Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan pick, prediction, time, odds: UFC 300

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to interrupt down the most important fights within the UFC. Right this moment, he takes a better take a look at the UFC 300 co-main occasion between strawweight champion Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan, who will make historical past as the primary all-Chinese language title-fight matchup in UFC historical past.

Zhang Weili UFC 300 preview

Staple data:

• Peak: 5’4″ Age: 34 Weight: 115 lbs. Attain: 63″
• File: (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC)
• Final battle: Decision win over Amanda Lemos (Aug. 19, 2023)
• Camp: Crew Zhang (China)
• Stance/putting type: Orthodox/muay Thai
• Threat administration: Good

Supplemental data:
+ UFC strawweight champion
+ Wushu sanda background
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 11 knockout victories
+ 8 submission wins
+ 11 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Explosive athlete
+ Broad variation of putting arsenal
^ From fundamentals to spinning assaults
+ Robust contained in the clinch
^ Elbows, knees, journeys, tosses
+ Improved wrestling and scrambling
+ Strong transitional grappling from topside

Yan Xiaonan UFC 300 preview

Staple data:

• Peak: 5’5″ Age: 34 Weight: 115 lbs. Attain: 63″
• File: (17-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC)
• Final battle: Knockout win over Jessica Andrade (Could 6, 2023)
• Camp: China Prime Crew/Crew Alpha Male (Calif.)
• Stance/putting type: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Threat administration: Good

Supplemental data:
+ Regional MMA title
+ Wushu sanda background
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 8 KO victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ KO Energy
+ Arduous hooks and crosses
^ Coming ahead or off the counter
+ Dynamic kicking selection
^ Good swap kicks and sidekicks
+ Exhibits improved wrestling
^ Strong frames and fundamentals
+ Serviceably grappling skill

Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan focal point: Sanda strikers

Jessica Andrade (pink gloves) fights Yan Xiaonan throughout UFC 288 at Prudential Middle in Newark, N.J.. (Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports activities)

The co-main occasion in Las Vegas includes a girls’s strawweight title battle between two fighters from a wushu sanda background.

Although listed as a fighter who grew up with mentioned base, Zhang continues so as to add to her putting arsenal as her MMA profession continues.

The previous strawweight champion can come ahead aggressively however in the end prefers staying gentle on her ft, all whereas utilizing feints to open up kicks and hooking mixtures that include a muay Thai flare in tow.

Like many sanda practitioners, Zhang can also be not shy about utilizing spinning assaults when the positions name for it. Whether or not she’s corralling her opponents into turning sidekicks or countering outside-foot approaches with spinning backfists, the 34-year-old appears assured putting from a number of roles and ranges.

Nonetheless, outdoors of a pure really feel for distance and the occasional slip off the middle, Zhang has proven that she isn’t past being stung by exhausting counters throughout her aggressive engagements. With that in thoughts, I will probably be curious to see how a lot she’s keen to come back ahead contemplating the countering threats of Yan.

A extra conventional sanda stylist who has clearly labored on her boxing since coaching stateside, Yan possesses exhausting hooks and crosses that she will sit down on and counter with when the event requires it.

Though Yan seems to have gotten a bit sharper together with her jab, she likes to make the most of her sidekicks to help her distancing efforts. Yan has fortunately toned down the temperature within the spinning division, however will nonetheless punch off of kicks and counter together when feeling in stride.

In reality, I wouldn’t be stunned to see Yan combine in additional lead-sided kicks contemplating the success fighters like Namajunas had with it up to now.

Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan breakdown: Potential grappling threats

Weili Zhang (pink gloves) fights Amanda Lemos throughout UFC 292 at TD Backyard in Boston. (Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports activities)

Contemplating the place the most important on-paper disparities are between these two, nobody needs to be shocked if Zhang appears to tie up with the challenger in closed quarters.

As we noticed in her first title-winning effort in Shenzhen, China, Zhang possesses the ability to demolish sturdy opposition with exhausting knees and elbows inside shut quarters.

The champion’s sanda background additionally is useful when hanging out on this area, displaying the flexibility to hit slick journeys and takedowns on the drop of a dime.

Since then, Zhang has upgraded her wrestling chops by working with skills like Henry Cejudo to the Hickman brothers (who function out of Bang Tao Muay Thai). Now, it isn’t unusual for Zhang to hit competent wrestling chains in open area, virtually as if it have been second nature.

When Zhang can set up any type of management off of a takedown, the Chinese language champion is fast to make hay by each settling into place, in addition to looking for out damaging strikes like brief elbows. Zhang, at the very least when she’s not being overaggressive, appears very competent inside scrambles with a freakish back-take skill in addition.

That mentioned, Yan has proven some measurable enhancements to her personal grappling recreation.

After getting outclassed by Carla Esparza again in 2021, Yan moved store to coach with Urijah Faber and firm at Crew Alpha Male. Working with a slew of MMA wrestlers and submission grapplers, Yan demonstrated marked enhancements by the point she confronted a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist in Mackenzie Dern.

Accompanying her overhooks with the suitable frames and head place, Yan shows a a lot better understanding of wrestling fundamentals as they relate to defending takedowns. And when Yan was grounded, she did a good job of staying calm and efficiently surviving submission makes an attempt from a world-class practitioner in Dern.

However, Yan did discover herself caught in unfavourable positions for extended intervals in opposition to Dern, and might want to present extra urgency if she finally ends up on backside this Saturday.

Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan odds

The oddsmakers and the general public are closely favoring the sitting champion, itemizing Zhang -500 and Yan +340, in keeping with FanDuel.

Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan prediction, decide

Though the betting line opened so much tighter than what’s listed above, I can perceive the love coming in for Zhang.

Not solely is the sitting champion arguably probably the most athletic and explosive fighters on the complete roster, however Zhang’s abilities – notably within the grappling realm – soar off the web page on this matchup.

Yan’s counters will make her a stay canine on the ft within the early frames, however I’m unsure how a lot her kicks will assist her contemplating Zhang’s hardwiring counters these assaults with both strikes or takedowns.

Add in Zhang’s fight-to-fight grappling enhancements beneath the care of No-Gi world champion Josh Hinger, and I believe that “Magnum” finds a end on the ground by spherical 3.

Prediction: Zhang inside the gap

Zhang Weili vs Yan Xiaonan begin time, the place to look at

Zhang and Xiaonan are anticipated to make their walks out to the octagon at roughly midnight ET (9 p.m. native time in Las Vegas). The battle streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.