Song Yadong – Page 8 – Syndication Server

UFC Fight Night 210 predictions: Is anyone riding Yadong against Sandhagen?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 210 main card in Las Vegas.

	Sandhagen vs. Yadong	Njokuani vs. Rodrigues	Algeo vs. Fili	Amedovski vs. Pyfer	Boser vs. Nascimento	Barriault vs. Hernandez
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 147-90	Sandhagen (71%)	Njokuani (66%)	Fili (51%)	Pyfer (89%)	Boser (72%)	Hernandez (64%)
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 160-82 2018 Champion	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Algeo	Pyfer	Boser	Barriault
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 155-87	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Fili	Pyfer	Boser	Barriault
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 153-89 2014 Champion	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Fili	Pyfer	Boser	Barriault
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 150-92	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Fili	Pyfer	Nascimento	Barriault
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 149-93	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Fili	Pyfer	Boser	Hernandez
Simon Samano @SJSamano 149-93	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Fili	Pyfer	Boser	Barriault
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 147-95	Yadong	Rodrigues	Fili	Pyfer	Nascimento	Hernandez
Nolan King @mma_kings 143-99	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Algeo	Pyfer	Boser	Hernandez
Brian Garcia @thegoze 141-101 2017 Champion	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Fili	Pyfer	Boser	Hernandez
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 130-112	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Fili	Pyfer	Nascimento	Hernandez
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 117-125	Sandhagen	Njokuani	Fili	Pyfer	Boser	Hernandez

The UFC stays home in Las Vegas this week with a key bantamweight matchup at the top of the bill.

UFC Fight Night 210 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, former interim bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC). Sandhagen is a 2-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Yadong is +150. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Sandhagen a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

The co-main event is a middleweight bout between former Bellator fighter and Dana White’s Contender Series product [autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC). Njokuani is just a slight favorite at -125, but he’s got a huge lead from our pickers and is nearly unanimous at 10-1.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] (21-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC) at featherweight. Fili is a -135 favorite and has an outsized 9-2 picks lead, despite the close odds.

The only unanimous pick on the card is Contender Series signee [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who is the event’s biggest favorite at -520 for his middleweight fight against [autotag]Alen Amedovski[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-3 UFC). Pyfer has a shutout from our staff members at 11-0.

[autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag] (20-8-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a heavyweight tilt that has Boser a -180 favorite. He’s got a big 8-3 lead in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag] (14-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) meets [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at middleweight. Hernandez is a -210 favorite, but our pickers have it as the most contentious fight on the main card. Hernandez has the slimmest possible lead at 6-5.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Sandhagen (71 percent), Njokuani (66 percent), Fili (51 percent), Pyfer (89 percent), Boser (72 percent) and Hernandez (64 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 210.

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UFC Fight Night 210 weigh-ins video: Cory Sandhagen, Song Yadong drama-free on scale for main event

Check out highlights from Cory Sandhagen and Song Yadong trips to the weigh-in scale for the UFC Fight Night 210 main event in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – The main event is set for Saturday’s UFC show in Las Vegas, and this week, there was no drama around the headliner.

[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) both made weight without issue for the UFC Fight Night 210 main event Friday at the UFC Apex. The same venue hosts Saturday’s card on ESPN+.

Sandhagen was the first fighter to come to the scale during the two-hour official window. He was 135.5 pounds. Yadong came right behind him and weighed in at 135.5, as well, to make their fight official without any issues.

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

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Song Yadong sees title shot with finish of ‘very dangerous’ Cory Sandhagen at UFC Fight Night 210

Song Yadong predicts he’ll be in the title conversation if he can impress against Cory Sandhagen at UFC Fight Night 210 headliner.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] predicts he’ll be in the bantamweight title conversation if he can impress against Cory Sandhagen in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 210 headliner.

Yadong (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) enters his first UFC main event against Sandhagen (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) with just one loss in his 10 octagon appearances. The bantamweight division is as competitive as it gets, but a win in a marquee matchup at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas could do wonders for the Chinese fighter’s career.

“I think if I finish Cory, I think I got the title fight,” Yadong told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 10 media day. “If not, one more. Just one more.”

The 135-pound pound belt will be on the line next month at UFC 280 when Aljamain Sterling meets T.J. Dillashaw. A big-time fight for the division between former champ Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley is scheduled for the Oct. 22 card in Abu Dhabi, too.

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Additionally, names such as Marlon Vera and Merab Dvalishvili are making pushes for cracks at the title, but Yadong seems to like where he’s at.

The only negative that could be cast over a potential is that it would come over a slumping Sandhagen, who enters UFC Fight Night 210 off back-to-back losses.

“He lost two fights in a row, but he’s still dangerous,” Yadong said of Sandhagen. “He’s lost to top fighters. He’s still good.”

Although Yadong holds Sandhagen in high regard, he said this moment is all about him. At 24, Yadong might still be among the younger fighters at the top of the division, but he thinks he’s got all the attributes to take it all the way to the belt.

He’s already been in the UFC for nearly five years, has a good team behind him at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento,Calif., is working diligently to learn English, and just adopted the new “Kung Fu Monkey” nickname.

“I’m still young,” Yadong said. “I think this is just the beginning. I will go hard.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.

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UFC Fight Night 210 pre-event facts: Can Cory Sandhagen snap his skid?

Check out the numbers behind UFC Fight Night 210, where Cory Sandhagen looks to avoid a three-fight skid in the main event.

The UFC hosts its final event of September on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 210, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams entirely on ESPN+.

A crucial bantamweight matchup serves as the main event. [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will attempt to snap his two-fight skid when he takes on the surging [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) in a showdown scheduled for five rounds.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 210.

UFC Fight Night 210 free fight: Song Yadong KOs Marlon Moraes with brutal combination

Watch Song Yadong put away former UFC title challenger Marlon Moraes.

[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] enters his first UFC main event on a high note.

The 24-year-old rising UFC bantamweight contender headlines UFC Fight Night 210 this coming Saturday against Cory Sandhagen. This main event placement comes after Yadong (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) knocked out veteran Marlon Moraes in the first round of their bout at UFC Fight Night 203 in March.

It was a spectacular finish that earned Yadong a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. You can watch the finish in the video above.

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Sandhagen (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC), 30, will look to rebound from back-to-back decision losses against T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan. The losing skid followed back-to-back knockout victories of Moraes and Frankie Edgar. It is the first multifight skid of Sandhagen’s professional career.

Yadong has been on a roll since a 2021 loss to Kyler Phillips. One of the youngest fighters on the roster, Yadong rides a three-fight winning streak, which includes a split decision over Casey Kenney, a TKO of Julio Arce, and the knockout of Moraes.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (June 13-19)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from June 13-19.

UFC targeting Cory Sandhagen vs. Song Yadong for Sept. 17 main event

The bigtime UFC bantamweight bookings continue.

The big UFC bantamweight bookings continue.

The most recent in a slew of major 135-pound matchups for the promotion is a targeted bout between [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC). The event is expected to headline a UFC Fight Night event Sept. 17 at a location and venue to be announced.

Two people with knowledge of the targeted booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Eurosport NL was first to report the matchup.

Sandhagen, 30, will look to rebound from back-to-back decision losses against T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan. The losing skid followed back-to-back knockout victories of Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar. It is the first multifight skid of Sandhagen’s professional career.

Yadong, 24, has been on a roll since a 2021 loss to Kyler Phillips. One of the youngest fighters on the roster, Yadong rides a three-fight winning streak, which includes a split decision over Casey Kenney, a TKO of Julio Arce, and a knockout of Marlon Moraes.

With the addition the UFC Fight Night lineup for Sept. 17 includes:

Cory Sandhagen vs. Song Yadong
Trey Ogden vs. Daniel Zellhuber
Nikolas Motta vs. Cameron VanCamp
Louis Cosce vs. Trevin Giles
Andre Fili vs. Lando Vannata
Damon Jackson vs. Pat Sabatini

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 15: Ankalaev, Yadong inch up

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC Fight Night 203.

With UFC Fight Night 203 and Bellator 276 both in the books, numerous fighters have shifted up or down in their respective divisions.

UFC headline victor [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] in his first promotional main event scored a unanimous decision win over former title challenger [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag]. The decision wasn’t the prettiest but it was decisive. It moves Ankalev to No. 12 in the light heavyweight division.

With his big knockout win over [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] in the co-main event, [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] enters the bantamweight rankings at No. 13. As for Moraes, he drops into unranked status with his fourth-straight knockout defeat.

And if you’re wondering where [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] went, the all-time UFC light heavyweight great has been removed due to inactivity.

Take a look at the full rankings below, ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 204 in London.

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UFC Fight Night 203 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $7.5 million

The UFC paid out just shy of $200,000 to the athletes at UFC Fight Night 203 under its Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay program.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 203 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $198,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 203 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 203 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]A.J. Fletcher[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]JJ Aldrich[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Javid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Damon Jackson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kamuela Kirk[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Sabina Mazo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Dalcha Lungiambula[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Guido Cannetti[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kris Moutinho[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2037 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2031 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

“UFC Fight Night 203: Santos vs. Ankalaev” – $198,000
“UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal” – $236,000
“UFC Fight Night 202: Makhachev vs. Green” – $138,000
“UFC Fight Night 201: Walker vs. Hill” – $140,000
“UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2” – $282,500
“UFC Fight Night 200: Hermansson vs. Strickland” – $160,500
“UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane” – $241,000
“UFC on ESPN 32: Kattar vs. Chikadze” – $132,000

Year-to-date total: $1,528,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $7,695,500

Song Yadong wants Dominick Cruz after quick KO: ‘I watch his fights since I was a young kid’

Song Yadong wants to take Dominick Cruz’s rivalry with Team Alpha Male into the next era after UFC Fight Night 203.

[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] grew up watching [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag] perform at the highest level. He’s now reaching that stage in his own career, and now thinks a fight between them makes sense.

After scoring his most noteworthy victory to date, a 126-second knockout of former WSOF titleholder Marlon Moraes at UFC Fight Night 203 on Saturday in Las Vegas, Yadong (19-5-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) said in his post-fight interview inside the octagon that he wants to mix it up with Cruz (24-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) next.

Cruz, a former two-time UFC bantamweight champion, had a longtime feud with Yadong’s camp at Team Alpha Male, having beaten founder Urijah Faber multiple times in their storied rivalry. Yadong wants to take it into the next era, and said he likes the idea of facing a legend in Cruz.

“I watch his fights since I was a young kid and I like him very much,” Yadong told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at the UFC Fight Night 203 post-fight news conference. “I like his style, so I’m curious. My style with his style, what’s going to happen?”

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Yadong, 22, had little trouble dispatching of Moraes. He connected early and often until landing the final blow.

“I don’t feel any danger in any exchange,” Yadong said. “And also I’m faster. … I practice those combos every day. I want to thank my boxing coach. He taught me some good uppercuts.

Through 10 UFC fights, Yadong has lost just one time inside the octagon. He is arguable the brightest male talent from China at the moment, and he said his goal is eventually to hold UFC gold.

Yadong said he doesn’t know when or where that time will come, but as long as he continues on his current trajectory, he’s confident he’ll get there.

“I just keep taking fights,” Yadong said. “We’ll win the fights and then I’ll be there.”

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