Yadong Song, a fighter yet to make his mark among the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s bantamweight elite, might soon change his status. His relationship with the UFC is still in the early stages, but things could shift rapidly.
As a representative of Team Alpha Male, Song is looking to boost his 9-2-1 record. His next challenge? Chris Gutierrez. The two will clash in the UFC Fight Night 233 main event. This high-stakes match will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Song is the favorite in this match, according to oddsmakers. This is his third consecutive headlining assignment. The question is, can he live up to the hype and ignore the surrounding noise?
Song’s recent track record is impressive, with four wins in his last five matches. The 26-year-old Heilongjiang, China, native last fought at UFC on ESPN 45. He defeated Ricky Simon with a powerful punch in the fifth round of their April 29 encounter.
Song landed 105 significant strikes by the end of the match. This is the third time he has passed the century mark in this category as a UFC member. Gutierrez, on the other hand, has five victories in his last six matches.
The Factory X standout last competed on Oct. 14, securing a three-round unanimous decision against Heili Alateng at UFC Fight Night 230. Gutierrez has never been knocked out in his 27-fight career.
The Song-Gutierrez showdown is just one of many storylines to watch at UFC Fight Night 233. There are four more worth noting.
Firstly, Khalil Rountree remains a mystery to many. Despite his impressive physical abilities, he hasn’t yet achieved consistent excellence. The Ultimate Fighter Season 23 finalist seems to be moving in the right direction ahead of his light heavyweight co-main event against Anthony Smith.
Rountree, 33, steps back into the spotlight riding a career-best four-fight winning streak. The Syndicate MMA and Tiger Muay Thai product last suited up in August. He defeated Chris Daukaus with punches in the first round of their UFC on ESPN 51 altercation.
Smith, a seasoned fighter at 35, poses a serious threat. He has 34 finishes among his 37 professional victories. Can Rountree shed his “underachiever” label once and for all?
Secondly, Nasrat Haqparast is another enigma. The Tristar Gym export will face Jamie Mullarkey in a three-round lightweight showcase. Haqparast’s tenure has been marked by uneven performances and setbacks at inopportune times.
He suffered back-to-back losses to Dan Hooker and Bobby Green at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. The 28-year-old Firas Zahabi protege has since recorded two straight wins. Mullarkey, on the other hand, has won five of his past seven bouts.
Thirdly, Jun Yong Park might not be on the mainstream radar, but his current trajectory makes him impossible to ignore. “The Iron Turtle” will put his four-fight winning streak on the line when he battles Ronaldo Souza’s tormentor, Andre Muniz, in a three-round middleweight attraction.
Park, 32, has finished his past three opponents via rear-naked choke. His most recent victim was Albert Duraev at UFC on ESPN 49 in July. The South Korean now carries a 7-2 record in the UFC. Muniz, however, has hit a rough patch.
Finally, Tatsuro Taira should have everyone’s attention by now. The former Shooto champion will answer his latest call to arms with a perfect 14-0 record. He will square off with Carlos Hernandez as part of the undercard.
Taira has won all four of his bouts inside the Octagon. He last fought at UFC 290, where he outpointed Edgar Chairez to a unanimous decision on July 8. Hernandez has sandwiched victories over Victor Altamirano and Denys Bondar around a rear-naked choke submission defeat to Allan Nascimento since he joined the UFC roster a little less than two years ago.
Can Taira takes the next step in his development at the VFS Academy product’s expense? Only time will tell.