Yan Xiaonan vs. Carla Esparza is on the main card for UFC Fight Night betting on Saturday, May 22 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
This could serve as a title eliminator, with the No. 3 ranked women's strawweight contender Xiaonan facing off against the fourth-ranked Esparza.
UFC betting lines opened with Xiaonan as a -162 favorite but money has come in on her opponent, shifting her line to -124.
We bring you our best free Xiaonan vs. Esparza picks and predictions for UFC Fight Night on Saturday, May 22.
Xiaonan vs Esparza fight odds
| Method of Victory | Yan Xiaonan | Carla Esparza |
|---|---|---|
| Win Outright | -124 | +102 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +500 | +2,300 |
| Win by Points | +145 | +150 |
| Win by Submission | +2,600 | +1,000 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook as of May 18.
Xiaonan vs Esparza betting preview
"Nine" Yan Xiaonan is on a heater, winning her first six fights in the UFC and having not tasted defeat since 2010. In her last fight in November, she outstruck Claudia Gadelha 74-36 on her way to a unanimous decision victory.
The 31-year-old is a high-volume striking specialist that lands a whopping 6.42 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.63.
Carla "The Cookie Monster" Esparza is coming off a split-decision win against Marina Rodriguez in July. The 33-year-old won the inaugural UFC women's strawweight championship in 2014, when she submitted a young Rose Namajunas.
Esparza is currently riding a four-fight winning streak and is 8-4 in the UFC. With a background as an NAIA All-American wrestler and a brown belt in BJJ, the Cookie Monster prefers to take things to the mat.
Xiaonan vs Esparza tale of the tape
| Yan Xiaonan | Carla Esparza | |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Age | 29 |
| 5-foot-8 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| 136 lbs | Weight | 135 lbs |
| 71.5 inches | Reach | 65 inches |
| 18-4-0 (8 KO) | Record | 12-3-0 (10 KO) |
Xiaonan vs Esparza UFC prediction and betting pick
PREDICTION: Xiaonan to win (-124) - With contrasting styles between the two fighters this will likely come down to where the majority of this bout takes place.
Esparza is the superior wrestler but won't find it easy to get her hands on Xiaonan, who has excellent speed, does a great job of fighting at range, and has strong takedown defense.
Even when Esparza does get takedowns, she doesn't do much besides lie down on her opponents. That doesn't impress judges and Esparza's last two victories came by split-decision while her previous win came by majority decision.
Xiaonan might not have fought against the highest caliber of fighters during her winning streak but she looked dominant in all of her victories. Expect "Nine" to get through the ground battles without taking much damage, while piecing up Esparza in the standup.
Where can I bet on UFC odds?
Most online sportsbooks and casinos offer bets on UFC odds and props. While odds to win usually come out as soon as a fight is announced, prop bets become more readily available closer to an event. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what UFC bets they have available.
