Although Zhang’s near 13 minutes of control time and 256 total strikes were too much for the 35-year-old challenger to overcome, Yan’s power still proved concerning for the champion. After a dominant second round for Zhang, Yan bounced back in the third, even knocking Zhang down with a right hand.
It was a valuable 25 minutes of experience for Yan, who went on to shut out Tabatha Ricci in her next fight, outstriking the Brazilian 89-17 over 15 minutes. Prior to her title opportunity, Yan scored a first round knockout win over No. 4 ranked Jessica Andrade and a main event victory over Mackenzie Dern.
Get Ready For UFC 314 With Our Full Fight Card Breakdown
Standing across from her on April 12 is Virna Jandiroba, whose elite…