UFC Vegas 13 results: Yan Xiaonan showcases fast hands, volume striking to beat Claudia Gadelha

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC A new contender has emerged in the UFC strawweight division as Yan Xiaonan picked up the biggest win of her career with a unanimous decision victory over former title contender Claudia Gadelha.
The 31-year-old veteran showcased fast hands, good footwork and a volume striking attack that Gadelha struggled to counter for the majority of the fight. When the final horn sounded, the judges all agreed with Yan getting the victory with all of the scorecards reading 29-28 in her favor.
With a back-to-back wins over Gadelha and another past title challenger in Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Yan is climbing that much closer to an eventual title shot against fellow countrywoman Zhang Weili.
“I feel very excited,” Yan said following the win. “[I’m ready for a title fight] any time, it depends on Dana White. He can arrange the fight [against Zhang Weili] any time.”
The fight eventually went Yan’s way but in the opening moments of the first round, Gadelha employed her game plan by taking the action to the ground where she looked to showcase her grappling expertise. To her credit, Yan wasn’t just giving up the position because she began firing back with hammer fists and elbows off her back, which forced Gadelha to work for every second of control she earned on the mat.
As the fight moved into the second round, Yan was able to stay on her feet, which spelled trouble for Gadelha. Yan was fast with her hands, firing off multiple shots in succession and keeping the Brazilian at the end of her punches.
Yan continued to pump out a very effective lead jab that continued to mash Gadelha’s nose and snap her head back whenever she pressed forward. That also led to Gadelha being more deliberate in her takedown attempts, which then allowed Yan to counter and ensure she stayed standing.
As time ran out, Yan was still throwing combinations with speed and force behind the punches. Obviously, the judges were paying attention and that resulted in the decision win for the Chinese strawweight.
The victory may not put Yan directly in line for a title shot with Zhang expected to face former champion Rose Namajunas in early 2021 but her path is that much shorter now following the win over Gadelha at UFC Vegas 13.


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