Song Yadong hopes he can fight Petr Yan after UFC Fight Night 233.
Yadong (20-7-1 MMA, 9-2-1 UFC) takes on Chris Gutierrez (20-4-2 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) in the Dec. 9 main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card was originally scheduled to take place in Yadong’s home country of China before it was shifted to Vegas.
Yadong says he was initially offered former UFC bantamweight champion Yan for Dec. 9, but never received a contract after hearing Yan was injured. But if he can get past Gutierrez, Yadong would like it if the UFC revisited that matchup.
“Yes, after this fight, I still want to fight Petr,” Song said in an interview with Fanatics View. “I want to know whose boxing is better, in bantamweight. I want to fight him.”
Winner of four of his past five, Yadong admits that a win over lower-ranked Gutierrez likely doesn’t do much for him in his ascent up the bantamweight rankings.
“I think I just need two more (fights),” Yadong said. “Next fight, Petr, and one more, then I will get the title shot.”
The 25-year-old Team Alpha Male fighter expects his well-rounded skillset to be too much for Gutierrez.
“He never encountered the kind of style I have,” Yadong said. “I’m faster, hit hard and I have great grappling skills, but I also have leg kicks. It’s going to be an exciting fight.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for the UFC Fight Night 233.
