Are Smelling Salts Allowed in the UFC? Joe Rogan’s Objection During Yan Xiaonan vs Weili Zhang at UFC 300 Explained

Towards the end of the first round of their UFC 300 women’s strawweight title bout, champion Zhang Weili caught Yan Xiaonan in a fantastic rear-naked choke hold. The contender seemingly passed out, but made it through to the belt. She managed to get up but was clearly dazed and groggy, and made it to her corner.

Shortly after, UFC commentator Daniel Cormier remarked that ‘Nine’s corner gave her smelling salts (ammonia extracts that help regain consciousness and make one more alert) in order to wake her up. This prompted Joe Rogan to ask a question that many UFC fans want the answer to: Are smelling salts allowed in the UFC?

Can fighters use smelling salts between rounds in the UFC?

UFC lead play-by-play color commentator Jon Anik quickly corrected Cormier, and told the audience that Yan Xiaonan’s corner had not, in fact, given her smelling salts after the end of the first round of her UFC 300 clash.

However, the fans were not convinced, since one of her corner members was caught on camera offering to give her something. But, unless the commission investigates the matter and comes to a conclusion, nothing could be said for certain.

Using smelling salts during a fight is illegal according to Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) (and all other athletic commissions that we have examined) rules, and could land Xiaonan’s corner in a lot of trouble if found to be true. Either way, ‘Nine’ went on to lose the bout via a unanimous decision, but did show tremendous heart and fighting spirit.

The NSAC (and every other athletic commission) has a list of items that corners are allowed to be carried and used by a fighter’s corner. And smelling salts are not allowed to be carried or used b. However, this raises another question: what items are allowed in the corner?

What is allowed in corners during fights?

According to NSAC rules, a fighter’s corner is allowed to carry a clear plastic water bottle, ice in a transparent bag, and a solution or product to stop bleeding approved by the athletic commission. In addition, to stop the bleeding, corners are allowed to carry and use gauze, medical, or cloth tape (if approved by the commission beforehand).

Corners may also carry an extra mouthpiece and one pair of scissors into a fight. However, crucially, the commission’s physician or official has the authority to ask to check the corner’s equipment and may prevent any materials not in line with the rules from being taken to the corner.

While it is clear that smelling salts are not allowed during fights, and Jon Anik claimed that the first Chinese UFC fighter’s corner did not use it, her corner offering her smelling salts as well the subsequent action of touching ‘Nine’s nose is quite suspicious and has fans suspecting something fishy was going on. What are your thoughts on the whole affair?