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. UFC: Wu says China’s female MMA stars ‘can be champions and pretty’ So there’s a lot still to play out before the world might get to see Zhang-Yan, but even the fact such a possibility is being discussed shows how far China’s stocks have risen in the UFC, and how quickly. Yan was the first Chinese woman to sign with the Las Vegas-based promotion – just three years ago – and it only took two years from that date for China to see its first female champion crowned, when Zhang needed just 42 seconds to dismantle Brazil’s Jessica Andrade (21-8) to lift the strawweight crown in August 2019. Li has been around the UFC since 2014 as he has built a 9-4 record with the organisation but he has also been a major player in the development of the sport in China, and in the rise of Yan, both as a friend and as a training partner at China Top Team in Beijing. “She’s brilliant and that last fight showed the world just how good she is,” said Li, of Yan’s decision win over the Brazilian former title contender Claudia Gadelha (18-5) in November. “For me, I have trained with her for a long time so I know just how good she is. I’m happy for her.” The 32-year-old Li returns to action this weekend against Argentine powerhouse Santiago Ponzinibbio (27-3), high on the UFC Fight Island 7 card and in a bout both fighters see as a gateway to a top 15 ranking. The Chinese fighter saw his original opponent – American Dwight Grant (10-3) – fall to Covid-19 and pull out of their intended December 12 clash but he has hung around in the USA, hoping for a quick chance to fight again. Li has made the most of the extra-time State-side by linking up with China’s 14th-ranked bantamweight Song “The Kung Fu Monkey” Yadong (16-4-1, one no contest) at the Sacramento gym of UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber (35-11). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Li Jingliang (@lijingliangmma) Yan has also been there, having similarly chosen to avoid the current travel restrictions by staying on in the US since her fight in November. “It’s been an interesting and very enjoyable experience,” said Li. “Faber is a great guy, very generous and kind to us. And to have a few Chinese fighters here has been great. Song Yadong has been here in the US for a while so he has taken care of us, taken us for fun and food and a few little travels. I have improved and Xiaonan has improved and we are making the most of the experience.”