan will meet in a strawweight main event on October 1. ✨ pic.twitter.com/95jho9fsW6
— Paradigm Sports (@ParadigmSports) July 9, 2022
Best of the rest
The event is set for October 1st but does not currently have a venue confirmed. Three of the bouts on the card will feature female fighters including the main event.
Also in the strawweight division Cheyanne Vlismas (7-2) has been booked to take on Tabatha Ricci (7-1) in battle between two fighters looking to break into the top 15. Both are coming off back to back wins inside the octagon.
Leah Letson (5-2) has been matched with Chelsea Chandler (4-1) in a battle between unranked bantamweights. The former is a TUF 28 veteran who is 1-1 inside the octagon while the latter won four in a row with Invicta FC to earn a UFC contract and will be making her promotional debut.
UFC Fight Night 211, TBA, October 1st
Mackenzie Dern vs. Yan Xiaonan (Strawweight)
Leah Letson vs. Chelsea Chandler (Bantamweight)
Vinc Pichel vs. Jesse Ronson (Lightweight)
Cheyanne Vlismas vs. Tabatha Ricci (Strawweight)
Randy Costa vs. Guido Cannetti (Bantamweight)
