UFC Seattle is upon us. This Saturday evening, February’s UFC schedule involves an finish with one other version of UFC Battle Night time. Every 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.
Reside protection kicks off with the prelims at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT. Stateside, the cardboard may be seen on ESPN+ and/or Disney Plus. Fundamental card motion follows up at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT on the Disney-owned subscription-based streamers. All instructed, after seven fights on the bout order had been postponed for one cause or one other, the ultimate model of this occasion contains a 12-contest slate.
UFC Seattle Fundamental Occasion: Henry Cejudo vs. Music Yadong
On the prime 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 combat at 5 minutes per spherical haven’t fought in a couple of yr’s time.
Cejudo, who initially retired from the game of MMA after successful the UFC Bantamweight Championship in UFC 249 from Jacksonville in Might 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.
In the mean time, he’s dropped two fights in succession within the aftermath of resuming his profession as a fighter. Final outing, he dropped a unanimous choice 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 fundamental occasion?
Within the different nook, Music Yadong enters the headlining bout with a mark of 3-2 in his final 5 MMA bouts relationship again to March of 2022. Again in March of final yr, he was on the shedding finish of a unanimous choice vs. Petr Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) throughout UFC 299 from Kaseya Middle in Miami to open up that night’s fundamental card.
Throughout Wednesday’s UFC Seattle media availability, Music Yadong had one factor in thoughts: Sending Henry Cejudo again to retirement completely.
“I believe if he misplaced this one, that is his final combat, the final spherical,” Yadong instructed the assembled press on Wednesday, “however I’ll win this combat. I imagine that is the final one, [his] final combat. This would be the final combat in Seattle. Time is over, it’s time to retire.”
UFC Seattle Co-Fundamental 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 in opposition to 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 choice in opposition to 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 combat, one spherical at a time.
In the meantime, Anthony Hernandez enters the combat 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 fundamental occasion earlier than ending him with floor and pound photographs, netting him the $50,000 (USD) Efficiency of the Night time Award a short while later.
Very like 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 substitute Jean Matsumoto (16-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC).
Rob Font was initially speculated to sq. off in opposition to Dominick Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) on Saturday’s card earlier than the latter was pressured to retire from the game a couple of weeks in the past as a result of a shoulder damage. The previous enters this catchweight combat having posted a 2-3 file in his final 5 fights.
Most not too long ago, he returned to the win column by way of unanimous choice 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 a couple of weeks’ discover couldn’t have been simple 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 outing, he bested Brad Katona (14-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) by the use of unanimous choice.
With the choice by Dominick Cruz to withdraw from the combat in opposition to Rob Font after which retire, Matsumoto can be making the stroll for the primary time in 2025 a bit prior to he anticipated. Previous to the opening on UFC Seattle turning 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?
Last Ideas
Which fundamental card combat or fights are you trying ahead to in UFC Seattle on Saturday evening? Tell us within the feedback.
