UFC Conspiracy: Fans claim Yan Xiaonan used illegal smelling salts after being put to sleep at UFC 300

Adam Miller

In the highly anticipated women’s strawweight title bout at UFC 300, controversy erupted during the bout between Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan. The incident ended up stirring up a storm in the MMA community.

As the first round concluded, Zhang Weili appeared to have Yan Xiaonan in a precarious position. She ended up seemingly putting her opponent to sleep with a tight rear naked choke.

Yan resisted tapping, but it was obvious that she was asleep when the round’s buzzer went off. However, the match continued because the referee failed to declare it.

Following the alarming moment, Yan Xiaonan managed to regain consciousness and stumble back to her corner. A surprising clip was captured by a ringside microphone, as one of the cutmen proposed to give her some smelling salts to help her wake up.

 

Questions arose regarding the legality of using smelling salts in the corner during a match. Combat sports regulatory lawyer Erik Magraken shed light on the matter, emphasizing Nevada’s stringent regulations concerning corner assistance. Notably, smelling salts are not sanctioned by the NSAC for use in a combatant’s corner.

Contrary to initial concerns, it was later confirmed that smelling salts were not utilized. Instead, the cutman applied Vaseline to the base of Yan’s nose. It commonly contains epinephrineto help stop bleeding. A video from the corner supported this.

Despite the setback in the first round, Yan Xiaonan demonstrated resilience. After that close call, she made a strong comeback and turned the bout. However, her efforts were not enough to sway the outcome.

In the end, it was insufficient as Zhang Weili emerged victorious. She ended up scoring 49-45 on the scorecards of all three judges.

The Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan title match at UFC 300 will be remembered not only for the intense competition but also for the controversy surrounding corner assistance. As the MMA community reflects on this event, discussions about regulations and safety for contenders are likely to continue.