Tag: Song Yadong

UFC Fight Night 223 predictions: See our three unanimous picks in Vegas

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 223 main card, featuring Song Yadong vs. Ricky Simon at bantamweight.

Yadong
vs.
Simon		 Borralho
vs.
Oleksiejczuk		 Brundage
vs.
Vieira		 Erosa
vs.
Padilla		 Cortes-Acosta
vs.
Rogerio		 Quinlan
vs.
Waters
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
63-41		 simon2023
Simon
(59%)		 borralho2023
Borralho
(79%)		 vieira2023
Vieira
(75%)		 erosa2023
Erosa
(70%)		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta
(60%)		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
(86%)
Matt Erickson
@MattE
67-37		 yadong2023
Yadong		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 padilla2023
Padilla		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
67-37		 simon2023
Simon		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 padilla2023
Padilla		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
66-38		 simon2023
Simon		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 erosa2023
Erosa		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Nolan King
@mma_kings
66-38		 yadong2023
Yadong		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 padilla2023
Padilla		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
64-40		 simon2023
Simon		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 padilla2023
Padilla		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
63-41
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 simon2023
Simon		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 erosa2023
Erosa		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
60-44		 simon2023
Simon		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 padilla2023
Padilla		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
-60-44
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion		 simon2023
Simon		 borralho2023
Borralho		 brundage2023
Brundage		 padilla2023
Padilla		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
58-46
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 simon2023
Simon		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 erosa2023
Erosa		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
58-46		 simon2023
Simon		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 padilla2023
Padilla		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
57-47		 yadong2023
Yadong		 borralho2023
Borralho		 vieira2023
Vieira		 erosa2023
Erosa		 cortesacosta2023
Cortes-Acosta		 quinlan2023
Quinlan

The UFC stays in Las Vegas this week with a key bantamweight matchup atop the card.

UFC Fight Night 223 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-7-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) in a 125-pound matchup originally set for a co-main event this past Saturday. Simon is a slight -120 favorite at the betting window. The comeback on Yadong is +100, making these some of the stickiest main event odds in the UFC this year. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Simon with a big eight ahead of Yadong, who has just three head nods.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Caio Borralho[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is the biggest favorite on the card at nearly 4-1 in his middleweight bout against [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC). He’s also one of our three unanimous picks.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) in a middleweight bout. Vieira is about a -250 favorite and is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag] (28-10 MMA, 6-6 UFC) is a slight favorite with the oddsmakers in his featherweight bout against [autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC). But it’s Padilla who has a 7-4 picks lead.

Although unbeaten heavyweight [autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is a slight underdog against [autotag]Marcos Rogerio[/autotag] (20-8-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC), he’s the second of our three unanimous picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Josh Quinlan[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is our third unanimous pick in his welterweight bout against short-notice opponent [autotag]Trey Waters[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Quinlan nearly is a 2-1 favorite in the fight.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Simon (59 percent), Borralho (79 percent), Vieira (75 percent), Erosa (70 percent), Cortes-Acosta (60 percent) and Quinlan (86 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 223.

UFC Fight Night 223 video: Song Yadong, Ricky Simon make weight in Las Vegas

A key bantamweight bout is official after the UFC Fight Night 223 headliners made weight Friday in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – A key bantamweight bout is official after the made weight Friday in Las Vegas.

Ahead of UFC Fight Night 223, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) and [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-7-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.

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Both men were identical at 136 pounds as they chase their first main event victory inside the octagon.

Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 223.

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UFC Fight Night 223 breakdown: Can Ricky Simon put away Song Yadong?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC Fight Night 223 bantamweight main event between Ricky Simon and Song Yadong.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC Fight Night 223.

UFC Fight Night 223 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

UFC Fight Night 223 pre-event facts: Charles Johnson first to three fights in 2023

Check out the numbers behind UFC Fight Night 223, where one fighter will be first to compete three times in the octagon this year.

The UFC closes its busy April schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 223, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2.

A bantamweight main event will close the card. [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-7-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) will try to make good on his second headlining opportunity when he takes on [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC), who is riding a four-fight winning streak into his first opportunity at top billing.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC Fight Night 223.

* * * *

UFC Fight Night 223 headliner Song Yadong unfazed by Ricky Simon’s game: ‘In every skill, he’s very average’

Song Yadong isn’t doubting he’ll beat Ricky Simon and punch his ticket to a top five UFC bantamweight matchup.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] recognizes [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] is a tough fighter, but the skills don’t have him worried.

At UFC Fight Night 223 on Saturday, Yadong (19-7-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) and Simon (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) collide in a five-round main event at the UFC Apex. The bout originally was scheduled for a three-round co-main event April 22.

“He’s a very tough guy, a strong wrestler,” Yadong told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “His striking is getting better over the years. But, in every skill, he’s very average. I think my striking is better than him and my ground game is also better than him. If he wants to wrestle, let’s wrestle. If he wants jiu-jitsu, let’s do jiu-jitsu.”

Yadong, 25, has not competed since a September loss to Cory Sandhagen by TKO due to a facial laceration. Despite the setback, Yadong has learned a lot and thinks the stakes still remain high as he enters his second UFC main event.

“(I learned) don’t get caught early into the first round,” Yadong said. “I should do more elbows, too. I’ve been practicing elbow skills. … If I beat (Simon), I’ll fight next top-five guys.”

Simon, 30, is on the most successful stretch he’s had in the UFC, having won his most recent five fights. UFC Fight Night 223 will be his first main event and five-round fight under the promotion’s banner.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 223.

Video: UFC Fight Night 223 media day interviews

Before UFC Fight Night 223 on Saturday, main card fighters are scheduled to speak to reporters at media day.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC schedule for April closes out Saturday with UFC Fight Night 223, which takes place at the UFC Apex with a main card that streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2.

A bantamweight main event serves as the final act on the card. Song Yadong (19-7-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) will take on Ricky Simon (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in a matchup of fighters looking to take the next step forward in arguably the sport’s most stacked division.

Before fight night arrives, though, eight athletes from the main card are spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream, check below for the archived videos of each session.

UFC veterans in MMA, boxing and bareknuckle action April 27-30

Check out which UFC veterans are in combat sports action across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC is back in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex for a key bantamweight bout. In the main event, [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] in a fight scheduled for five rounds.

Elsewhere, many other MMA, boxing and bareknuckle events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

This weekend, there are a total of 24 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and boxing this week from April 21-23.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

UFC free fight: Song Yadong showcases nasty power in TKO win over Julio Arce

Watch Song Yadong showcase his nasty power in a TKO win over Julio Arce.

[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]’s highlights in the UFC are high up the rankings of most entertaining.

The rising UFC bantamweight contender has put the lights out in vicious fashion on various of his UFC opponents, including veteran Julio Arce. Back at UFC Fight Night 197, Yadong (19-7-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) showcased his brutal power, putting away Arce in a second round TKO.

You can watch Yadong’s finish of Arce in the video above.

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Yadong returns this Saturday against Ricky Simon (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC). The bantamweight bout headlines UFC Fight Night 223, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 223.

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UFC Fight Night 223: How to watch Simon vs. Yadong, start time, fight card, odds

Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC Fight Night 223 with Ricky Simon vs. Song Yadong in the headliner.

The UFC is back in Las Vegas for another home event with UFC Fight Night 223 at the UFC Apex, and a key bantamweight matchup is atop the card.

Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 223, headlined by [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag].

Ricky Simon vs. Song Yadong moved from UFC Fight Night 222, now headlines UFC Fight Night 223

Ricky Simon and Song Yadong will have an extra two rounds to work as their bout is shifted to headline UFC Fight Night 223 on April 29.

A key UFC bantamweight bout has received a new date, and elevation to top billing.

[autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-7-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) was set as the co-headliner of UFC Fight Night 222 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas this Saturday, which airs on ESPN+.

The promotion announced Monday the bout has been moved and will now serve as the headliner of UFC Fight Night 223 at the same venue on April 29. With the bigger spotlight comes the addition of two rounds, making the bout a typical five-round headliner on ESPN+.

The original headliner for UFC Fight Night 223 was a lightweight bout between Renato Moicano and Arman Tsaruykan. However, after Moicano was forced out of the fight due to injury, and no replacement opponent was implemented to face Tsaruykan, the promotion needed a new main event.

Yadong, 25, will now compete in his second consecutive marquee bout, while Simon, 30, gets his first headlining opportunity.

The updated UFC Fight Night 223 lineup includes:

  • Ricky Simon vs. Song Yadong
  • Caio Borralho vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
  • Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Marcos Rogerio
  • Cody Brundage vs. Rodolfo Vieira
  • Ange Loosa vs. Josh Quinlan
  • Emily Ducote vs. Polyana Viana
  • Natan Levy vs. Pete Rodriguez
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Journey Newson
  • Martin Buday vs. Jake Collier
  • Cody Durden vs. Charles Johnson
  • Julian Erosa vs. Fernando Padilla
  • Hailey Cowan vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth
  • Irina Alekseeva vs. Stephanie Egger

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 223.

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