Yan Xiaonan is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist and one of the most important pioneers of women’s MMA in China. Known as “Fury,” she competes in the UFC women’s strawweight division and has fought some of the biggest names in the weight class.
Yan Xiaonan’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Yan Xiaonan |
| Nickname | “Fury” |
| Date of birth | June 16, 1989 |
| Age in 2026 | 37 years old |
| Birthplace | Shenyang, Liaoning, China |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Weight class | Women’s Strawweight (115 lb / 52.2 kg) |
| Reach | 160 cm (63 in) |
| Gym / Team | Team Alpha Male |
| Professional debut | 2009 |
| UFC debut | November 25, 2017 |
| Current ranking | Around No. 6 in UFC women’s strawweight rankings, depending on the ranking update |
| MMA record | 19 wins, 6 losses, 1 No Contest |
| Estimated net worth in 2026 | About $1.2–1.5 million |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Spouse / partner | Zhang Yang |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram profile | @xiaonan_yan |
Early Career
Yan began training in Sanda, a Chinese combat sport that combines striking and throws, when she was young.
She built her professional MMA career in China before joining the UFC, developing a reputation as a powerful and durable striker. Her early success helped her earn a UFC contract in 2017.
Professional Career
Yan made her UFC debut in November 2017 and defeated Kailin Curran by unanimous decision. She then built a strong UFC run with wins over fighters including Viviane Pereira, Syuri Kondo, Angela Hill, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Claudia Gadelha, Mackenzie Dern, and Jessica Andrade.
In 2024, she fought Zhang Weili at UFC 300 in the first all-Chinese UFC title fight. Yan lost that championship bout, but it confirmed her status as one of the top strawweights in the world. In August 2026, she lost to Denise Gomes by first-round knockout at UFC Fight Night in Shanghai.
Spouse
Yan Xiaonan is married to Zhang Yang, a fellow Chinese national. Reports say the couple married in 2016 after being in a long-term relationship.
Yan Xiaonan’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Yan Xiaonan’s estimated net worth is around $1.2 million to $1.5 million. Includes only disclosed UFC purses or also estimates sponsorship income, bonuses, and other business earnings.
Fight Purses
| Fight | Event | Reported purse | Win bonus | Year |
| Kailin Curran | UFC Fight Night 122 | $10,000 | $10,000 | 2017 |
| Viviane Pereira | UFC Fight Night 132 | $12,000 | $12,000 | 2018 |
| Syuri Kondo | UFC Fight Night 141 | $14,000 | $14,000 | 2018 |
| Angela Hill | UFC 238 | $20,000 | $20,000 | 2019 |
| Karolina Kowalkiewicz | UFC Fight Night 168 | $22,000 | $22,000 | 2020 |
| Claudia Gadelha | UFC on ESPN 17 | $24,000 | $24,000 | 2020 |
| Carla Esparza | UFC Fight Night 188 | $48,000 | N/A | 2021 |
| Marina Rodriguez | UFC 272 | $50,000 | N/A | 2022 |
| Mackenzie Dern | UFC Fight Night 211 | $60,000 | $60,000 | 2022 |
| Jessica Andrade | UFC 288 | $75,000 | $75,000 | 2023 |
| Zhang Weili | UFC 300 | $85,000 | N/A | 2024 |
| Tabatha Ricci | UFC Fight Night 248 | $110,000 | $100,000 | 2024 |
| Virna Jandiroba | UFC 314 | $150,000 | $100,000 | 2025 |
Career Earnings
| Earnings category | Estimated amount |
| Reported UFC purses through 2025 | About $850,000 |
| Estimated career fight earnings including undisclosed purses | About $1.41 million |
| Estimated total career earnings including bonuses and incentives | More than $1 million |
| Estimated net worth including sponsorships and other income | About $1.2–1.5 million |
Endorsements
Yan Xiaonan has benefited from sponsorship and endorsement opportunities as her profile has grown, especially after becoming the first Chinese female fighter signed by the UFC.
Public reporting commonly includes sponsorship money as part of her estimated fight-night earnings, although the exact brands and contract values are not consistently disclosed.
Achievements
| Achievement | Details |
| UFC title challenger | Fought Zhang Weili for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship at UFC 300 |
| First Chinese female UFC signee | Became the first Chinese female fighter signed by the UFC |
| UFC Performance bonuses | Has earned multiple UFC Performance of the Night bonuses |
| Major UFC wins | Defeated Mackenzie Dern, Jessica Andrade, Claudia Gadelha, Angela Hill, and Karolina Kowalkiewicz |
| Chinese MMA pioneer | Helped raise the global profile of Chinese women’s MMA |
| Long UFC win streak | Recorded a six-fight winning streak from 2017 to 2020 |
Fight Record
| Opponent | Result | Method | Event | Year |
| Kailin Curran | Win | Unanimous decision | UFC Fight Night 122 | 2017 |
| Angela Hill | Win | Unanimous decision | UFC 238 | 2019 |
| Karolina Kowalkiewicz | Win | Unanimous decision | UFC Fight Night 168 | 2020 |
| Claudia Gadelha | Win | Unanimous decision | UFC on ESPN 17 | 2020 |
| Carla Esparza | Loss | Split decision | UFC Fight Night 188 | 2021 |
| Mackenzie Dern | Win | Majority decision | UFC Fight Night 211 | 2022 |
| Jessica Andrade | Win | TKO | UFC 288 | 2023 |
| Zhang Weili | Loss | Unanimous decision | UFC 300 | 2024 |
| Tabatha Ricci | Win | Unanimous decision | UFC Fight Night 248 | 2024 |
| Virna Jandiroba | Loss | Submission | UFC 314 | 2025 |
| Denise Gomes | Loss | KO/TKO | UFC Fight Night 286 | 2026 |
FAQs
1. Who is Yan Xiaonan?
Yan Xiaonan is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC’s women’s strawweight division. Known by the nickname “Fury,” she became the first Chinese female fighter signed by the UFC and has fought prominent opponents including Zhang Weili, Jéssica Andrade, Mackenzie Dern, Virna Jandiroba, and Denise Gomes.
2. What is Yan Xiaonan’s professional MMA record?
Her professional record is 19–6–0. She has 19 wins, including 8 by knockout or technical knockout, 1 by submission, and 10 by decision.
3. When did Yan Xiaonan start training and fighting?
Yan began training martial arts at age 13 and has a background in Sanda, a Chinese full-contact combat sport. She attended Xi’an Sports University, was introduced to MMA by coach Zhao Xuejun in 2009, and transitioned fully to MMA in 2015.
4. When did Yan Xiaonan join the UFC?
Yan made her UFC debut on November 25, 2017, defeating Kailin Curran by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 122. She had been the first Chinese female fighter signed by the promotion.
5. Has Yan Xiaonan fought for a UFC title?
Yes. She challenged Zhang Weili for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship in the co-main event of UFC 300 on April 13, 2024. Zhang won by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the five-round bout 49–45.
6. What happened in Yan Xiaonan vs. Zhang Weili?
It was the first all-Chinese title fight in UFC history. Zhang nearly finished Yan with a rear-naked choke at the end of round one, but Yan survived and mounted a resurgence in the middle rounds; Zhang ultimately retained the belt through superior grappling and control in the later rounds.
7. What was Yan Xiaonan’s biggest UFC win?
One of her biggest victories came against former strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade at UFC 288 on May 6, 2023. Yan knocked Andrade out with a counter right hand at 2:20 of the first round.
8. Who did Yan Xiaonan last fight?
Her most recent recorded fight was against Denise Gomes at UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song in Shanghai on August 29, 2026. Gomes won by TKO from elbow strikes and punches at 4:49 of the first round.
9. What is Yan Xiaonan’s fighting style?
Yan is primarily a striker with a Sanda background, using kicks, boxing, and counterpunching, while also developing takedowns and grappling for MMA. Her UFC profile lists training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and MMA, and her career includes eight knockout victories and one submission win.
10. Why is Yan Xiaonan important to Chinese MMA?
She is a trailblazer for Chinese women in the UFC: she was the first Chinese female fighter signed by the organization, debuted in 2017, and later became the first Chinese woman to challenge for UFC gold in the all-Chinese UFC 300 title fight against Zhang Weili.