UFC: Yan Xiaonan says lessons learned from Zhang Weili’s loss, plans to finish Carla Esparza early
- Chinese star takes on former strawweight champion this weekend in title challenge eliminator
- ‘Nothing else matters,’ says Yan – ‘there’s a good chance I can end this fight with my striking’
Yan Xiaonan believes there was a lesson for all fighters in compatriot Zhang Weili’s recent strawweight title loss to American Rose Namajunas.
“In this sport you have to be ready at all times,” said the rising Chinese star. “You just never know where the surprising moves are going to come from. Once the fight starts, you have to be ready – for anything.”
But the woman who carries the name “Fury” into the cage is not looking that far ahead. Given the stature of the fighter she will face at the UFC Apex facility, Yan is not taking anything for granted, not after all she’s been through.
“There’s no other way than to keep on telling myself to focus on this fight,” said Yan, speaking to SCMP MMA from Las Vegas. “Nothing else matters. That’s what I have to do and not think anything about the future.