Prediction: Virna Jandiroba Late Submission/ Decision
Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba is one of those high-level matchups where both fighters bring elite tools in completely different areas, making it a genuinely close fight—but stylistically, the grappling strength and jiu-jitsu prowess of Jandiroba gives her the edge in how this could play out.
Yan is clearly the better striker. She’s fast, sharp with her combinations, and keeps a steady pace with solid footwork to maintain distance. Her timing on entries and exits makes her dangerous in striking exchanges, and if the fight stays standing for extended periods, she’s going to rack up points and potentially hurt Jandiroba with volume. But Yan will need to fight extremely cautiously, because Jandiroba has some of the best timing on takedown entries in the division. She doesn’t shoot from too far out or waste energy—she sets things up with feints or closing the gap behind strikes, and when she commits, she gets to the hips nearly every time.
That’s the biggest concern for Yan. Jandiroba isn’t just a good wrestler—once she gets her hands on you and initiates her grappling game, it’s suffocating. Her top control is relentless, and she leaves no space for opponents to scramble or breathe. She’s not the kind of grappler who stalls—she’s constantly working to advance position, setting traps, and threatening submissions. The minute you make a mistake, she’s either on your back or attacking a limb.
Even though Yan has worked on her takedown defense and gets stronger in later rounds, that doesn’t change the fact that Jandiroba only needs a few openings to completely swing the fight in her favor. If she’s able to time a takedown in each round or secure extended top time, the damage Yan can do on the feet gets nullified.
This is one of those classic striker vs grappler chess matches, and while Yan can absolutely win rounds on the feet if she stays clean and defensively sound, Jandiroba’s timing, top pressure, and submission threat make her the more consistent threat over three rounds.