Song Yadong delivered when he was needed most on Saturday night in Macau. Competing in front of a home crowd at Galaxy Arena, the Chinese bantamweight contender secured a second-round submission victory over former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The win snapped Yadong’s recent skid and recemented his position among the division’s elite.
Slow Opening Gives Way to Action
The opening round featured plenty of caution from both fighters. Yadong mixed in a few low kicks and landed a clean right hand, while Figueiredo searched for opportunities to counter.
Neither man was willing to overcommit early. The Brazilian eventually opened up with a hard kick to the body and followed with a right hand as he looked to close the distance.
Figueiredo also pursued takedowns throughout the round. Although Yadong initially defended well, a slip during a high-kick attempt allowed the former champion to gain top control late in the frame.
Yadong Finds His Rhythm in Round Two
The fight shifted noticeably in the second round. Yadong began connecting more consistently with his right hand and used that success to pressure Figueiredo toward the fence. As his confidence grew, he added sharp jabs and damaging calf kicks to his attack.
The increased output forced Figueiredo to rely more heavily on his wrestling entries. The Brazilian continued searching for a reactive double-leg takedown as Yadong’s striking momentum built.
When Figueiredo finally completed one of those attempts, the fight took an unexpected turn.
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Guillotine Finish Seals Statement Victory
As Figueiredo entered on a takedown, Yadong immediately wrapped up a guillotine choke. The submission quickly tightened, leaving the veteran with little room to escape. Moments later, Figueiredo tapped, giving Yadong one of the biggest wins of his career.
The finish marked just the second submission victory of Yadong’s UFC run and showcased another layer of his evolving skill set.
More importantly, it allowed the 28-year-old contender to protect his place near the top of the bantamweight rankings while reestablishing himself in the championship conversation.