UFC gets all-clear for Chinese fighters amid coronavirus as Yan Xiaonan brings ‘Fury’ to Auckland
- Government gives green light for Chinese UFC stars to enter New Zealand for Fight Night 168
- Yan finally touches down in Auckland ahead of Karolina Kowalkiewicz fight after coronavirus outbreak disrupts camp
China's Yan “Fury” Xiaonan (11-1) has finally touched down in Auckland, New Zealand. And while her mind is now firmly set on Sunday’s strawweight clash with the UFC's 14th-ranked American Karolina Kowalkiewicz (12-5), events playing out back home will obviously cloud whatever happens this weekend.
The novel coronavirus outbreak in China meant Yan had to abandon her training camp in Beijing for Thailand and relative isolation – and then wait to see if the New Zealand government would allow entry after it had placed travel restrictions on Chinese travellers.
The good news came through on Tuesday and Yan was on the first available flight south as she readies herself for Sunday’s UFC Fight Night: Felder vs Hooker.
“I didn’t let any of the uncertainty destroy my focus,” Yan says, when asked if events had added to the usual pre-fight stress.
“We immediately made plans to go to Thailand to continue preparing for the fight. My coach and my training partners were all able to go with me to Thailand. We took a total of eight people there.