Two top-tier bantamweights Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong will step into the Octagon in the main event of UFC Fight Night 252, at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday, February 22.
Fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting matchup, with the best sports betting sites gearing up to provide competitive odds for the bout.
Following back-to-back losses against Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili, Cejudo will be looking to restore his winning reputation. Before those defeats, Triple C was on a six-fight win streak taking out some big names such as Dominick Cruz, Marlon Moraes, TJ Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson.
Meanwhile, Song is also focused on getting back to his best after losing to Petr Yan at UFC 299. Before that, Kung Fu Kid was on a two-fight win streak following victories over Ricky Simon and Chris Gutierrez.
Henry Cejudo vs Song Yadong Match Preview
Henry Cejudo
Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), ranked eighth in the UFC bantamweight rankings, will be determined to get back to winning form after losing his last two fights.
The former two-division world champion and Olympic wrestling gold medalist has claimed wins over some big names like Cruz, Moraes, Dillashaw and Johnson, underlining why he is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in UFC history.
Cejudo will be confident of getting the job done against Song. But question marks remain over whether Triple C is still capable of scrapping with the best fighters in the UFC given his two-fight losing skid and the fact that he’ll be 38 by the time he steps into the octagon.
Song Yadong
Song (21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) is currently ranked outside the top 10 UFC bantamweight rankings in 13th place. Victory over Cejudo would place Song in a really good position and put him back on track in his quest to fight for the 135-pound title.
The Kung Fu Kid has faced just two top 10 opponents in the UFC and lost on both occasions – in 2022 against Cory Sandhagen and last time out against Petr Yan in March last year. Could it be third time lucky?
With Cejudo now 37 years old with his best fighting years behind him, Song has a strong chance to secure his biggest victory in the promotion.
Prediction: Henry Cejudo to Win
Many UFC fans see this matchup as a “pick ’em fight”. Both are very good fighters but we’re backing Henry Cejudo to get back in the win column. Triple C’s superior grappling skills and relentless pressure should cause problems for the Kung Fu Kid. Cejudo is expected to dominate the close exchanges, secure the key takedowns and get the job done.