UFC Seattle is upon us. This Saturday evening, February’s UFC schedule involves an finish with one other version of UFC Combat Night time. Per week in the past, the UFC Apex in Enterprise, NV performed host to UFC Vegas 102.
This week, the famed Octagon heads to the Pacific Northwest. Local weather Pledge Area, previously named KeyArena, serves because the host venue for the primary UFC card in Seattle since 2013. UFC Seattle begins Saturday night at a later time when in comparison with final week’s occasion.
Stay protection kicks off with the prelims at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT. Stateside, the cardboard will be considered on ESPN+ and/or Disney Plus. Predominant card motion follows up at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT on the Disney-owned subscription-based streamers. All informed, after seven fights on the bout order have been postponed for one cause or one other, the ultimate model of this occasion includes a 12-contest slate.
UFC Seattle Predominant Occasion: Henry Cejudo vs. Music Yadong
On the high of the invoice on the principle card is a contest at bantamweight. No. 7 contender Henry Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) battles No. 8 contender Music Yadong (21-8-1, 1 NC MMA, 10-3-1 UFC). Each males on this five-round battle at 5 minutes per spherical haven’t fought in a few yr’s time.
Cejudo, who initially retired from the game of MMA after successful the UFC Bantamweight Championship in UFC 249 from Jacksonville in Could of 2020, ended his retirement in 2023. In his final 5 fights, together with the 2 he’s had since popping out of retirement, Henry Cejudo has posted a file of 3-2.
For the time being, he’s dropped two fights in succession within the aftermath of resuming his profession as a fighter. Final trip, he dropped a unanimous determination to Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) after three rounds throughout UFC 298 in Anaheim, CA on the Honda Middle.
Cejudo was on a five-fight successful streak on the time of his retirement. Can he restore his former glory in UFC Seattle’s primary occasion?
Within the different nook, Music Yadong enters the headlining bout with a mark of 3-2 in his final 5 MMA bouts courting again to March of 2022. Again in March of final yr, he was on the dropping finish of a unanimous determination vs. Petr Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) throughout UFC 299 from Kaseya Middle in Miami to open up that night’s primary card.
Throughout Wednesday’s UFC Seattle media availability, Music Yadong had one factor in thoughts: Sending Henry Cejudo again to retirement completely.
“I feel if he misplaced this one, that is his final battle, the final spherical,” Yadong informed the assembled press on Wednesday, “however I’ll win this battle. I consider that is the final one, [his] final battle. This would be the final battle in Seattle. Time is over, it’s time to retire.”
UFC Seattle Co-Predominant Occasion: Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
Instantly beforehand, the co-main attraction of UFC Seattle takes place within the middleweight division when No. 9 contender Brendan Allen (24-6 MMA, 12-3 UFC) faces off towards No. 12 contender Anthony Hernandez (13-2, 1 NC MMA, 7-2 UFC). Brendan Allen comes into the co-main occasion of the night having gone 4-1 in his final 5 fights.
He’ll make the thirty second stroll to the cage of his profession nonetheless smarting from having a seven-fight successful streak finish final September in UFC Paris by the use of unanimous determination towards Nassourdine Imavov (16-4, 1 NC MMA, 8-2, 1 NC UFC) after three rounds. Allen has gone 7-1 over his final eight fights within the cage and is a seasoned veteran of the game.
One other sustained successful streak starting in UFC Seattle on Saturday can yield to a shot on the UFC Middleweight Championship. He’s received to take it one battle, one spherical at a time.
In the meantime, Anthony Hernandez enters the battle this weekend with a file of 5-0 in his final 5 fights as a part of a six-fight successful streak. Again in October, he took Michel Pereira (31-12, 2 NC MMA, 9-3 UFC) to the fifth spherical of the UFC Vegas 99 primary occasion earlier than ending him with floor and pound pictures, netting him the $50,000 (USD) Efficiency of the Night time Award a short while later.
Very similar to Brendan Allen was earlier than UFC Paris final fall, Anthony Hernandez is on a sustained successful streak heading into UFC Seattle on Saturday evening. He’s already on the cusp of the top-10 at 185, so a seventh victory in succession will certainly put him there on Monday morning.
UFC Seattle: Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto
Additionally on the principle card throughout UFC Seattle is a contracted catchweight affair at 140 lbs between No. 9 bantamweight contender Rob Font (21-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) and late alternative Jean Matsumoto (16-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC).
Rob Font was initially purported to sq. off towards Dominick Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) on Saturday’s card earlier than the latter was compelled to retire from the game just a few weeks in the past on account of a shoulder damage. The previous enters this catchweight battle having posted a 2-3 file in his final 5 fights.
Most lately, he returned to the win column through unanimous determination over Kyler Phillips (12-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) final October throughout UFC Vegas 99 after quarter-hour. Whereas having to pivot from Dominick Cruz to Jean Matsumoto on just a few weeks’ discover couldn’t have been straightforward for Font, that is the hand he was dealt after Cruz’ retirement.
What sort of changes has Font made with the change in opponent? Solely time will inform.
Within the different nook, Jean Matsumoto comes into UFC Seattle sporting an undefeated file. Final trip, he bested Brad Katona (14-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) by the use of unanimous determination.
With the choice by Dominick Cruz to withdraw from the battle towards Rob Font after which retire, Matsumoto shall be making the stroll for the primary time in 2025 a bit prior to he anticipated. Previous to the opening on UFC Seattle changing into obtainable, Matsumoto was slated to seem on March 8 versus Chris Gutierrez (21-5-2 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC.) Can he make it a 17-0 begin to his skilled MMA profession?
Remaining Ideas
Which primary card battle or fights are you trying ahead to in UFC Seattle on Saturday evening? Tell us within the feedback.
