UFC 300 co-main event plunged into controversy as Yan Xiaonan is allowed to fight on after being choked unconscious and using ‘illegal’ substance to recover

Daniel Cormier claims Yan Xiaonan was revived by an “illegal” substance during the UFC 300 co-main event.

Weili Zhang successfully defended his UFC strawweight title via unanimous decision on Sunday morning, but the fight was mired in controversy late in the first round.

After being dropped by a well-timed left hook in the opening stanza, Zhang dragged Yan to the mat and locked him in a rear naked choke.

The submission was close but Yan refused to back down as she lost consciousness.

The referee then separated the two women as the buzzer sounded and a groggy Yan stumbled towards her corner.

As she sat on her stool, water was poured over her head and then it appeared as if she was being given smelling salts to wake her up.

Daniel Cormier took this up at the commentary desk.

He said: “In the corner the cutter said, ‘I can wake her up’ and then he gave some smelling salts or something.”

Joe Rogan replied: “Oh no, really? Wait a minute, are you allowed to do that?”

Social media was then flooded with fans insisting the substance was “illegal”.

One fan wrote: “Only in the UFC could we see someone choke, go out after the horn, get back to their feet, sniff illegal smelling salts, then start dominating like nothing was.”

Another tweeted: “Yan’s corner was using illegal smelling salts in his corner. »

A third added: “Isn’t the smell of salts illegal??? »