UFC Seattle Main Event: A Clash of Titans Between Cejudo and Yadong
Rewritten Article:
Henry Cejudo, the former two-division UFC champion, steps back into the Octagon for the first time since his loss to Merab Dvalishvili in February 2024. He will face Song Yadong, another fighter coming off a loss, who fell to Petr Yan earlier this year. UFC Seattle, the UFC's first event in Seattle since July 2013, will host this rematch on February 22, 2025, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
The preliminary card begins at 6:00 p.m. ET, and the main card starts at 9:00 p.m. ET. Both will stream live on ESPN+.
UFC Seattle: A New Challenge for Cejudo
Cejudo, known for his high-octane style and diverse skill set, debuted in the UFC in 2014 with a promising 6-0 record. He dazzled fans with victories in his first four UFC bouts, including a split decision against Demetrious Johnson, the flyweight champion at the time. After a split decision loss to Joseph Benavidez, Cejudo bounced back with three consecutive wins before challenging Johnson again and claiming the flyweight title in 2018.
Cejudo defended the title with a TKO win over T.J. Dillashaw in January 2019 before moving up to the bantamweight division and becoming the champion by defeating Marlon Moraes at UFC 238. However, Cejudo vacated the flyweight belt and successfully defended his bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz before retiring in May 2020.
Barely three years into retirement, Cejudo made his comeback and faced Aljamain Sterling for the UFC bantamweight title, but lost by split decision. In February 2024, he suffered another setback, losing to Dvalishvili in a unanimous decision.
Now, with a 16-4 record, Cejudo seeks redemption against Yadong, who has been in the UFC since 2017.
Song Yadong: The Challenger
Yadong, with a record of 21-8-1-1, is known for his powerful striking and dominating ground game. He entered the UFC with a 5-0-1 record and quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with.
Yadong's rise was halted by Kyler Phillips in March 2021, but he soon returned to form with three consecutive victories over Casey Kenney, Julio Arce, and Marlon Moraes. However, his success came to a halt against Cory Sandhagen, who scored a TKO victory in September 2022.
Yadong rebounded with a TKO win over Ricky Simon and a decision victory over Chris Gutierrez before facing Petr Yan at UFC 299, where he suffered a loss via decision.
Despite the setbacks, Yadong remains a dangerous opponent, with a 21-8-1-1 record and a penchant for delivering impressive knockouts.
The UFC Seattle Card
UFC Seattle will feature a stacked card, headlined by Cejudo and Yadong. Other notable matches include a rematch between Rob Font and Dominick Cruz, Curtis Blaydes versus Rizvan Kuniev, and Ketlen Vieira facing Macy Chiasson. The complete fight card is as follows:
- Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong
- Rob Font vs. Dominick Cruz
- Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
- Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia
- Jean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
- Adam Fugitt vs. Islam Dulatov
- Ion Cutelaba vs. Ibo Aslan
- Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
- Ketlen Vieira vs. Macy Chiasson
- Antonio Trocoli vs. Mansur-Abdul Malik
- Modestas Bukauskas vs. Raffael Cerqueira
This event promises an exciting night of fights, and fans will have the chance to witness the return of Henry Cejudo and the resurgence of Song Yadong.
UFC betting enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the UFC odds for the highly-anticipated match between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong. Cejudo, once the UFC's opening odds favorite, now seeks redemption after a series of losses in recent UFC fight nights.
The UFC Seattle event will see Cejudo and Yadong make their Octagon return at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, following a five-year hiatus for the UFC in the city. This rematch, taking place on February 22, 2025, is one of the numerous highlights in the UFC Seattle card.
Henry Cejudo's comeback after retirement is a testament to his resilience and dedication. Leveraging his high-octane style and diverse skill set, he has become a fan favorite since debuting in the UFC six years ago. Despite setbacks, Cejudo has shown an impressive ability to bounce back, evident in his title victories.
In contrast, Song Yadong, the challenger, has demonstrated his powerful striking and domineering ground game. With a record of 21-8-1-1, he aims to capitalize on any opportunity to secure another impressive knockout or decision victory.
