UFC Seattle: Cejudo vs. Song Full Card Analysis

UFC Seattle: Cejudo vs Song – 2.22.2025 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Fight Night Seattle: Cejudo vs Song. We are looking at a solid slate of fights tonight after numerous cancellations heading into this event. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick as our records will not reflect confidence in each selection. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.

Current Record

Anthony: 39-22-1 (Last Year 321-191-0, 63%)
Nick: 36-25-1 (Last Year 316-196-0, 62%)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 2-21-2024 at 8pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 6:00pm EST

Modestas Bukauskas -280 vs Rafael Cerqueira +220

Anthony: The card begins at light heavyweight as Rafael Cerqueira will face Modestas Bukauskas. Bukauskas did very well in his last fight beating Marcin Prachnio. He has been better at fighting his fight, yet he unfortunately still succumbs to the same defensive woes that he always has. Cerqueira could hurt Bukauskas in the early going in this fight but otherwise I’d expect to see Bukauskas start to take over. Bukauskas has better weapons from range than Cerqueira and great kicks that will score in the judge’s favor. Cerqueira has shown very little offense apart from his southpaw boxing. I worry about Bukauskas engaging for long in the pocket but I am confident saying his technical striking is better than that of the Brazilian. He also lands with a higher work rate. Cerqueira will likely try to implement his grappling here, but Bukauskas is very confident in his own skills on the mat. He has 71 percent takedown defense and seems like a much stronger athlete. I don’t expect him to get caught in any early submission attempts. It is a favorable stylistic matchup and I think Bukauskas is the rightful betting favorite. Modestas Bukauskas by Round Two KO
Nick: Modestas Bukauskas is a powerful striker with a massive frame for a light heavyweight. He is 6’3 with a 78-inch reach. He fights even longer than that, as he keeps a wide stance both striking and defending against takedowns. His greatest strength is his powerful striking, but he seems to leave his hands down which leaves him vulnerable against other powerful punchers. His grappling continues to improve, as was evident in his most recent win, a submission victory over Marcin Prachnio at UFC 304. Rafael Cerqueira is 11-1 professionally, coming off a KO loss in his UFC debut to Ibo Alsan. Prior to that loss, Cerqueira had won seven straight fights via finish for a small regional promotion in Demo Fight in Brazil. He’s a dangerous striker, but it’s tough to gauge his level of talent given his lack of quality competition. He was completely overwhelmed in his debut against Aslan, so it is still very difficult to gauge his upside at the UFC level. The line feels wide here given Bukauskas’ general inconsistencies. Still, he is certainly the rightful favorite. He should have technical advantages no matter where this one goes. Modestas Bukauskas by Round Two KO

Nursulton Ruziboev -280 vs Eric McConico +220

Anthony: Next is a fight at middleweight between Eric McConico and Nursulton Ruziboev. This booking comes on short notice with McConico getting the call to make his UFC debut. He was preparing for a bout at Tuff-N-Uff last Friday but extended his camp one week for this great opportunity. He is the former Synergy FC and Peak Fighting light heavyweight champion. McConico is a southpaw that tends to stay within himself and fight smart. His weapons are limited but he has done a great job outworking the low-level opponents that he has faced. Ruziboev will be susceptible to a late upset here but I expect him to dominate McConico early. Ruziboev is five-inches taller than McConico and much more aggressive with his hands. In his last fight, Ruziboev went a hard three rounds with Joaquin Buckley down at welterweight. In all ten bouts before that, Ruziboev won in the very first round. I expect him to knockout McConico but even if this fight gets dragged to the mat, Ruziboev is dangerous in terms of sweeping opponents and locking onto submission attempts. I am confident in picking him to bounce back with a win here today. Nursulton Ruziboev by Round One KO
Nick: Nursulton Ruziboev is 34-9-2 professionally and only 31-years old. He has a long frame for the division and he’s dangerous everywhere offensively. He’s primarily a grappler with twenty professional wins coming via submission, but his two wins in the UFC have come via KO. He suffered a loss his last time out, falling via decision to a rising contender in Joaquin Buckley. Eric McConico will be making his UFC debut in this match-up, at 34 years-old with a 9-4-1 professional record. He’s on a five fight win streak regionally, most recently securing a win via submission over Jarome Hatch at Tuff-N-Uff 138. McConico is primarily a grappler, but he has decent power on the feet and as a southpaw he can be difficult for lower level opponents to read. He’s one of the main training partners of Jared Cannonier, fighting out of a solid camp in MMA Lab in Arizona. The line feels wide here, but I do see Ruziboev as the rightful favorite. He is the more potent finisher, with more high level experience and he should have a considerable reach advantage. This is a low confidence play, but I’m siding with the favorite. Nursulton Ruziboev by Round Two KO

Austin Vanderford -110 vs Nikolay Veretennikov -110

Anthony: This is a catchweight bout between Nikolay Veretennikov and Austin Vanderford. The matchup was signed just a few days ago with Vanderford stepping in on short notice for his UFC debut. He is a longtime veteran of Bellator and former title challenger there. Vanderford saw a lot of early success thanks to his wrestling and elite jiu jitsu but it turns out he is a rather one-dimensional athlete. His losses have come when facing better competition such as Aaron Jeffery and Gegard Mousasi. I favor Veretennikov here coming off a full camp preparing to face Billy Ray Goff. Takedown defense was likely a key factor in his practice sessions. He is the much better technical boxer and I really like his striking offense overall. I expect Veretennikov to build as this fight goes on, eventually overwhelming Vanderford with his strikes. I do not think Vanderford poses much of a finishing threat apart from via early submission. He will not be able to hold down Veretennikov for a full three rounds. Veretennikov is the clear pick for me. I am very surprised to see these odds at even pick em. Nikolay Veretennikov by Round Three KO
Nick: Austin Vanderford will be making his UFC debut here, taking this fight on short notice. Vandeford is a well-rounded fighter with a 12-2 professional record, and most of his career so far has been spent fighting for the now defunct Bellator. While his level of competition is below median UFC level, he has a more impressive resume than most fighters when they debut. Vanderford is 34-years old, and the husband of former UFC fighter Paige Van Zant. Primarily a grappler, Vanderford does have decent power on the feet. His offensive BJJ has led to the majority of his professional success, but he has also shown KO power on the feet. Nikolay Veretennikov is coming off a hard fought loss in his UFC debut, in which he fell via a narrow decision to Danny Barlow as a near +300 underdog. He is 35-years old and 12-5 professionally. Prior to his debut loss to Barlow, he was coming off three straight wins via finish for United Fight League. Veretennikov is primarily a striker, but he’s capable of finishing a fight from anywhere. Similarly to his fight against Barlow, Veretennikov also fought well in a loss to rising contender Michael Morales back in 2021. This is an extremely binary fight in which Veretennikov is the better striker and Vanderford is the better grappler. Vanderford also has a cardio advantage here, so as long as he stays safe early I expect he can lean on his grappling to secure his first win with the promotion. Austin Vanderford by Decision

Javid Basharat -220 vs Ricky Simon +180

Anthony: This is a fight at bantamweight between Ricky Simon and Javid Basharat. I am expecting a competitive matchup here with each man having his moments early. Simon is desperate for a victory having now lost three fights in a row. He is going to wrestle Basharat whenever he can, winning minutes in top position and putting himself out of harm’s way. Basharat is a very skilled athlete who does well with his own offensive grappling. With 85 percent takedown defense, it will likely be up to him deciding where this fight will take place. It would be wise to keep distance from Simon rather than engaging in prolonged wrestling scrambles. Basharat throws great kicks and connects with consistent volume when striking. His power is not very significant but it will bother Simon getting touched so often here. Simon really never developed great boxing skills and he will also struggle to find a finish by strikes. Basharat will get the better of him all night if he forces Simon to stand up. Bettors have split action on this fight and Simon will not be offered at any higher odds than this. He has the skills to win these grappling exchanges, I just worry about Simon when it comes to engaging with Basharat on the feet. Javid Basharat by Decision
Nick: Javid Basharat is a highly regarded prospect, coming into this match-up with an undefeated 14-1-1 professional record. He is 3-1-1 so far in the UFC, coming off his first career loss via decision to Aiemann Zahabi. He’s extremely well-rounded, with an advanced understanding of footwork in striking exchanges. He fights long for his frame and throws at a fast and aggressive pace. He’s also an effective grappler, especially defensively as he’s shown to be excellent in scrambles. Ricky Simon is coming off three straight losses for the first time in his career, but he’s still a tough out for the majority of the bantamweight division. Simon averages more than five takedowns per fifteen minutes. He fights at a torrid pace, and when he’s at his best he does an excellent job weaponizing his cardio. He’s a decent offensive striker, but he’s slow moving in and out of breaks and his footwork is rudimentary at best. In his prime, Simon would be the favorite here. However, his form seems to be rapidly declining and Basharat is a decent enough grappler to mostly keep this fight standing. The line is wide, but Basharat should be able to get back in the win column here as he picks Simon apart in striking exchanges. Javid Basharat by Decision

Mansur Abdul-Malik -1100 vs Nick Klein +700

Anthony: Next is a bout at middleweight between Nick Klein and Mansur Abdul-Malik. This is a short notice opportunity for Klein who replaces the injured Antonio Trocoli. Klein deserves praise for stepping up here as many seem afraid to share the cage with the undefeated Abdul-Malik. The man has a very thin resume but the pure physical skill is clear. His latest victory over Dusko Todorovic was certainly his career best. I think Abdul-Malik will struggle against more technically sound opponents but Klein is certainly a guy that he can beat. He has thunderous knockout power and every win thus far has come by finish for Abdul-Malik. He is quick to unload heavy combinations once he has his opponents backed up. Klein did well earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series with a quick win by choke last fall. The jiu jitsu brown belt is very quick to engage opponents on the mat where he feels he is best. I do not think he will find much success here grappling an opponent like Abdul-Malik. It will be very difficult for Klein to close distance and find legitimate takedown entries with the punches coming at him. I am betting on Abdul-Malik to win by early knockout. It would surprise me to see him lose his perfect record here. Mansur Abdul-Malik by Round One KO
Nick: At 27-years old, Mansur Abdul-Malik is an undefeated prospect with a 7-0 professional record. All of Abdul-Malik’s wins have come via finish. He’s an explosive athlete with an 80” reach. Primarily a striker, Abdul-Malik has found most of his success overwhelming his opponents with pressure early in fights. He’s coming off an impressive KO win over Dusko Todorovic in his UFC debut. It seems his technical abilities both striking and on the mat have room for improvement, but his strength and overall athleticism make him a dangerous opponent for anyone outside of the rankings at middleweight. Nick Klein will be making his UFC debut here, coming off an impressive Contender Series win via submission over Heraldo Souza. Klein is 29 years old and 6-1 professionally, with three wins coming by submission and two coming by KO. Primarily a grappler, Klein fights out of a respectable camp in Pura Vida BJJ in Wisconsin. While he does have offensive upside if he can take this fight to the mat, he’s going to be outmatched here in terms of both size and athleticism. Abdul-Malik is still rounding into form as a prospect, but this feels like a test he should pass with flying colors. Mansur Abdul-Malik by Round One KO

Melquizael Costa -110 vs Andre Fili -110

Anthony: This is a featherweight fight between Andre Fili and Melquizael Costa. We should be in for a very competitive bout as both men look to make it two wins in a row. Fili appears to be slowing down a bit now at age 34, but he still has the skillset to beat a lot of guys outside of the division rankings. He lands a good 1-2 and poses a serious wrestling threat. Costa is confident in his own grappling but I do not want to see him taken down over and over in this bout. He will need to scramble with urgency and keep space from Fili while this matchup is on the feet. Costa throws more offensive attacks when at kickboxing range. He should be putting forth the better striking visual here although Fili has the power to even any fight on the feet. I favor Costa slightly in this matchup given his age and recent performances. He appears to be rather gritty and even if he gets taken down early in this bout, I expect a much more competitive round two and three. Fili is never somebody I have rushed to bet on and while his wrestling is a slight advantage in this matchup, I do not think that alone will be enough to earn him this win. Melquizael Costa by Decision
Nick: Andre Fili is a well-rounded fighter. He throws powerful punches, he has solid wrestling and his athleticism allows him to stay competitive against a wide range of top-level opponents. He’s an effective striker that uses his length well, but he’s relied on his grappling and wrestling in most of his professional victories. His durability is somewhat questionable as he’s been taking damage in the UFC since 2013. Still, he’s a difficult out for anyone outside of the rankings at featherweight. Melquazael Costa is an aggressive striker that fights at a very fast pace, but he does leave a lot of openings to be countered. His takedown defense is suspect at best, but he can be dangerous in scrambles and he generally does a decent job working his way back to his feet once he’s grounded. He is 21-7 professionally, coming off an impressive submission win over Shayilan Nuerdanbieke. Costa is dangerous, but Fili should be the better technical fighter no matter where this one goes. As long as he stays safe early, I expect Fili can outclass Costa by a decent margin as this fight wears into the third round. Andre Fili by Decision

Ibo Aslan -185 vs Ion Cutelaba +150

Anthony: The featured prelim is a light heavyweight bout between Ibo Aslan and Ion Cutelaba. Cutelaba is always going to be live as the betting underdog. He is a very unpredictable athlete and you never know what version of him will show up. His last performance was better than usual but alas he spent the entirety of round three in bottom position. He struggles when it comes to managing his pace and conserving cardio for the later rounds. Cutelaba was 3 of 12 on his takedown attempts in that matchup. He has shot double-digit takedowns on numerous occasions and that is likely a game plan that will work here facing Aslan this evening. Aslan has showcased great boxing and big power since joining the promotion. However, Aslan has absolutely no evident grappling skills. His only career loss was in a fight he was taken down and submitted. Cutelaba should have no problem finding a takedown on Aslan here in round one. He may get starched after that, but I certainly view Cutelaba as a good value bet today. This is a volatile matchup anyways. I would rather get plus money betting the skilled wrestler rather than relying on Aslan finding a knockout punch. Ion Cutelaba by Round One KO
Nick: Ibo Aslan is 14-1 professionally, with all of his wins coming via KO. He’s 2-0 in the UFC, most recently securing a 50 second knockout over Rafael Cerqueira at UFC 308.Aslan is an athletic and dangerous offensive striker, but his approach is far from technical as he leaves himself open to be countered in exchanges. At 28-years old, it’s expected he’ll continue to improve. Still, his defensive grappling and cardio both seem likely to be weaknesses more than they are strengths at this point in his career. As dangerous as he is, he’s faced a relatively low level of opponent by UFC standards, so it’s tough to project he’s the type of prospect who should be expected to climb the rankings at light heavyweight. That being said, he’s getting a chance to prove himself here against a divisional main-stay in Ion Cutelaba. Ion Cutelaba is going to come out firing here, he always does. He’s hyper aggressive with serious power and explosiveness on the feet. He’s an underrated grappler as a lifelong Greco Roman Wrestler, but he doesn’t seem to lean on that part of his game much in the majority of his fights. The likely reason for this is that his cardio is mediocre at best. He almost always seems to fade as his fights wear on and if he can’t find a KO win early he can find himself in serious trouble. It’s understandable that Aslan is the favorite here as he’s been impressive as a prospect. That being said, I expect Cutelaba can outclass him if he chooses to mix in his grappling. This is a volatile matchup and a low confidence play, but I see value in Cutelaba as an underdog. Ion Cutelaba by Round Two KO

Main Card- Starts 9:00pm EST

Alonzo Menifield -250 vs Julius Walker +200

Anthony: The main card begins at light heavyweight with Julius Walker facing Alonzo Menifield. This appearance comes on short notice for Walker who is making his promotional debut. Menifield was originally scheduled to have a fight next month against Oumar Sy. I think the future looks bright for Walker who enters an undefeated 6-0. He has proven to be very well rounded for this division, blending a diverse style of strikes with very good grappling offense. Walker could start a bit slow here under the bright lights but Menifield is not the most daunting matchup for a debut. He does not really have consistent power or an aggressive style early in his fights.Walker has also never been finished. A lot of the time Menifield is content to burn minutes in clinch positions along the fence. Walker would love to score a takedown here against Menifield but that task is much easier said than done. These two will likely fight at a modest pace and largely contest one another at kickboxing range. Menifield is smart for kicking Pat Barry out of his corner, but I do not necessarily like the move back to Fortis MMA. It seems his career is reeling a bit off back-to-back knockout losses. I do not recommend ever betting on him as a moderate favorite. I’m taking a shot on the underdog here. Julius Walker by Round Two KO
Nick: Alonzo Menifield has a massive frame for the division and thirteen of his fifteen professional wins have come via finish within two rounds. He has not seen much success against quality competition, but he’s shown tremendous power and you can see he’s still improving in pretty much every other aspect of his game. Menifield enters this fight coming off back-to-back KO losses, but he’s taking a step down in level of competition here against a short notice newcomer in Julius Walker. Walker will be making his UFC debut in this match-up. He is 25 years old and 6-0 professionally. Walker is lean for a light heavyweight, but he also has tremendous speed and athleticism. A former NCAA basketball player, he works well behind his jab, and his ground game seems to be rounding into form. Menifield is extremely inconsistent, but this is a massive step up in competition for Walker in his debut here. Alonzo Menifield by Round One KO

Jean Silva -550 vs Melsik Baghdasaryan +400

Anthony: Next is a bout at featherweight between Jean Silva and Melsik Baghdasaryan. Silva had a huge rookie year in 2024, winning all three of his appearances via knockout. He was dominant in a victory against Charles Jourdain but even more impressive was the short notice appearance at lightweight against Drew Dober. Silva is a very aggressive fighter that does well moving forward and pressuring his opponents. He trains with a great team at Fighting Nerds and works to quickly build a lead in each fight that he is in. I certainly feel optimistic about Silva’s future but it is hard to justify betting him today at -550 odds. If Silva elects to keep this fight standing he will have his hands full with Baghdasaryan. The southpaw is a talented kickboxer and very comfortable engaging with opponents on the feet. Baghdasaryan has higher striking accuracy than Silva and the same strikes landed per minute. He tends to absorb less punishment, moving laterally and forcing his opponents to chase. I expect Silva to have a concise plan of attack here, but again I exaggerate how important it is that he contains Baghdasaryan. He cannot leave this to the judge’s if these two are going to go shot for shot. Silva lands with the more powerful and diverse attacks but a steady opponent like Baghdasaryan will certainly keep him honest. I do not advise betting Silva as these odds seem way too wide. Jean Silva by Decision
Nick: Jean Silva is 14-2 professionally, 28-years old, and fighting out of an excellent camp in Fighting Nerds in Brazil. Silva is relatively well-rounded with eleven wins coming via KO and two coming via submission. Silva has a flashy style, but it’s relatively intelligent. He does a good job throwing feints to bait his opponents into power shots, and his durability and cardio have been strengths for him up to to this point in his career. He carries a lot of momentum into this match-up, most recently securing an impressive Doctor Stoppage TKO win over a tough out in Drew Dober. Melsik Baghdasaryan is an extremely talented kickboxer. He throws impressive combinations, mixing powerful kicks in between his punches, and five of his last eight professional wins have come via knockout. As talented as he is on the feet, his defensive grappling is questionable at best and it is notable he has been out of action since July of 2013. The price feels ridiculous here, but Silva carries a lot of momentum into this fight. Baghdasaryan will be competitive when this fight takes place on the feet, but if Silva falls behind he can mix in his grappling where he’ll have a massive advantage offensively. Jean Silva by Round Two Submission

Jean Matsumoto -165 vs Rob Font +130

Anthony: The featured bout is a catchweight 140-pounds between Rob Font and Jean Matsumoto. This booking comes on limited notice for Matsumoto who steps in for the injured Dominick Cruz. Font was going to get a favorable matchup in Cruz’ retirement fight but now he faces a tough, undefeated prospect instead. Matsumoto is twelve years younger than Font and 16-0 as a professional. Font is always susceptible to opponents who like to grapple and Matsumoto could elect to push the envelope here by taking him down. The Brazilian has six victories by way of submission and although he is not the most dominant wrestler, Font is an opponent that offers little resistance once he is taken down. Throughout his career Font has only defended 44 percent of opponent takedowns. However, Matsumoto could also elect to engage Font on the feet where he is best. I am a fan of Matsumoto’s striking in close against opponents. He has excellent muay thai skills and powerful strikes in close. He needs to be more defensively aware if he plans on exchanging with Rob Font. At distance Font can work his slick boxing and make this fight much more competitive than it should be. I definitely favor the younger athlete here in this short notice booking. Font has a good chance of winning tonight but these odds are not wide enough for me to fade the betting favorite. Jean Matsumoto by Decision
Nick: Jean Matsumoto is undefeated professionally with a 16-0 record, coming off an impressive decision win over a tough out in Brad Katona. He’s put together an impressive resume at just 25-years old. He’s well-rounded, with six of his professional wins coming via submission and six coming via KO. He is fast and athletic, and his cardio paired with solid durability allows him to fight aggressively for fifteen minutes. Rob Font is a very skilled boxer with a solid overall game. He’s had a lot of success in the UFC, outclassing opponents on the feet utilizing nearly flawless footwork and a refined traditional boxing style. As talented as he is, Font is 2-4 across his last six fights. If Matsumoto can lean on his grappling here he should be able to justify this price as a favorite. That being said, I expect Font can mostly keep this standing where his technical advantages should shine through. I see a lot of value on him here as the underdog. He’s been facing a much higher level of competition than his opponent in this matchup. Rob Font by Decision

Anthony Hernandez -340 vs Brendan Allen +270

Anthony: The co-main event is at middleweight between Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez. This is a rematch of a 2018 fight for the LFA middleweight title. Hernandez won a good scrap there, getting the better of Allen when grappling over the course of five rounds. Tonight is a bit different as they only will have three rounds to work. Neither one of these two are known as potent finishers and I very much expect this to be a chess match for fifteen minutes. Allen is desperate to get this victory back from Hernandez and it will take a very urgent start for him to win. Hernandez has proven to make a weapon out of his cardio and I think he will set a pace that Allen cannot match. Round three will likely be secured easily by Hernandez, meaning that Allen has no choice but to win both rounds one and two. We should see very high action scrambles as Hernandez shoots takedowns and Allen looks to find sweeps and make his way onto the back. Allen is the jiu jitsu black belt with Hernandez only currently boasting the rank of brown belt. He has proven to be the better pure grappler of these two but in the octagon, Hernandez has the perfect blend of attacks. He never overworks one position and it won’t be hard for him to float on top position over Allen. This evening he will make it 2-0 versus Allen and 7-0 through his last seven fights. Anthony Hernandez by Decision
Nick: This fight actually represents a rematch of a fight that took place for the LFA Championship back in 2018. Hernandez secured the unanimous decision in the first instance of this match-up, but six-years later, both of these fighters have come a long way since then in terms of their respective development. Hernandez’s submission ability is certainly his greatest strength, but he’s also competent on the feet with three professional wins via KO. Hernandez should be able to hang on the feet here, but his clearest path to victory will be to take this fight to the mat as eight of his thirteen professional wins have come via submission. He is coming off six consecutive wins under the UFC banner, and he’s quickly establishing himself as a contender to take seriously at middleweight. Fourteen of Brendan Allen’s twenty-four professional wins have come via submission. He has excellent BJJ, with a solid wrestling base, but he makes questionable decisions in many of his fights. He often plays into the strengths of his opponents and he seems overly emotional at times as he engages in brawls. His striking continues to show improvements, which isn’t surprising as he has made major strides in that area ever since he shifted to an excellent camp in Kill Cliff FC. The line feels wide here, but I do see Hernandez as the rightful favorite. Allen may be the better striker here, but Hernandez is the more aggressive and effective grappler and he should have the better cardio in this matchup. Anthony Hernandez by Round Three Submission

Song Yadong -280 vs Henry Cejudo +220

Anthony: The main event is a bantamweight fight between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong. This is a great matchup slated for five rounds of action. Cejudo is a year removed from his last performance, losing by decision to the champion Merab Dvalishvili. Cejudo has always faced elite competition and that has not changed in the recent two-fight skid. Yadong is a great measuring stick to see exactly where Cejudo stands at this stage of his career. It is rare to see bantamweights find any success aged 38 or older. Cejudo can still put on his wrestling shoes and score some convincing takedowns early. Yadong has 72 percent takedown defense. Even if he does end up ceding early rounds to Cejudo, he is going to be the quicker and more dangerous athlete late. Yadong has plenty of five round fights and he knows how to win by decision. His boxing will likely overwhelm Cejudo if he is allowed enough space. Yadong will probably eat some leg kicks here as well but his counters are quick and normally on target. Cejudo will not be comfortable standing and eating big strikes from Yadong for a full five rounds. I expect the takedowns to start to get sloppier as this fight begins to get late. Although I am tempted to bet on Cejudo, there is not enough value here at only +200. It has been almost five years since his last win inside the octagon. He really needs to time takedowns perfectly here in order to earn a win on the judge’s scorecards. Song Yadong by Decision
Nick: Song Yadong has serious power in his strikes with nine of his twenty-one professional wins coming by way of knockout. He’s an effective striker that does a good job mixing in shots to the body to slow the momentum of his opponents. Primarily a striker, we have seen Yadong continue to improve on his grappling ability. These improvements are likely a result of the fact he’s been training out of Team Alpha Male (a camp loaded with talented wrestlers). Henry Cejudo is primarily a wrestler, known for capturing UFC titles at both flyweight and bantamweight and also for winning a Gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Across his lengthy UFC tenure, Cejudo has evolved into a technical boxer with underrated ability on the feet. He does a good job closing distance and stringing together combinations. As talented and accomplished as he is, there is no denying he’s in the twilight of his career. He’s coming off back-to-back losses for the first time since 2016, and he could be headed for retirement if he can’t secure a win in this match-up. This is another binary match-up in which whoever can execute their game plan has the potential to look dominant. Yadong is the much better striker here, but I’m not sure he can keep this fight standing long enough to pull away. This is a low confidence play, but I see the value of Cejudo as an underdog here. He’ll need to manage his cardio, but he should be able to mostly control this fight on the mat. Henry Cejudo by Decision

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC.com