Song Yadong faces Kyler Phillips in an intriguing bantamweight clash in the prelims of UFC 259. Yadong is currently undefeated in the UFC with only one bout not resulting in a win. The 23-year-old Chinese star fought Cody Stamann to a majority draw in December 2019 and defeated Marlon Vera in his last fight in the UFC.
On the other hand, the bout against Yadong will Phillips’s third entry inside the Octagon. Last October, he defeated Cameron Else by TKO in his last fight.
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The Team Alpha Male trainee, Yadong, is currently ranked no.14 in the bantamweight division of the UFC and is much more battle-tested than his opponent, Phillips. He has shown his takedown defense in his draw against Cody Stamann. However, some might argue that Stamann may have won that fight.
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Song Yadong of China reacts after his unanimous decision victory over Marlon Vera in their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, May 16, 2020.
Yadong’s last win against Marlon Vera was questionable to some too. But the Chinese star showcased his skills and proved he is worthy enough to hang in against skilled fighters of the bantamweight division.
Though Phillips has very little experience in the UFC, he has looked good in both of his fights inside the Octagon. However, he is yet to be tested against top-quality opposition. The fight against the ranked Yadong will be a true judgment of his mettle.
Song Yadong and Kyler Phillips in numbers
Yadong has a professional record of 16-4. He is a striker with 6 T/KO wins and 3 wins by submission under his belt. ‘Matrix’ has a professional record of 8-1 with 5 T/KO wins and one submission win.
In the UFC, Yadong has landed 3.54 significant strikes per minute and has absorbed 2.74 in the process. He has a striking accuracy of 39% and has landed 1/3 takedowns. Yadong also has a takedown defense of 67% which compliments his attacks very well.
Phillips will have to implement his game plan and prove he is indeed UFC standard with a good showing against Yadong. But, the prelims clash is a battle between an unknown fighter and a known name. So, it’s tough to go against a proven contender in this type of bout.
Final Prediction: Yadong by unanimous decision.
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