One-time UFC bantamweight title challenger, Marlon Moraes will attempt to bring a halt to his three-fight losing skid on March 12. as he draws top-15 contender, Song Yadong at a UFC Fight Night billed event. At the time of publication, the promotion has yet to officially confirm a venue or location for the showcase.
Moraes, the #9 ranked bantamweight in the organization, suffered his third consecutive knockout defeat at UFC 266 back in September, dropping a second round loss to Merab Dvalishvili.
For Yadong, the Chinese striker prospect earned the #14 rank in the official bantamweight pile back in November with a high kick and subsequent follow-up strikes knockout win over Julio Arce. The victory came as Yadong’s seventh under the UFC’s banner. Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie was first to report the pairing of Moraes and Yadong.
Marlon Moraes attempts to halt his three-fight knockout skid against Song Yadong on March 12.
Before his loss to Dvalishvili, Moraes, a former WSOF bantamweight champion had suffered other damaging knockout losses to recent headliner, Rob Font, and a wheel kick knockout loss to Cory Sandhagen in October of last year on ‘Fight Island’.
Moraes, who once challenged for undisputed bantamweight gold is without a win since a close decision triumph against compatriot, former featherweight champion, Jose Aldo at UFC 245 in December 2019.
Before his vacant title loss to Henry Cejudo, the Nova Fribrugo striker would amass an impressive string of four straight wins against John Dodson, Jimmie Rivera, Raphael Assuncao, as well as stopping current bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling with a highlight-reel high kick knockout.
Team Elevation MMA staple, Yadong boasts an impressive 7-1-1 promotional record since his transition to the UFC back in 2017.
The 24-year-old’s sole blemish came opposite Kyler Philips in a decision loss back in March of at UFC 259.
Yadong holds promotional victories over the likes of Marlon Vera, Alejandro Perez, Casey Kenney, and Vince Morales to name a few.
A light heavyweight clash between one-time division title challenger, the #5 ranked contender, Thiago Santos and the surging #6 rated Dagestan native, Magomed Ankalaev is slated to take the headlining status on the card. Marlon Moraes and Song Yadong are now set to join the undercard.
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