In what looks likely to be a number one contender bout in the women's strawweight division, former title challenger Ya Xiaonan has been booked to face Virna Jandiroba ta UFC 314 in April.
With the division's number one-ranked contender Tatiana Suarez set to challenge for Zhang Weili's belt this weekend at UFC 312, the odds are that whoever comes out on top between numder two-ranked Xiaonan and number three-ranked Jandiroba will be next in line at 115 lbs.
Yan Xiaonan (19-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC) fought for the title in the co-main event at UFC 300 last April where she was defeated by Weili Zhang over 25 minutes. The Chinese star bounced back impressively in November at UFC Fight Night: Macau, picking up a dominant decision victory over Tabatha Ricci.
Virna Jandiroba (21-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has been on a tear in the strawweight division in recent years. Since losing to fellow Brazilian Amanda Ribas at UFC 267 in October of 2021, "Carcara" has rattled off four consecutive victories over Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, Lupita Godinez and Amanda Lemos. With 14 submission wins to her name, the 36-year-old former Invicta champion is a real threat once the fight hits the canvas.
UFC 314 goes down at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on Saturday April 12th and is rumored to be headlined by a flyweight title fight between reigning 125 lb champion Alexandre Pantoja and New Zealand's Kai Kara-France.
Also rumored to be taking place on the card is a welterweight contest between former title contender Gilbert Burns and rising star Michael Morales, who has won all five of his bouts inside the Octagon so far.
Two other fights have been confirmed for UFC 314. Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes, who have both been in fine form of late will meet at 205 lbs, while Chase Hooper will take on the veteran Jim Miller, who makes the walk to the Octagon for the 45th time.
