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

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.

Related

Henry Cejudo admits Song Yadong tough but confident he can finish UFC Seattle headliner

Urijah Faber likes Henry Cejudo, but thinks Song Yadong 'would whoop him'

Social media reacts to Song Yadong's win, response to Petr Yan at UFC Fight Night 233

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Song Yadong eyes knockout win over Henry Cejudo at UFC Seattle: 'I believe in my ground skills'