Climate Pledge Arena was the battleground for an electrifying night of fights as UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song unfolded on February 22, 2025. With an attendance of 18,287 and a live gate revenue of $3,841,751, the event showcased 12 intense bouts that left fans on the edge of their seats.
Main Event: Yadong Song Defeats Henry Cejudo via Technical Decision (Eye Poke)
In an unfortunate conclusion to the highly anticipated main event, Yadong Song secured a technical decision win over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. The fight ended prematurely due to an accidental eye poke in the third round, forcing the judges to score the contest up to that point. Despite the unsatisfactory finish, Song had been displaying sharp striking, utilizing his reach advantage to keep Cejudo at bay. The former Olympic gold medalist struggled to impose his wrestling, making it a difficult night for his return to action. While the stoppage left some questions unanswered, Song’s performance solidified his standing among the bantamweight elite.
Co-Main Event: Anthony Hernandez Defeats Brendan Allen via Unanimous Decision
Anthony Hernandez pulled off an impressive victory over top-ranked middleweight Brendan Allen, earning a unanimous decision in a grueling contest. Hernandez’s relentless pace, combined with his well-rounded grappling and striking, overwhelmed Allen, who struggled to match the intensity. The win puts Hernandez in contention for a top-10 opponent in his next bout, potentially setting up a breakthrough moment in his career.
Main Card Results:
140 Lbs: Rob Font Defeats Jean Matsumoto via Split Decision
Veteran Rob Font edged out a close split decision over Jean Matsumoto in a high-paced striking battle. Matsumoto’s crisp combinations kept Font guessing, but the New England Cartel standout landed the more significant strikes, swaying the judges in his favor.
145 Lbs: Jean Silva Defeats Melsik Baghdasaryan via KO/TKO (Straight Right to Ground Strikes) at 4:15, Round 1
Jean Silva continued his finishing streak with a first-round knockout of Melsik Baghdasaryan. Silva dropped Baghdasaryan with a brutal straight right and sealed the deal with ground strikes, proving himself as one of the featherweight division’s most dangerous prospects.
205 Lbs: Alonzo Menifield Defeats Julius Walker via Split Decision
In a grueling battle that earned Fight of the Night honors, Alonzo Menifield narrowly defeated Julius Walker by split decision. Menifield’s striking power played a crucial role, but Walker’s relentless wrestling kept the fight competitive. The back-and-forth contest showcased incredible endurance from both fighters.
Preliminary Card Results:
205 Lbs: Ion Cutelaba Defeats Ibo Aslan via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) at 2:51, Round 1
Cutelaba made quick work of Aslan, securing a dominant first-round submission. The Moldovan powerhouse wasted no time in imposing his aggressive grappling game.
145 Lbs: Melquizael Costa Defeats Andre Fili via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:30, Round 1
Costa stunned longtime UFC veteran Andre Fili with a slick first-round guillotine choke, marking a statement win in the competitive featherweight division.
185 Lbs: Mansur Abdul-Malik Defeats Nick Klein via KO/TKO (Strikes Against the Cage) at 3:24, Round 2
A powerful striking performance from Abdul-Malik saw him dismantle Klein with a barrage of punches against the cage in round two.
135 Lbs: Ricky Simón Defeats Javid Basharat via KO/TKO (Straight Right) at 3:58, Round 1
Simón delivered one of the night’s biggest moments, knocking out Basharat with a devastating right hand in front of his hometown crowd.
175 Lbs: Austin Vanderford Defeats Nikolay Veretennikov via KO/TKO (Ground and Pound) at 4:13, Round 2
Vanderford showcased his grappling dominance, finishing Veretennikov with a relentless ground-and-pound assault in the second round.
185 Lbs: Nursulton Ruziboev Defeats Eric McConico via KO/TKO (Right Hook) at 0:33, Round 2
Ruziboev wasted no time, landing a perfectly timed right hook to stop McConico early in the second round.
205 Lbs: Modestas Bukauskas Defeats Raffael Cerqueira via KO/TKO (Combination Punches) at 2:12, Round 1
Bukauskas set the tone early with a vicious combination, knocking out Cerqueira in the opening round.
Fight of the Night: Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker
The light heavyweight battle between Alonzo Menifield and Julius Walker stole the show with three rounds of back-and-forth action. Menifield’s striking and Walker’s relentless wrestling created a thrilling contest that kept fans engaged from start to finish.
Performance of the Night Bonuses:
Ricky Simón:
Simón thrilled the Seattle crowd with a stunning knockout of Javid Basharat, bouncing back from a three-fight skid in emphatic fashion.
Jean Silva:
Silva continued his rise in the featherweight division with a highlight-reel knockout over Melsik Baghdasaryan, extending his UFC record to 4-0 with another spectacular finish.
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song delivered an action-packed event with dramatic finishes and hard-fought battles. While the main event ended in controversy, Yadong Song’s victory over Henry Cejudo still reinforced his presence at the top of the division.
Anthony Hernandez’s triumph in the co-main event marked a significant step forward in his career, while fighters like Ricky Simón and Jean Silva stole the spotlight with their jaw-dropping performances. With several contenders emerging from this card, the UFC’s bantamweight, featherweight, and light heavyweight divisions just became even more exciting.