Xiaonan Yan could not have fought any smarter.
The Team Alpha Male standout outstruck and outfoxed Mackenzie Dern, as she took a significant step forward in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight division with a majority decision in their five-round UFC Fight Night 211 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Scores were 48-47, 48-47 and 47-47.
Yan (16-3, 7-2 UFC) managed to stay on her feet long enough to bank the requisite points across 25 minutes, denying repeated takedown attempts and cutting loose with crisp combinations to the head, all while attacking the body and legs with kicks.