Song Yadong's dominant win solidifies his position in the bantamweight division, but he needs to face higher-ranked opponents to continue his ascent.
A matchup against Dominick Cruz or Alexander Rakic could be exciting options for Yadong's next fight.
Anthony Smith should consider retirement due to recent defeats and the risk to his long-term health.
Marab Duvalishvili's upcoming fight against Henry Cejudo will determine his future title aspirations.
Deep dives
Summary of UFC Fight Night: Song Yadong vs Chris Gutierrez
In the main event of UFC Fight Night, Song Yadong showcased a dominant performance against Chris Gutierrez, securing a shutout victory on the scorecards. While Yadong looked impressive with his control and striking, there are still some areas for improvement, such as cage cutting and ground game defense. Overall, Yadong's win solidifies his position in the highly competitive bantamweight division, but he will need to face higher-ranked opponents to truly test his skills and continue his ascent.
Next Steps for Song Yadong
With potential opponents such as Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo currently occupied, a matchup against Dominick Cruz could be an exciting option for Yadong. This fight would test his skills and provide a great opportunity to showcase his abilities against a former champion. Another possibility could be a matchup with Alexander Rakic, which would be a main event showdown that could determine Yadong's readiness for a title shot. Ultimately, Yadong's next opponent should be a tough challenge that elevates his position in the division.
Assessing Anthony Smith's Future
Anthony Smith has recently faced a string of defeats, losing three of his last four fights. At 35 years old and with injuries piling up, it may be time for Smith to consider retirement. Having achieved great success in his career, Smith has nothing left to prove and can focus on his broadcasting career. Continuing to fight carries risks and may not be the best path for Smith's long-term health and well-being.
Marab Duvalishvili set to face Henry Cejudo at UFC 298
Marab Duvalishvili is set to face Henry Cejudo in an upcoming UFC 298 fight. If Marab wins, he will fight the winner of Sean O'Malley vs. Cheeto Vera. If Henry wins, he will also be in line for a shot at the bantamweight title. However, if Henry loses, it could potentially put his future title aspirations in doubt.
Rountree Jr. finishes off Anthony Smith with a knockout
Khalil Rountree Jr. delivers a knockout against Anthony Smith in a UFC Fight Night event.
Dana White jokes about oiling up fighters at the UFC PI
Dana White makes a humorous comment about oiling up fighters at the UFC Performance Institute.
Tim Elliott gets submission of the night with an impressive victory
Tim Elliott secures a submission win against Simar Duggy at the PFL event.
Steve Garcia delivers a brutal KO against Melquizael Costa
Steve Garcia knocks out Melquizael Costa in a boxing match, securing an impressive victory.
On Episode 526 of Morning Kombat Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell react to the weekend of fights. The boys start off by breaking down Song Yadong's win over Chris Gutierrez. Who Should Song fight next? Khalil Rountree stopped Anthony Smith, Should he get a top 5 opponent? Who else stood out from UFC Vegas 83? Next up the guys break down Devin Haney's win over Regis Prograis. Who is next for Haney? As always they close out Monday's with Dm's from Donks and HYSTS.
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:16:20) - Yadong vs. Gutierrez
(00:34:30) - Rountree TKO's Smith
(00:49:50) - Rest of UFC Vegas 83
(01:04:00) - Haney vs. Prograis
(01:26:00) - Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo
(01:53:00) - Dm's from Donks
(02:03:20) - HYSTS
Morning Kombat is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and wherever else you listen to podcasts.