Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong Prediction: Can Yan Get Back on Track at UFC 299?

Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong Prediction: Can Yan Get Back on Track at UFC 299?

The main card at UFC 299 on Saturday night kicks off with a bantamweight bout between No. 4 ranked Petr Yan and No. 7 ranked Song Yadong. This fight is a big matchup in the bantamweight division, as the winner will likely crack the top three and be very close to a title shot. There’s a reason this fight was scheduled on the card where the bantamweight belt will be decided between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera. Yan has been on quite the tough run in the UFC but is still the favorite in this fight with odds of -125. Can he bounce back?

Yan vs. Yadong DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH

• Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024
• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to Watch: PPV

Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong Prediction

Petr Yan enters this fight with a record of 16–5. Four of those losses have come in his last five fights. Yan entered the UFC and started with a perfect 6–0 record en route to a title shot against Jose Aldo, who he beat by TKO in the fifth round to earn bantamweight gold. That is where it all turned around. Petr Yan then went on to face Aljamain Sterling, who he was beating on the scorecards in round four before an illegal knee gave Sterling the belt by disqualification.

Yan then fought for the interim belt while Sterling was injured and beat Cory Sandhagen. He went on to lose his next three fights, losing to Sterling in the rematch by split decision, Sean O’Malley split decision, and Merab Dvalishvili most recently. Given that Yan is 1–4 over his last five fights, it can be difficult to remember that he is still one of the greatest bantamweights in the division and has had a tough go recently in the UFC.

Song Yadong enters this fight with a 21–7-1 record. He has won back-to-back fights against Ricky Simon and Chris Gutierrez to get this top-five matchup against Yan. He is 5–1 over his last six fights with only a doctor stoppage loss to Cory Sandhagen standing in his way of a perfect record since 2022. Yong is 10–2 in the UFC, although he has never fought for the bantamweight championship and has faced a little bit of an easier schedule than Yan.

One of Yans best traits is his striking defense and being able to take virtually no damage in his fights. Yadong is crisp with his striking, but I am worried that he is a bit too one-dimensional for Yan. The opponents who have most recently beaten Yan have done so excellent wrestling, as Dvalishvili landed 11 takedowns in their fight, and Sterling won with grappling as well.

This matchup seems to favor Yan as he is the more well-rounded fighter and can incorporate grappling in this fight to swing any close rounds in his favor. This is the fight that he needs to get back on track, and with no offense to Yadong, this will be one of the easiest opponents he has faced in years when you look at who he has faced over his losing stretch.

Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong Pick

Pick: Petr Yan ML -125 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds

WIN $25 GIFT CARD ON UFC 299

Think you know what will happen at UFC 299 this weekend? Answer the questions below for your chance to win a $25 Fanatics gift card

UFC ODDS

• Click here for Yan vs. Yadong odds
• Looking for UFC 299 odds? We got you covered!