UFC: Zhang Weili vs Yan Xiaonan ‘China Derby’ would be 50-50, ‘The Leech’ says
- China’s UFC veteran lays out predictions for possible strawweight title clash between his compatriots
- ‘Weili is stronger and more powerful. Xiaonan’s striking is more accurate,’ says Li Jingliang
China’s Li “The Leech’ Jingliang (17-6) returns to the Octagon on the UFC Fight Island 7 card in Abu Dhabi this weekend but the veteran welterweight is well aware that it’s the potential of another fight on the horizon that has his homeland – and the world of MMA – buzzing.
The odds on strawweight champ Zhang “Magnum” Weili (21-1) one day facing her surging compatriot Yan “Fury” Xiaonan (13-1, one no contest) have shortened over time – and with results – and Li for one would love to see this little slice of history come to fruition. Never before have two Chinese fighters faced off for a UFC title.
“I really want to see this ‘China Derby’ between Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan,” Li told SCMP MMA. “There are two really good fighters and it’s hard to predict. I think it’s a 50-50 fight. Zhang Weili is stronger and more powerful and Yan Xiaonan’s striking is more accurate. So it would all depend on preparation and how they execute in their fight.”
The 31-year-old Weili has not been seen since her epic first title defence against former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) back at UFC 248 in Las Vegas last March. American world No 4 Carla Esparza (17-6) has loomed as the Handan native’s likely next opponent, given word of contract mumblings within the camp of American No 1-ranked Rose Namajunas (9-4).
There has similarly been a “will they/won‘t they?” guessing game playing out when it comes to the 31-year-old Yan’s next opponent, after a 2020 that saw the Shenyang-born fighter win twice as she rose to third in the rankings
The Polish former champ – and current second-ranked – Jedrzejczyk is the rumour, but the 33-year-old has also been vocal in her push for more pay – and so nothing has yet been announced.