DANA WHITE has officially announced the first title fight for UFC 300.
Mixed martial arts’ premier promotion is fast approaching its 300th pay-per-view card, which will take place in Las Vegas on April 13.
Fight fans around the world are expecting UFC 300 to feature multiple title fights.
And the first of potentially three title bouts was revealed by UFC president and CEO White early on Thursday morning, with the veteran promoter announcing a Battle of China between strawweight champion Weili Zhang and Yan Xiaonan.
He said on his Instagram: “On August 13, 2019, history was made when Weili Zhang beat Jessica Andrade to become the first Chinese champion in UFC history.
“Well guess what, five years later we will see history be made again when Weili Zhang faces No.1 contender Yan Xiaonan for the UFC strawweight title on UFC 300.
“And this is the first time two Chinese contenders have faced for a UFC world title.”
White then revealed that he’ll announce a minimum of “two” more fights for the card on Friday morning.
The 54-year-old said: “There’s one of the title fights for UFC 300.
“I will have AT LEAST two or three more for you tomorrow.”
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Zhang vs Xiaonan is only the FIFTH fight to be officially announced for UFC 300 – which is shaping up to be a monster card.
Three former champions will be in action on the card, which will take place at the T-Mobile Arena.
Former men’s bantamweight, lightweight and light-heavyweight champions Aljamain Sterling, Charles Oliveira Jiri Prochazka will all be in action.
The trio will take on fan favourites Calvin Kattar, Arman Tsarukyan and Aleksandr Rakic respectively.
Highly touted middleweight prospect Bo Nickal also features on the card, taking on octagon veteran Cody Brundage.
UFC 100 and 200 – which took place in July 2009 and July 2016 respectively – were iconic cards which still live long in the memory of MMA fans.
White plans to blow those shows out of the water with UFC 300, telling SunSport after the UFC 296: “Well think about tonight and the buzz and the energy about tonight’s card.
“And think about the stuff I’m telling you guys about Miami.
“So we’ve got to beat this, Miami and a bunch of other great cards that are going to happen this year.
“I don’t remember who I was talking to, but the way I see UFC 300 is when it comes people are going to be going, ‘Holy S**T!
“That’s the first prelim of the night?’ That’s what UFC 300 is going to be?”