The China Derby! Zhang Vs. Yan Added To UFC 300

UFC 300 has its first title fight.

UFC CEO, Dana White, took to Instagram today (Weds., Jan. 10, 2024) to announce that reigning two-time Strawweight champion, Zhang Weili (24-3), will defend her title against her fellow countrywoman from China, the No. 2-ranked contender, Yan Xiaonan (17-3, 1 no contest), at UFC 300 in Las Vegas on April 13, 2024. The announcement brings the historic pay-per-view event to five fights in total at present.

Zhang, 34, last fought against Amanda Lemos when she earned the second title defense of her career (the first of her current reign) by unanimous decision at UFC 292 in August 2023. She rides a three-fight winning streak since her rivalry against the former champion, Rose Namajunas, in 2021.

Yan’s 2021 wasn’t her best year either as she tasted defeat for the first time inside the Octagon at the hands of another former champion, Carla Esparza, via a second round technical knockout. A split decision loss to perennial top contender, Marina Rodriguez, followed before the 34-year-old got back on a strong winning streak with back-to-back wins over Mackenzie Dern and Jessica Andrade. Against Andrade, Yan earned a Performance of the Night bonus for the first round knockout of the former titleholder at UFC 288 in May 2023.

The current UFC 300 line up can be seen below.

• 115lbs.: (C)Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan
• 155lbs.: Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan
• 205lbs.: Jiří Procházka vs. Aleksandar Rakić
• 145lbs.: Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling
• 185lbs.: Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage