The highly anticipated UFC Fight Night main event between bantamweight prospects Song Yadong and Ricky Simon turned into a one-sided showcase fight for Yadong. Yadong defeated Simon by TKO in the fifth round of their five-round headliner on Saturday. After landing a perfect counter left hook, Yadong pounced on Simon and landed a string of follow-up punches until the referee waved it off. Yadong has already won nine fights in the UFC at just 25 years old.
Yadong Calls for Top-Five Opponent Next
After his impressive victory, Yadong called for a top-five opponent next, suggesting contenders Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera. The finish, Yadong’s sixth in the UFC, capped off a brilliant performance. ESPN scored every round for Yadong leading up to the TKO. He dropped Simon with the same left hook in the final second of the fourth round and outlanded him 102-44 in total strikes, according to UFC Stats.
Yadong, a native of China who now fights out of Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California, looked extremely comfortable during the fight and even between rounds. He smiled playfully at Simon in certain moments and laughed occasionally after just missing a big strike. His body work was especially impressive, as he routinely loaded up with left hooks to the body. He also defended seven of Simon’s nine takedown attempts.
The victory comes nearly four years after Yadong’s mentor, UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, upset Simon in a high-profile bout in Sacramento. Faber was in Yadong’s corner on Saturday. Yadong went into Saturday’s contest already ranked No. 8 in the UFC’s official rankings. Simon was ranked No. 11. Yadong has actually fought Vera before, winning a very narrow decision in 2020.
The UFC’s bantamweight championship will be up for grabs next weekend, when champion Aljamain Sterling faces Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey.
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