After his recent win over Chris Gutierrez, UFC bantamweight fighter Song Yadong has called out ex-champion Petr Yan for a fight at UFC 299, and also expressed his hopes for a rematch with Marlon “Chito” Vera, whom he defeated in 2020, should Vera win the bantamweight title.
Song Yadong is eyeing the bantamweight division’s peak, fresh off his recent victory over Chris Gutierrez at UFC Vegas 83. The main event was a show of his dominance, winning every round on the scorecards.
At just 26, this bantamweight isn’t wasting time. He’s already called out ex-champion Petr Yan for a fight at UFC 299 in March. This event is a big one, headlined by the bantamweight title fight with champ Sean O’Malley taking on Marlon “Chito” Vera in Miami.
Yan seems unimpressed, dropping a yawning emoji on Twitter. Song didn’t hold back, reminding Yan of his less than stellar performance against Merab Dvalishvili.
“I want to fight Petr Yan,” Song stated at the UFC Vegas 83 post-fight press conference. He brushed off Yan’s emoji, saying, “it means the fight was boring, but his last fight was boring, too.” He’s up for a fight at UFC 299, challenging Yan to a face-to-face showdown.
If Song gets his wish, he’ll share the card with Vera. He’s already defeated Vera in a “Fight of the Night” performance in 2020. Vera secured his title shot mainly due to a past win over O’Malley, setting him up perfectly for a rematch.
Song isn’t hopeful about Vera’s chances against O’Malley. But, he’s rooting for him, knowing that a win for Vera would fast track his own championship opportunity.
“I pick Sean [to win],” Song said. He praised Sean’s smart tactics and speed but hopes for a Chito victory. He’s keen on a rematch with Vera, which he thinks would be “very good.”
Song knows Vera would love a rematch. Despite Vera’s dissatisfaction with the previous decision, Song is confident in his victory. He recalls the challenges he faced preparing for that fight during the pandemic.
“Our first fight, this guy had been preparing for six months, no one fought with him,” Song explained. He was told about the fight just two weeks in advance, during the initial COVID outbreak. Despite the lack of training, he still managed to win the first two rounds.
If Vera wins and becomes UFC champion, Song would relish the opportunity to challenge him. He’s confident he could deliver an even more impressive victory in a rematch.
“Standup or on the ground, I can beat him up,” Song said about Vera. He’s not a kid anymore, he’s 26 and ready to fight.