Feb 22, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Henry Cejudo (red gloves) fights Song Yadong (blue gloves) in the bantamweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Song Yadong Wants Former Bantamweight Champion As His Next Opponent!

Song Yadong wants his next fight to be against a top #3 major fighter after his win against Henry Cejudo in Seattle!

Song Yadong is making waves after his recent technical decision victory over Henry Cejudo at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song. The Chinese fighter has come a long way since his UFC debut in 2017, when he was just a wide-eyed 19-year-old prospect training at Team Alpha Male. His growth has been remarkable, bouncing back from tough losses to Cory Sandhagen and Petr Yan to now find himself knocking on the door of title contention.

Fresh off his victory over the Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo, Song isn’t resting on his laurels. While a rematch with Cejudo seemed like the logical next step given the unfortunate eye poke ending, UFC CEO Dana White quickly shut down that idea. But Song, showing the kind of swagger that’s made him a fan favorite, already has another opponent in mind.

“My goal is to be world champion, so whatever they give me my goal is to fight a guy ranked above me. If not Henry, give me O’Malley. I can fight anytime…Yeah, I think I’m already in the top five, my level. Just give me another chance. I will beat these guys.”

It is the kind of callout that makes matchmakers smile, especially considering Sean O’Malley’s popularity and Song’s rising star status. However, Sean O’Malley is probably poised to rematch Merab Dvalishvili next.

Also Read: UFC Bantamweight Rankings – Aftermath Of UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song

The Championship Picture

Song’s timing couldn’t be better. With champion Merab Dvalishvili looking for his next challenger, the bantamweight division is buzzing with activity. Song Yadong believes he has already proven himself as a top-five fighter, and honestly, who can argue? The guy just beat an Olympic champion and former two-division UFC champ, even if it wasn’t the cleanest ending.

The O’Malley fight might be a long shot. This is because Dana White seems more interested in booking him against Dvalishvili. However, there are several fighters that can be his next opponent, including Deiveson Figueiredo and Marlon Vera. Song’s willingness to face anyone ranked above him shows his champion’s mentality.

Dana White just hinted at Merab and Sean O’Malley running it back next 👀

“They wanna fight each other and I think people wanna see it” pic.twitter.com/yIcA1685V8
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) February 23, 2025

The bantamweight landscape has changed dramatically since Song first entered the UFC. Gone are the days when he was just “that promising kid from China.” Now he is a legitimate contender who just beat a living legend and is calling out one of the biggest stars. Whether he gets O’Malley next or another top contender, one thing is clear. Song Yadong isn’t here to make up the numbers. He is here to prove that kung fu can still kick butt in modern MMA, and he is doing a pretty good job of it so far.

(Image Credit: Steven Bisig – Imagn Images)

Henry Cejudo

Song Yadong

UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!