MMA Preview – Yadong Song vs Casey Kenney at UFC 265
YADONG SONG VS CASEY KENNEY FACTS
When is UFC 265? Sunday 8th August, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 265? Toyota Center, Houston, Texas (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 265? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 265
What channel is UFC 265 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 265? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
YADONG SONG VS CASEY KENNEY LOWDOWN
Yadong Song (16-5-1(1)) returns after suffering his first loss in 10 fights. Kyler Phillips put on one of his best performances back in March earning a unanimous decision halting the prospect from China. He won his first four UFC bouts before fighting to a draw with Cody Stamann getting a point deducted for an illegal knee. He moved back up to featherweight to take on Marlon Vera and earnt a dubious unanimous decision. He dropped back down to 135 lbs for the Phillips fight and continues his bantamweight quest at UFC 265.
Casey Kenney’s (16-3-1) momentum was also halted in his last fight. He had only lost once in his last 10 and that was a unanimous decision to Merab Dvalishvili who has been grinding everyone out of late. After that loss, Kenney submitted Louis Smolka and earnt comfortable unanimous decisions over Heili Alateng and Nathaniel Wood. Those wins took him to 5-1 in the UFC before he somehow managed a split decision with the bantamweight legend Dominick Cruz.
YADONG SONG VS CASEY KENNEY PREDICTION
This is a phenomenal fight to kick off the main card. They are both extremely well-rounded and match up very well. They are quality strikers. Song is the better boxer with more power in his hands whereas Kenney is more lethal with his kicks which he will unleash from his southpaw stance.
They are very similar physically and both are rapid on the feet. If this is solely a kickboxing match, we would back Song to earn a decision and he also has the power to get the knockout, but Casey’s defence is very good. Where Casey can change the course of the fight is with his takedowns.
He mixes in his takedowns very well and if he can catch Song off guard and get him on his back or assume some control time in each round, he will be able to sway the judges.
Overall, a decision is likely to fall either way. We would not be surprised to see another another split decision and we are leaning towards Song, but this is a very tough one to call.
Prediction: Song via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
