Yan Xiaonan thinks UFC 288 win over Jessica Andrade could lead to title shot vs. Zhang Weili

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Yan Xiaonan sees title implications with a win at UFC 288.

Xiaonan (16-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) takes on former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade (24-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) in Saturday’s featured main card bout at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

With her last three wins coming over Mackenzie Dern, Claudia Gadelha, and Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Xiaonan hopes beating Andrade earns her a shot at strawweight champ Zhang Weili.

“This fight is very important to me,” Xiaonan said Wednesday during UFC 288 media day through an interpreter. “And I think this fight, either me or Jessica or the winner, one more step closer to the title. The winner should be one step closer to the title fight. … Maybe the winner of this fight can be the next title challenger if Dana (White) wants that.”

Andrade has wins at strawweight, flyweight, and bantamweight. The former UFC strawweight champion has recently alternated between strawweight and flyweight, but Xiaonan thinks 115 pounds is the right division for the Brazilian.

“I think strawweight is the best division for Jessica because she doesn’t have enough size advantage in flyweight or bantamweight,” Xiaonan said. “So I think she fits this division naturally, and I also think she’s one of the best fighters in this division because she is a former champion who also fought a lot of tough opponents.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 288.