UFC: Song Yadong scores first-round KO over Marlon Moraes, and calls out former champion Dominick Cruz
- Song secures most impressive win of his career by stopping former title challenger Moraes at UFC Vegas 50 on Saturday night
- The 24-year-old Chinese bantamweight hopes to next face Cruz, saying ‘I have a lot of respect for him, but I want this fight’
Song met Moraes in the co-main event of the UFC Vegas 50 card. It was clear from the opening bell that the 24-year-old from Harbin had a significant speed advantage. That speed – coupled with the Chinese fighter’s proven knockout power – was Moraes’ undoing.
Little more than two minutes into the first round, Song flattened his experienced foe with a devastating uppercut at close quarters. Seconds later, the referee was diving into position to end the fight.
With his knockout victory over Moraes, Song (19-6-1) is now on a three-fight streak, having beaten Julio Arce by second-round stoppage and Casey Kenney by decision in his next most recent appearances. For his next fight, he is hoping to meet former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, one of the greatest fighters in the division’s history.
“I want a fight with Dominick Cruz,” Song said in his post-fight interview with commentator Paul Felder. “I have a lot of respect for him, but I want this fight.”
The 37-year-old American Cruz (24-3-0) has a long-standing rivalry with Team Alpha Male – the Sacramento, California gym where Song now does the bulk of his training. The former champion most notably fought the gym’s founder Urijah Faber three times, losing the first encounter by submission, and winning the second two by decision. He is currently riding decision wins over Pedro Munhoz and Kenney.
In defeat, the 33-year-old Moraes (23-10-1) is now on a four-fight skid, having also recently been beaten by Merab Dvalishvili, Rob Font and Cory Sandhagen – all by knockout, all before the third round.
