By the Numbers: Weili Zhang vs Xiaonan Yan

Martial arts has been woven into the very fabric of Chinese culture for centuries, transcending mere physical practice to embrace the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of it. However, despite this rich heritage, the presence of Chinese fighters in Western mixed martial arts organizations has been scant, shrouded by a prevailing sense of underrepresentation.

Nonetheless, the advent of a new era shattered this conventional notion. The rise of a fresh wave of Chinese athletes, especially on the grand stage of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, marked a pivotal paradigm shift, where stereotypes were shattered and perspectives were altered. In the vanguard of these trailblazers, the crowning moment of Weili Zhang as the women’s strawweight champion proved to be the defining moment that will forever be immortalized in the saga of Chinese martial arts tradition.

Now, the upcoming co-main event at UFC 300 ushers in a new historic chapter, as Zhang squares off against Chinese counterpart Xiaonan Yan, setting the stage for the first-ever all-Chinese championship clash in the promotion’s history. Ahead of this historic clash this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, we delve into the statistical nuances that exist between champion and challenger:

4: With four finishes, Zhang is fourth on the strawweight ladder for most finishes in the division.

5: Zhang’s five-fight winning streak between August 2018 and March 2020 remains the sixth-best in the strawweight division’s history.

4: Zhang has amassed four title victories in the UFC, which is the second-best behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk at 115 pounds.

5: With five fight night bonuses, Zhang occupies the No. 4 spot in the 115-pound bracket for such honors.

139: The striking differential of 139 that Zhang recorded in her fight against Amanda Lemos at UFC 292 is the eighth-best in the organization’s history.

96: Amassing a total of 96 ground strikes in her aforementioned fight against Lemos, Zhang is tied second on the list for significant strikes landed in that terrain.

42: Zhang demolished Jessica Andrade in 42 seconds to claim the 115-pound strap in 2019—a finish which remains the fifth-fastest finish in divisional history.

115: Yan holds the top spot in the division for most significant head strikes landed in a single bout with 115 against Syuri Kondo.

6: With six straight wins, Yan occupies the No. 2 spot in divisional ranks for longest winning streak.

778: Yan has landed 778 significant strikes throughout her UFC career, securing the No. 6 spot on the divisional rankings ladder.