Song Yadong on Run In with Henry Cejudo, Umar Nurmagomedov, Merab, and More | UFC Seattle

Summary

In this insightful interview, the fighter reflects on his journey leading up to a major fight against former champion Henry Cejudo, highlighting the challenges and growth he's experienced, particularly in improving his English. He discusses his preparation for Cejudo’s wrestling style and his thoughts on the careers of opponents like Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili. The fighter shares valuable lessons from previous losses, emphasizing the importance of patience and strategy in his fights. He also provides a lighthearted account of his encounter with Cejudo, showcasing both his focus and humor ahead of his upcoming match.

Takeaways

• 😀 Song feels comfortable and confident during fight week and appreciates the support from his coach and teammates in improving his English.
• 😀 Song has been training in wrestling for a long time, especially in preparation for fighting a former champion like Henry Cejudo.
• 😀 Fighting Henry Cejudo is seen as a great opportunity for Song, as Cejudo is a two-division champion and Olympic gold medalist, despite recent losses.
• 😀 Song believes Cejudo is still a top fighter and feels honored to face him in the octagon.
• 😀 Song’s camp focused heavily on wrestling to prepare for Cejudo’s style, and he’s been working on improving himself in all aspects.
• 😀 Regarding Umar Nurmagomedov's fight with Merab Dvalishvili, Song believes that Umar’s hand injury contributed to his loss.
• 😀 Song also thinks Umar could have had a better chance of winning the fight if his hand wasn’t injured.
• 😀 Even with a layoff, Song remained active in training since May of the previous year and continued improving.
• 😀 Song is excited for Zhang Weili’s upcoming fight against Valentina Shevchenko and is proud of her performance in recent matches.
• 😀 Song is focused on climbing the bantamweight division and has his sights set on fighting Umar Nurmagomedov, with a previous offer from the UFC to fight him.

Q & A

How has Song Yadong's experience been during fight week leading up to his fight with Henry Cejudo?

Song Yadong has felt comfortable so far during fight week, with everything going smoothly. He mentioned that he feels better prepared due to his English lessons.

What role has learning English played in Song Yadong's training and fight preparation?

Learning English has been beneficial for Song Yadong, especially as his teammates and coach help him practice. Although he hasn’t studied English as much recently, the lessons have made him feel more confident.

How does Song Yadong view his upcoming fight with former champion Henry Cejudo?

Song views fighting Henry Cejudo as a great opportunity. He respects Cejudo for his achievements, including being a two-division champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Despite recent losses, Song considers Cejudo a top fighter.

Has Song Yadong focused specifically on wrestling in his camp for the fight against Henry Cejudo?

Yes, Song Yadong has been training wrestling for a long time, particularly in preparation for a potential fight with Cejudo, given Cejudo’s strong wrestling background.

What did Song Yadong think of Umar Nurmagomedov’s fight against Merab Dvalishvili?

Song Yadong thought it was a good fight, praising Merab’s cardio. He believes Umar’s hand injury was a major factor in his loss, as it affected his grappling ability.

What does Song Yadong think about Umar Nurmagomedov’s chances of winning against Merab if his hand hadn't been injured?

Song Yadong is uncertain whether Umar would have won, but he believes Umar still had a chance even without the hand injury.

How has Song Yadong felt about his training camp despite having a long layoff before this fight?

Song Yadong felt fine during his camp, as he has been training continuously since May of the previous year. He remained focused on improving himself despite the layoff.

What did Song Yadong think of Zhang Weili’s recent performance and her future prospects?

Song Yadong was proud of Zhang Weili's performance and believes she will be facing Valentina Shevchenko next, which he considers a great matchup.

What are Song Yadong’s plans for the bantamweight division moving forward?

Song Yadong hopes to face Umar Nurmagomedov next and has aspirations to climb the ranks in the bantamweight division, eventually fighting top contenders.

How did Song Yadong react to his brief encounter with Henry Cejudo at the hotel?

Song Yadong found the encounter with Henry Cejudo amusing but made it clear that he doesn’t have any personal issues with Cejudo. He appreciated Cejudo's role as a promoter and found the moment lighthearted.