Yadong Song
Kung Fu Kid
China
First submission win since 2017
Song defeated Deiveson Figueiredo via submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:42 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Macau, China.
ANALYSIS
Common sense suggested the longer this fight went, the more it would favor Song. Well, that turned out to be the case, although it went less than two rounds. Figueiredo won Round 1 on two of the three scorecards before Song picked up the pace. He was battering Figgy in Round 2, which led to the latter attempting a lazy double-leg takedown attempt. He left his neck exposed in the process, allowing Song to pick up his fourth career submission win and first since November 2017. Somehow still just 28 years old, Song has been just a .500 fighter dating back to March 2024. He obviously has considerably more talent than that, but he is still looking for that one "big" career-defining victory.
Common sense suggested the longer this fight went, the more it would favor Song. Well, that turned out to be the case, although it went less than two rounds. Figueiredo won Round 1 on two of the three scorecards before Song picked up the pace. He was battering Figgy in Round 2, which led to the latter attempting a lazy double-leg takedown attempt. He left his neck exposed in the process, allowing Song to pick up his fourth career submission win and first since November 2017. Somehow still just 28 years old, Song has been just a .500 fighter dating back to March 2024. He obviously has considerably more talent than that, but he is still looking for that one "big" career-defining victory.
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Draws Figueiredo in main event
Song will face Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC Fight Night 277 on May 30 in Macau, Simon Simano of MMAJunkie.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Song couldn't quite get over the line against Sean O'Malley but acquitted himself well, taking Round 2 off the perennial title contender on every scorecard. He will look to put himself right back in the mix with a win over Figueiredo, a former flyweight champion who has only lost to the very best in the division.
Song couldn't quite get over the line against Sean O'Malley but acquitted himself well, taking Round 2 off the perennial title contender on every scorecard. He will look to put himself right back in the mix with a win over Figueiredo, a former flyweight champion who has only lost to the very best in the division.
Drops decision to Sean O'Malley
Song lost to Sean O'Malley via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC 324 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This was almost a carbon copy of the Natalia Silva v. Rose Namajunas fight from earlier in the evening, with Song playing the role of Rose. The first round was close, with Song winning the total strike battle by a 23-22 count in addition to landing a takedown. He easily won Round 2, before O'Malley turned up the pace and put forth the most dominant showing of the bout in Round 3. The end result, again, was the underdog being swept on the scorecards. As talented as Song is, and he's quite good, he's long had trouble winning the "big" fight, as evidenced by the fact he has alternated losses and wins in his last four bouts dating back to December 2023.
This was almost a carbon copy of the Natalia Silva v. Rose Namajunas fight from earlier in the evening, with Song playing the role of Rose. The first round was close, with Song winning the total strike battle by a 23-22 count in addition to landing a takedown. He easily won Round 2, before O'Malley turned up the pace and put forth the most dominant showing of the bout in Round 3. The end result, again, was the underdog being swept on the scorecards. As talented as Song is, and he's quite good, he's long had trouble winning the "big" fight, as evidenced by the fact he has alternated losses and wins in his last four bouts dating back to December 2023.
Taking on O'Malley
Song will fight Sean O'Malley at UFC 324 on Jan. 24, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Song took down Henry Cejudo during his lone fight of 2025, and January will present the former with a chance to capture his fourth win over his last five fights. His opponent, meanwhile, has dropped back-to-back fights but will possess a five-inch reach advantage over Song.
Song took down Henry Cejudo during his lone fight of 2025, and January will present the former with a chance to capture his fourth win over his last five fights. His opponent, meanwhile, has dropped back-to-back fights but will possess a five-inch reach advantage over Song.
Earns three-round main event win
Song defeated Henry Cejudo via technical unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Seattle.
ANALYSIS
This was one of the strangest endings in quite a while. Song and Cejudo fought for about 14 minutes, with Song getting the better of the action. At that point, Cejudo got clipped with an accidental eye poke. He took his entire allotted five minutes and continued to the end of the frame, only to say in between rounds that he couldn't see. That will get the fight stopped every single time. Because more than half the fight had been completed, we went to the judges scorecards, and all three had Song as the winner. Unfortunately, the foul and subsequent finish is going to taking some shine off the end result for Song. It's not really necessary, but don't be surprised if the UFC attempts to re-book these two following this baffling conclusion (that wasn't something UFC President Dana White appeared to be immediately interested in after the show).
This was one of the strangest endings in quite a while. Song and Cejudo fought for about 14 minutes, with Song getting the better of the action. At that point, Cejudo got clipped with an accidental eye poke. He took his entire allotted five minutes and continued to the end of the frame, only to say in between rounds that he couldn't see. That will get the fight stopped every single time. Because more than half the fight had been completed, we went to the judges scorecards, and all three had Song as the winner. Unfortunately, the foul and subsequent finish is going to taking some shine off the end result for Song. It's not really necessary, but don't be surprised if the UFC attempts to re-book these two following this baffling conclusion (that wasn't something UFC President Dana White appeared to be immediately interested in after the show).
Will headline UFC Seattle
Song will take on Henry Cejudo in a bantamweight matchup in the main event of UFC Seattle on Feb. 22, Mike Coppinger of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Songs gets an excellent opportunity here to elevate himself back into high-profile fights at bantamweight, as Cejudo is a former multi-division champion with a recognizable name, but also a fighter seemingly on the tail end of his career following back-to-back defeats. Song is coming off a loss as well, though it was to a respectable opponent in Petr Yan and followed two consecutive victories. Keeping the fight upright will be key for Song, who will hold advantages of four inches in height and three inches in reach, in addition to an edge in volume striking. Look for Cejudo to shoot takedowns early and often, and Song defends those at a very average rate of 72 percent.
Songs gets an excellent opportunity here to elevate himself back into high-profile fights at bantamweight, as Cejudo is a former multi-division champion with a recognizable name, but also a fighter seemingly on the tail end of his career following back-to-back defeats. Song is coming off a loss as well, though it was to a respectable opponent in Petr Yan and followed two consecutive victories. Keeping the fight upright will be key for Song, who will hold advantages of four inches in height and three inches in reach, in addition to an edge in volume striking. Look for Cejudo to shoot takedowns early and often, and Song defends those at a very average rate of 72 percent.