Song Yadong

Song Yadong (; born December 2, 1997) is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of September 5, 2026, he is #2 in the Meta UFC bantamweight rankings.

Background Song began training mixed martial arts at the age of 13, making his professional debut before his sixteenth birthday.

Mixed martial arts career

Ultimate Fighting Championship 2017 In November 2017, it was announced that Song Yadong would step in on short notice, to fight the first ever Indian-born fighter in the UFC and fellow debutante, Baharat Kandare at UFC Fight Night 122 on November 25, 2017 in Shanghai, China. He won the fight via submission due to a guillotine choke in the first round. This fight earned him his first Performance of the Night award.

2018 Song faced Felipe Arantes on June 23, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 132 in Singapore. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round. This win earned him another Performance of the Night bonus.

Song was expected to face Frankie Saenz on 24 November 2018 at UFC Fight Night 141. However, it was reported on November 7, 2018 that he pulled out of the event due to injury and he was replaced by newcomer Vince Morales. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

2019 Song was scheduled to face Alejandro Pérez on March 2, 2019 at UFC 235. However, it was reported on January 11, 2019 that he pulled out due to an undisclosed reason. He was replaced by Cody Stamann. The bout with Pérez was rescheduled and eventually took place on July 6, 2019 at UFC 239. Song won the fight via knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Song faced Cody Stamann on December 7, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 7. After three round fight, the fight ended with a majority draw.

2020 Song faced Marlon Vera in a featherweight bout on May 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 8. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Both participants earned the Fight of the Night award.

2021 Song faced Kyler Phillips on March 6, 2021, at UFC 259. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Song faced Casey Kenney on August 7, 2021, at UFC 265. He won the fight via split decision.

Song faced Julio Arce on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

2022

Song faced Marlon Moraes on March 12, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 203. He won the fight via knockout in round one. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Song faced Cory Sandhagen on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210. He lost the fight via technical knockout after a doctor stopped the fight.

2023 Song was scheduled to face Ricky Simón on April 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 222. However, the bout was instead postponed to UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón as the headliner. He eventually won the fight via technical knockout in the fifth round. This win earned him his the Performance of the Night bonus award.

Song was scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 233 against Petr Yan on December 9, 2023. However, Yan withdrew from the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Chris Gutiérrez. Song won the fight via unanimous decision.

2024 Song faced former UFC Bantamweight champion Petr Yan on March 9, 2024, at UFC 299. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Song was reportedly scheduled to face Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event on December 14, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 63. However, the bout was scrapped due to Yadong's injury.

2025 Song faced former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo in the main event on February 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 252. As a result of an eyepoke by Song rendering Cejudo unable to continue, Song won the fight by technical decision after the bout was stopped at the beginning of the fourth round.

2026 Song faced former UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O'Malley on January 24, 2026 at UFC 324. He lost the bout by unanimous decision. 9 out of 21 media outlets scored the bout for Song.

Song faced former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo on May 30, 2026 in the main event of UFC Fight Night 277.. He won by second round submission via guillotine choke. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Song faced Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event on August 30, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 286. He won the fight via knockout in the second round. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Personal life Song and his wife Daisy have a son.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) Performance of the Night (Seven times) Tied (Donald Cerrone, Ovince Saint Preux, Tom Aspinall, Carlos Prates & Conor McGregor) for fourth most Performance of the Night awards in UFC history (7) Tied (Rob Font, Davey Grant & Marlon Vera) for fourth most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Bantamweight division history (6) Tied (Urijah Faber, Rob Font & Sean O'Malley) for third most finishes in UFC Bantamweight division history (7) Tied (Marlon Vera, Adrian Yañez & Rob Font) for third most knockouts in UFC Bantamweight division history (6)

Sanda 2011 Hebei Provincial Sanda Championship − 1st place, 60 kg

Muay Thai 2011 National Muay Thai Championship − 5th place

Grappling 2012 Shanghai Jiu-Jitsu Open − 4th place

Mixed martial arts record

|Win |align=center|17–6–1 (1) |Casey Kenney |Decision (split) |UFC 265 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Houston, Texas, United States

|Win |align=center|15–5 (1) |Alejandro Pérez |KO (punch) |UFC 239 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:04 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

See also List of current UFC fighters List of male mixed martial artists

References

External links

Song Yadong

Bron en licentie