Claudia Gadelha and Yan Xiaoanan set to meet in September
An exciting strawweight matchup has become the first bout lined up for the UFC’s September 26 event in Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex. Combate reported on Monday that it will be Claudia Gadelha (18-4) vs. Yan Xiaonan (12-1).
As a perennial top contender in the 115-pound division, Gadelha has already fought for UFC gold on one occasion. This being when she came up short against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in their highly anticipated 2016 rematch. Since then, the Brazilian has gone 5-2 and aimed to get back into the title picture.
Her most recent win came at UFC Jacksonville 2 when she picked up a split decision nod against Angela Hill. Hill came in on short notice to fill in for the unbeaten Marina Rodriguez who was forced out due to travel restrictions.
For Gadelha, a win over Xiaonan would put her on a three-fight winning streak. Thus making it her longest string of victories since her initial 12-0 run that was halted by her aforementioned rival in Jedrzejczyk.
China’s Xiaonan has continually impressed with each and every fight in the UFC to this point. She boasts a five-fight unbeaten streak in the Octagon with her last time out being a dominant showing over former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Auckland in February.
Overall, Xiaonan hasn’t tasted defeat since her third professional bout.
When it comes to equal opponents, both Xiaonan and Gadelha have faced and defeated Hill in competitive outings. Stylistically, most will expect to see this as a striker vs. grappler matchup at its core. However, Gadelha has only gotten more and more comfortable with her striking over the course of her career.
In the UFC’s official rankings, Gadelha currently sits at No. 6 with her upcoming opponent at No. 10. It’s safe to assume that the winner of this bout could very well be next in line for a title shot – if not a win away at most.
About Post Author
The Scrap
About Post Author
The Scrap
The Scrap is a combat sports news hub dedicated to bringing you creative MMA, Pro Wrestling, Bare Knuckle, and Boxing content. We choose highlight the indie and regional scenes as passionately as the big leagues. Aside from exclusives on our Patreon account, we also provide video content on our YouTube channel ranging from interviews to highlighting current events.
Related Posts:
Additional Content
Jonathan Kunneman: Defying The Odds
Jonathan Kunneman, a promising MMA fighter diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, faces immense challenges but remains determined to defy expectations. Despite the pain and difficulties of managing his condition, he trains tirelessly, pushing through both physical struggles and pandemic setbacks to achieve his dream of fighting in the UFC.
Miguel Navarro previews UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway
In the latest edition of our Main Event Preview, we dive into the super fight between Ilia Topuria and Max...
UFC 308: Main Card Predictions
UFC returns to the infamous Fight Island for their 19th event in Abu Dhabi. Yas Island marks an important era...
Renato Valente previews UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.
We are back at it with another UFC Main Event Preview from our ongoing monthly series. This time, we shift...
UFC 307: Main Card Predictions
The UFC makes its fourth stop in Salt Lake City, Utah, with an exciting UFC 307 card. Utah has emerged...
John Wood breaks down UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili
As UFC 306 approaches, the main event between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley is gaining significant attention. John Wood, head...
Average Rating