UFC 288 brings us some great fighters on stage, in yet another big PPV card. Whilst some of the names might not be as big and famous, the fighters on the card have impressed regardless. As such, let’s take a look at the results of Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan.
In what was the third fight on the main card, Bate Estaca made her return to the Octagon taking on #6 ranked strawweight, Yan Xioanan. Having lost to rising star Erin Blanchfield in her last outing, there was a lot riding on Andrade to set things right. Moreover, Andrade made the decision to move back down to strawweight in order to take on Xiaonan.
On their way to the Octagon NOW!@JessicaMMAPro vs Xiaonan Yan next at #UFC288 👊
[ Order the @ESPNPlus PPV: https://t.co/ZDDxUDJwAA ] pic.twitter.com/1TV9Kyi5RC
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023
WE HAVE A NEW STRAWWEIGHT CONTENDER!!
Yan Xiaonan stops Jessica Andrade in the first round!! #UFC288 pic.twitter.com/l0Jb7xHMWk
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023
The biggest moment of Yan Xiaonan’s career couldn’t have gone better! #UFC288 pic.twitter.com/KvYjNEB6m4
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023
As for Xiaonan, the Chinese fighter managed to get a win over Mackenzie Dern in her last outing. However, seeing her performances in recent times, many felt as though Andrade would beat her comfortably. Coming into the fight, there seemed to be a massive disparity in both strength and striking between the two.
Making her way into the cage in an Alex Pereira-inspired entrance, Jessica seemed determined to take Xiaonan’s head off. As the fight began, Xionan did well to establish her range and catch Andrade a few times. On the other hand, Andrade was focused on closing the distance, which meant that she was walking into counters from Yan. Eventually, Andrade got caught and sent to the canvas on her way in, with Xiaonan wheeling away, victorious in Round 1.
UFC 288: Jessica Andrade gets knocked out by Yan Xiaonan-fans react!
Unfortunately for Jessica Andrade, her game plan of pressuring Yan did not work out well. A swift and rangy fighter, Yan was very well prepared to deal with anything that Andrade threw at her. When the Brazilian began pressuring and stepping forward, Xiaonan countered well by managing the distance and keeping Andrade on the outside.
With Jessica charging in on Xiaonan, the Chinese fighter backpedaled, delivering a decisive counter right overhand to finish the fight. As such, Andrade, who got caught, immediately dropped to the canvas where she was met by hammer fists from Xiaonan.
Fortunately, the referee stepped in as soon as possible, preventing any serious injury to Andrade. Despite the KO, Jessica seemed to be in her senses and did not show any signs of urgent medical attention.
YAN XIAONAN JUST DID THAT 😱 #UFC288
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023
CASH THE CHECKKKK long live chinaaa 🇨🇳
— PabloTalksUFC (@pablotalksUFC) May 7, 2023
Leave yourself open, you go sleep
— 🏴 (@LJUTD) May 7, 2023
Andrade swinging with so much recklessness. Time your shots FGS. This is not the first time.
— Emperor Kaash 🇳🇬🇬🇭 (@EmperorKaash) May 7, 2023
Yo i didnt think you could do that to Andrade
— Ruben Dario Santiago II (@RubenDa41634269) May 7, 2023
Damn, Yan looked unreal tonight. Wow!! #UFC288 pic.twitter.com/imYOrwdsCn
— Mitch Westphal (@MitchWestphal) May 7, 2023
One of the best counters you’ll see this year.
— Stephen (@ScubaSteve2009) May 7, 2023
I don’t mean this as any disrespect, but that was some of the best most crisp striking I’ve ever seen from a female fighter. Masterful performance.
— Alex_Walsh (@alexwalsh6) May 7, 2023
Andrade was so sloppy wow
— WillSkillet (@SkilletWithTH) May 7, 2023
I understand why Andrade fights the way she does but when you come up against a fast accurate striker you just can’t be doing that and expecting it to work
— JHarrisCFC (@JHarrisCFC) May 7, 2023
In what was arguably the biggest fight of her career, Xiaonan stepped up and delivered the goods. Thus, as the commentary desk stated, we could soon be in a position where Xiaonan challenges fellow Chinese and strawweight champ Zhang Weili in the future. Having beaten the #4 ranked contender, one would imagine that Xiaonan is one fight away from the title shot.
