Report – Marina Rodriguez, Yan Xiaonan meet in pivotal clash on March 5. at UFC 272

A high-stakes potential UFC strawweight title-eliminator between the #3 ranked contender, Marina Rodriguez and the #4 ranked challenger, Yan Xiaonan is set to land at UFC 272 on March 5. – from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Brazilian striker, Rodriguez last featured in October at UFC Vegas 39 – turning in an impressive unanimous decision win over grappling sensation, Mackenzie Dern in her second consecutive headlining bout.

For 32-year-old top-5 contender, Xiaonan, she suffered her premier Octagon loss back in May at UFC Vegas 27, succumbing to second round ground strikes against inaugural UFC and Invicta FC strawweight champion, Carla Esparza. Paradigm Sports were first to report the bout on their official Twitter page. 

Earning the #3 rank at strawweight off the back of her unanimous judging win over Dern earlier this year, Rodriguez added the Arizona native to a run of victories over another former Invicta FC gold holder, Michelle Waterson back in May at flyweight – as well as a knockout win over fellow Brazil native, Amanda Ribas in January at UFC 257. 

Rodriguez’s sole Octagon loss came against common-foe, incoming strawweight title chaser, Esparza, and she had lodged other UFC wins against Tecia Torres, and Jessica Aguilar – in between a pair of draw results against Randa Markos, and Cynthia Calvillo. 

China Top Team staple, Xiaonan, is approaching her fifth-year under the scrutiny of the UFC, following a successful debut outing against Kailin Curran back in November 2017.

Before her loss to Torrance native, Esparza, Xiaonan had knocked back former title chasers, Claudia Gadelha, and Karolina Kowalkiewicz, as well as Angela Hill, Syuri Kondo, and Viviane Pereira.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.