The UFC is back in Seattle this Saturday for an exciting Fight Night! Despite losing six fights in the last two weeks due to injury or illness, the UFC has quickly reshuffled the card and put together an entertaining lineup. With several UFC newcomers and a few last-minute matchups, this event promises action-packed fights. The main event features Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong, while the co-main showcases a thrilling matchup between Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez. While not every name on the card may be familiar, expect fireworks as many fighters, stepping in on short notice, will leave it all in the octagon, pushing for a finish before fatigue sets in. It’s going to be a night full of high stakes and exciting scraps!

Main Card

#7 Henry Cejudo vs #8 Song Yadong
Bantamweight Bout - 135 lbs

Olympic gold medalist and former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo is making his highly anticipated return for the third time since retiring three years ago. Renowned for his exceptional fight IQ, Cejudo often trains fighters outside of their main teams, offering insights to help break down their opponents. A true all-around MMA talent, he combines a Karate-style stance with elite-level wrestling. Meanwhile, Song Yadong, a long-time top 10 contender, returns after a setback against Petr Yan and is determined to get back on track toward a title shot. Known for his technical striking, Song is fast, athletic, and delivers powerful shots that set the pace on the feet.

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#9 Brendan Allen vs #12 Anthony Hernandez
Middleweight Title Bout - 185 lbs

A highly anticipated rematch seven years in the making, Brendan Allen faces Anthony Hernandez in the co-main event. Allen is coming off his first loss in eight fights, after a remarkable run that included five finishes in seven victories. A BJJ black belt, Allen utilizes his leg kicks to set up takedowns and has built a reputation for controlling fights on the ground. However, his striking has made significant improvements in recent camps. On the other side, Hernandez is riding a six-fight win streak, most recently securing a dominant victory over Michel Pereira, where his ground game and cardio were on full display. A true ground specialist with solid wrestling and a BJJ black belt, Hernandez prefers to keep the fight off the feet and dominate in grappling exchanges.

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#9 Rob Font vs Jean Matsumoto
Catchweight Bout - 140 lbs

UFC veteran Rob Font has maintained his place in the top 15 for quite some time. Initially set to face Dominick Cruz on this card before Cruz's injury and subsequent retirement, Font now takes on late replacement David Matsumoto, who was preparing for a fight just a few weeks later. Font is a tough and technical striker with exceptional striking skills, adept at moving in and out of the pocket with precision. Matsumoto, on the other hand, is a well-rounded fighter, known for his creative striking on the feet and relentless activity from the bottom if the fight goes to the ground.

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Jean Silva vs Melsik Baghdasaryan
Featherweight Bout - 145 lbs

In what promises to be a striking battle, Jean Silva faces Melsik Baghdasaryan, both vying for a chance to edge closer to a top 15 ranking. Silva is looking to extend his impressive 11-fight win streak, which includes 10 finishes. A creative and powerful striker, Silva seamlessly switches between a tight, defensively sound high guard and a looser, more fluid stance with low hands. Baghdasaryan, an aggressive forward fighter, brings his high-level kickboxing background into the octagon, showcasing his striking skills with relentless pressure. This fight is set to deliver fireworks on the feet.

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#15 Alonzo Menifield vs Julius Walker
Light Heavyweight Bout - 205 lbs

The fight between Menifield and Walker was added to the card last minute to fill some gaps. Menifield, a seasoned UFC veteran, is known for his powerful striking and relentless pursuit of finishes. When he’s on the offensive, he’s effective at controlling the pace of the fight. Walker, on the other hand, is a newer fighter with just two years of MMA experience, which shows in his performances. Making his UFC debut, Walker relies heavily on his athleticism to overcome the gaps in his game, often finding a way to win despite the lack of experience.

Prelims

Ion Cutelaba vs Ibo Aslan
Light Heavyweight Bout - 205 lbs

In the featured prelim, expect non-stop action as two dangerous strikers, Cutelaba and Aslan, collide. At his core, Cutelaba is a high-level grappler who has discovered the power in his hands and isn't afraid to engage in a brawl. While his chin has been questionable in the past, it’s led to a fight style that’s all about going for broke. Aslan, meanwhile, is a heavy-handed striker with a wide, unrefined approach. Both fighters are eager to put on a show with explosive strikes, so don't expect this one to go the distance.

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Andre Fili vs Melk Costa
Featherweight Bout - 145 lbs

Both Fili and Costa are aggressive, stand-up fighters who thrive in striking exchanges. Fili is a well-rounded, technical brawler who often relies on his chin to get through tough exchanges, willing to absorb a punch in order to land his own combinations. Costa, on the other hand, brings a creative striking style combined with solid grappling. He’s relentless with his takedowns and shows great persistence when looking to control the fight on the ground.

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Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Nick Klein
Middleweight Bout - 185 lbs

Both fighters earned their UFC contracts with impressive wins on Dana White’s Contender Series, as Abdul-Malik faces Klein. Abdul-Malik, a former D1 wrestler, uses powerful strikes to set up his takedowns and boasts nasty ground and pound. He’s well-rounded, with solid striking to complement his grappling. Klein, a skilled grappler, maintains distance on the feet, using his longer strikes to control range. He’s also effective with takedowns and prefers to keep the fight on the ground. In his last outing, Klein pulled off a huge upset against a massive favorite, so don’t let the odds fool you in this one.

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Ricky Simon vs Javid Basharat
Bantamweight Bout - 135 lbs

Ricky Simon is coming off a few tough losses to high-level competition, which recently saw him drop out of the rankings. Known for his elite wrestling and relentless cardio, Simon’s striking is decent, though he primarily uses it to close the distance and set up takedowns. Basharat, a strong wrestler with solid kickboxing skills, is a well-rounded fighter who has showcased his ability to win both on the ground and on the feet. After suffering the first loss of his career, Basharat is eager to bounce back and get back on track to winning.

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Nikolay Veretennikov vs Austin Vanderford
Catchweight Bout - 175 lbs

In another last-minute addition to the card, Veretennikov faces Vanderford. Vanderford, a former Bellator title challenger and widely recognized as the husband of Paige VanZant, is a gritty fighter who uses his wrestling to control his opponents. Veretennikov, a forward-moving striker, pressures his opponents against the cage with knockout power in his hands. After a close split decision loss in his UFC debut, both fighters are eager to secure their first UFC win.

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Nursulton Ruziboev vs Eric McConico
Middleweight Bout - 185 lbs

This fight was added last minute to fill out the card. Ruziboev, a wrestler at his core, has relied on his striking since joining the UFC. He uses his long reach and power to secure victories, but he also boasts impressive BJJ skills if the fight hits the ground. After starting his UFC career with two straight wins, Ruziboev moved down to welterweight, where he was defeated by Buckley. Now back at middleweight, he’s looking to stay in this division. McConico, making his UFC debut on short notice, comes in after an impressive five-fight win streak. A ground fighter by nature, McConico tends to be patient on the feet but is always ready to transition to his grappling.

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Modestas Bukauskas vs Rafael Cerqueira
Light Heavyweight Bout - 205 lbs

We kick off the night at 205 lbs with a matchup between Bukauskas and Cerqueira. Bukauskas is a versatile striker who may have a low output but is always dangerous on the feet. Since returning to the UFC, he’s won 3 of his last 4 fights. Cerqueira, a UFC newcomer with just one fight under his belt in the promotion, is a patient fighter who doesn’t force finishes but always seems to find a way to secure them. Highly athletic, he uses his size to control his opponents, though he remains unproven in the UFC.

Enjoy the Fights!