Regardless of how her upcoming bout against champion Zhang Weili goes, #1 ranked women’s strawweight Yan Xiaonan will make history in her next fight. Her main-card strawweight title bout on the already historic UFC 300 card will be the first all-Chinese title fight in UFC history.

Their bout will not only be a watershed moment for China but also the culmination of Yan Xiaonan’s long journey from training in the traditional martial art of Sanda2 to being on the cusp of winning a title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Yan Xiaonan explains the meaning behind her nickname ‘Fury Nine’

In an interview with ‘CJ’s Reporter’, given back in 2016, when she was on the cusp of becoming the first Chinese woman signed to the UFC, Yan Xiaonan spoke about the reasons she got her moniker, ‘Fury’. She revealed that it reflects the aggressiveness, speed, relentlessness, and pressure that are the hallmarks of her fighting style.

Yan Xiaonan comes from a Sanda background and has a striking-heavy fighting style that relies on putting pressure on her opponent. And this aggressive, relentless style is what led her coaches to christen her ‘Fury’.

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“My name Fury was given to me during Martial Combat, which basically is how I fight. I am aggressive, fast, and relentless in going after my opponent. My striking ability comes from top coaches that I have trained under – Coach Zhao Xue Jun, who is also coach to many of China’s top champions… The biggest difference I can tell you is that we like to KO our opponents and consistent training in the basics of power striking skills, cardio, and conditioning,” Yan Xiaonan said. In recent times, however, Xiaonan has been going with the moniker ‘Nine’, but the exact reasons and story behind her new moniker are unknown.

Fury Nine about representing China in the UFC

Yan Xiaonan’s UFC 300 clash against Zhang Weili will be a milestone moment for the Chinese mixed martial arts scene and is a tangible representation of the strides the country has taken in the sport. Speaking about what it means for her to represent China, Xiaonan expressed her pride and dedication.

“I love the sports and competitive aspects of being an athlete. I am proud to represent China, however it’s not only that which I feel is most important. I am also representing my team, my family, my coaches, instructors and all those that believe in me. They have spent their time working with me and helping me chase my dreams,” she said.

However, she was quick to point out that while she was proud to be representing China, she treated her opponents primarily as fellow martial artists and worthy of respect regardless of their nationality and ethnicity. “I think that martial arts transcends borders, countries, and nationalities,” Xiaonan poignantly observed.

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