Song Yadong eyes knockout win over Henry Cejudo at UFC Seattle: 'I believe in my ground skills'

01/25/2025 12:10 PM

Song Yadong is confident that his ground game will hold up against Henry Cejudo at UFC Fight Night 252.

Song (21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) meets former bantamweight champion Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in the Feb. 22 headliner at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

The Team Alpha Male fighter has been angling for a fight with Cejudo for a while and will finally get his wish. He expects Cejudo to implement a heavy grapple approach in their fight, but he’s ready for it.

“He’s a very good wrestler, he’s an Olympic-level wrestling skilled,” Song said in an interview with Home of Fight. “I believe he can take me down, but I don’t think he can hold me down. I know I can handle it. I believe in my ground skills.

“And this fight, I will try my best to knock him out and give him a lot of pressure in the cage. I like five rounds. Five rounds gives me more time and experience and suffering for him. I will knock him out in the early rounds or beat him by decision, but I will win the fight. I believe in myself.”

Since coming out of retirement in 2023, Cejudo has lost back-to-back to former champion Aljamain Sterling and current champ Merab Dvalishvili. Song suggests the three years off harmed Cejudo.

“It’s not a good time for him to come back, and it wasn’t the good time for him to retire,” Song said.