MMA Preview – Mackenzie Dern vs Xiaonan Yan at UFC Vegas 61
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MACKENZIE DERN VS XIAONAN YAN FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 211? Saturday 1st October, 2022 - 22:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 211? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 211? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC Fight Night 211 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 211? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
MACKENZIE DERN VS XIAONAN YAN LOWDOWN
Mackenzie Dern (12-2) headlines her second UFC Fight Night which is surprising considering the matchmaking. Last time she headlined was in October last year against Marina Rodriguez who snapped her four-fight win streak with a unanimous decision. However, she returned in April and bounced back against the veteran Tecia Torres, squeaking out the dub with a split decision.
Xiaonan Yan (15-2(1)) shares the headline spot coming off two losses. She arrived to the UFC back in 2017 with only one loss to her name and six unanimous decision wins later including Angela Hill (2019), Karolina Kowalkiewicz (2020) and Claudia Gadelha (2020) she stormed up the strawweight ranks. However, she then ran into the current champion Carla Esparza (2021) who snapped the streak with vicious ground-and-pound and then Rodriguez made it two losses on the trot with a split decision back in March.
MACKENZIE DERN VS XIAONAN YAN PREDICTION
On paper, this is a classic striker vs grappler match-up, but Dern’s striking is improving drastically under Jason Parillo and Yan’s grappling continues to come on at Team Alpha Male. That said, they should try and avoid each other’s strengths like the plague, especially Yan who has to try and avoid hitting the deck at all costs as one mistake will be game over.
The fight will start on the feet and Dern will try and set up a takedown with her strikes. So, Yan has to start quickly and capitalize. She is in a different league when it comes to striking but she has to be patient and not let Dern grab a hold of her.
This all depends on whether Dern can get the takedown and five rounds will give her more opportunities. She will get pieced up while on the feet, but the fact Yan does not have significant knockout power and average takedown defence gives Dern more chance of eventually finding a submission.
If Dern can get Yan down to the mat, it will only be a mater of time before she cinches up a submission. If she can not get her down, she will get peppered for five rounds and may even suffer a late knockout.
The chances are Dern will land one takedown over the course of five rounds, so we are backing her for another sub, but this could be a very tough fight for her.
Prediction: Dern via Submission - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Yan to win
