Zhang Weili defends UFC strawweight belt after beating Yan Xiaonan in Chinese derby

For the first time in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history, two Chinese fighters, Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan, faced each other in a title bout at UFC 300 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, on Saturday. Zhang beat Yan by unanimous decision 49-45 after five rounds to defend the strawweight belt.

Having secured eight of her previous 17 wins by knockout (KO), Yan was aggressive in the stand-up and knocked Zhang down several times. In contrast, Zhang posed a big threat with her ground offense. She had several chances to take Yan down and beat her from top position but Zhang became visibly fatigued in the second round and, from there, Yan managed to escape repeatedly. 

Saturday's victory was Zhang's fifth win in title bouts, the second-most among all women's strawweight fighters, one behind Poland's Hall of Fame fighter Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

"Yan is a true warrior and she is so resilient," said Zhang, speaking highly of her opponent after the fight. "I respect her very much and hope we can become friends after this fight."

Zhang recalled that she thought she had won after the rear naked choke at the end of the first round. "I thought the fight was over with that naked choke in the first round, but she immediately snapped out of it in the second round," Zhang said.

There were another four main card fights at UFC 300 on Saturday night. Reigning men's light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira of Brazil beat Jamahal Hill of the U.S. with a KO in the first round. Justin Gaethje of the U.S. lost the BMF belt to his compatriot Max Holloway, who knocked him out with a punch with one second remaining in the fight. With this performance and stoppage, Holloway earned $600,000 in bonuses.

Armenia's Arman Tsarukyan defeated former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira of Brazil by split decision and newcomer Bo Nickal maintained his undefeated streak with a second round submission of Cody Brundage.