In this skills breakdown, we take a look at the Chinese sensation that is Song Yadong. He takes on Chris Gutierrez this weekend at UFC Vegas 83 in what promises to be another thrilling encounter.
A Song Yadong Breakdown
Entertainment is never far away in a Song Yadong fight. The 26-year-old holds a record of 20-7-1 including 12 finishes, six of which have come in the UFC. Yadong has been putting on a show in the world’s leading MMA promotion since 2017, and there is undoubtedly much more to come from the ‘Kung Fu Kid’. In a career already littered with bonuses, he’ll be looking to add another one to his collection on Saturday night.
Considered a brawler by some, the Chinese bantamweight possesses a wider skillset than that label suggests. Let’s dive in.
Striking
Yadong will often rely on his boxing ability to win fights, always looking for the finish. His hands are his most reliable weapon and he will throw combinations galore, staying technical in the process. He has fight-ending power especially in his right hand with the straight and overhand punch causing his opponents all sorts of problems. Furthermore, he likes to throw a variety of shots to keep his adversary guessing. See his right hand, left hook, uppercut knockout combination against Marlon Moraes. His fifth round TKO win over Ricky Simón is proof that his power carries late into a fight as well.
Yadong’s kicking game lacks versatility and it might be an area that he chooses to work on if he is to progress further. Even so, he is a tough man to hit cleanly due to his good defensive skills such as his head movement, footwork and use of range. He has a solid chin and can be relentless in attack.
Grappling
Song Yadong has improved his grappling skills throughout the years but he will rarely use wrestling or Jiu-Jitsu in an offensive manner. Instead, he will neutralise his opponent’s grappling with defensive wrestling and sprawls to avoid being taken down. He is big and strong for the weight class and often has success in the clinch because of this.
Yadong’s cardio can sometimes be questioned, but he does have the skills to overcome opponents and he is still young enough to make a big impact upon this division. His loss to Cory Sandhagen showed that there is still work to do, but also proved that he is able to compete at the top of the weight class. Currently ranked at number 7, an impressive win over rising contender Gutierrez would move him closer to title contention and put the rest of the bantamweights on notice.
Can Song Yadong challenge for the bantamweight title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
