Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan 5/6/2023 Previews, Predictions and Picks
UFC 288 has a co-main event that could determine the next challenger for the strawweight title. Former champ Jessica Andrade (24-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) will face rising star Yan Xiaonan (16-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in a clash of styles and rankings. The event goes down on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., with the main card on pay-per-view and the prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
Xiaonan is coming off a dominant win over MacKenzie Dern last October, where she showed off her striking and takedown defense. She bounced back from two losses in a row and proved she belongs in the top 6. Andrade is a former champion who has power and experience on her side. She’s looking to get back to the title picture after losing to Rose Namajunas in April.
Xiaonan is a striking specialist who loves to trade punches. She has never finished a fight in the UFC, but she has won seven out of nine by decision. She has a lot of heart and skill, and she showed it in her last fight against Mackenzie Dern. Xiaonan outstruck Dern for five rounds, landing 88% of her significant strikes at distance and 57% overall. She also defended well against Dern’s takedowns and submissions, winning by majority decision. She faces a tough test in Andrade, who is a former champion and a powerful puncher. Andrade lost her last fight to Erin Blanchfield, but she took the fight on short notice and didn’t have a full camp. She has had more time to recover and prepare for Xiaonan, and she will be looking to make a statement in the co-main event.
Jessica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan 5/6/2023 Previews, Predictions and Picks
Jessica Andrade has a record of 24-10-0 and is a former strawweight champion. She is 31 years old, 5’1″ tall and weighs 115 lbs. She fights out of the orthodox stance and has a 62″ reach. Yan Xiaonan is a 33-year-old contender with a record of 16-3-0 (1 NC). She is 5’5″ tall and weighs 115 lbs. She also fights out of the orthodox stance and has a 63″ reach. In terms of striking, Andrade lands 6.84 significant strikes per minute at a 51% accuracy rate, while Xiaonan lands 5.45 significant strikes per minute at a 44% accuracy rate. Andrade absorbs 5.34 significant strikes per minute and defends 54% of them, while Xiaonan absorbs 3.53 significant strikes per minute and defends 61% of them.
Andrade should feel more comfortable at strawweight, where she can use her strength and power to overwhelm her opponents. She is a former champion and a tough fighter, but she might be shaken by her loss to Blanchfield.
I’m picking Xiaonan to beat Andrade as one of the top bets for UFC 288. She is coming off a big win and has a lot of momentum. She also has a lot of value at these odds.
Event: UFC 288 between Jesica Andrade vs Yan Xiaonan
Location: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
TV: ESPN/ESPN+
UFC Odds:
- Yan Xiaonan: +155
- Jessica Andrade: -180
