Pair of top 15 bantamweight matchups headline the UFC‘s return to Seattle
The UFC is returning to the pacific Northwest in the second half of February with a fight night featuring top former Bantamweight champions at the top of the card.
The February 22nd event at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington will be headlined by former two division champion Henry “Triple C” Cejudo taking on number eight ranked contender Song “Kung Fu Kid” Yadong.
Cejudo transition to MMA after a successful wrestling career that included a gold medal. Adding UFC flyweight and Bantamweight gold to his mantel put him in rarefied air for Combat Sports for combat sports athletes. After a three year hiatus from competition “Triple C” fell short of regaining his title dropping a split decision to Aljamain Sterling. Now after a decision loss to current champion Merab Dvalishvili, Cejudo looks to avoid a three fight skid and proves he’s still a factor at 135 lbs.
Song is coming from the other side of the spectrum. The 27-year-old is still rising prospect hailing from China. Knocking out former WSOF champion Marlon Moraes and victories over ranked competition in Ricky Simon & Chris Gutierrez has earned him a solid place in the top 15. The issue has come in his two previous main event appearances falling short against Cory Sandhagen & Petr Yan. A win would put Song likely a fight away from challenging for gold.
In the co-main event former WEC & UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz will battle number nine ranked Rob Font. Between the WEC & UFC Cruz won seven championship bout drafting names such as Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson, & TJ Dillashaw. Font has been fighting among the division elite since 2018. This will be the fifth UFC main or co-main event Font is apart of. The Massachusetts fighter competes once in 2024 defeating Kyler Phillips by unanimous decision.
And in the Featherweight division in another match of an on coming fighter against an established familiar name will see one of the breakthrough fighters from 2024 Steve “Mean Machine” Garcia Jr. against Edwin Barboza. Garcia went 2-0 last year extending his current streak of wins and knockouts to five straight. Barboza one of the hardest leg kickers in the games has been with the promotion since 2010. The Brazilian has won by knockout in thirteen of his twenty four victories including a spinning wheel kick of Terry Erin that lives in infamy.
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