Song Yadong is favored against Marlon Moraes at UFC Fight Night 203 on Saturday, March 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event is one of 14 fights on ESPN+. Moraes is 23-9-1 in his career, while Yadong is 18-5-1 in his career. There are a total of 14 fights, all on ESPN+ at UFC Fight Night 203. Let’s look at the bout between Moraes and Yadong and UFC predictions.
UFC Fight Night 203 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 12 with 14 fights, all on ESPN+.
UFC Fight Night 203: Santos vs. Ankalaev Betting
Marlon Moraes (23-9-1, 5-5 UFC)
Moraes came into the UFC with a record of 18-4-1 and he has five wins and five losses in the UFC. He defeated John Dodson by split decision, Aljamain Sterling by KO, Jimmie Rivera by KO, Raphael Assunção by guillotine choke submission, and José Aldo by split decision; while losing to Raphael Assunção by split decision, Henry Cejudo by TKO, Cory Sandhagen by TKO, Rob Font by TKO, and Merab Dvalishvili by TKO. Moraes has been a pro since 2007 and he has 10 wins by TKO/KO and six by submission. He has 13 first round finishes.
Moraes said this to mmafighting.com about his upcoming fight against Yadong, “Song is a dangerous guy who has quick and dangerous hands. He doesn’t do much on the ground. He might even try to take me down, he might be working on his wrestling, but that’s not what he does [best], so he might have trouble and feel uncomfortable if he tries that. He doesn’t have a grappling pedigree. He’ll stand with me and try to surprise me and knock me out, but I’ll do the exact same thing to him: Try to knock him out, land the better strikes.
I think his style matches up well with mine. It’s not an easy fight, we know his qualities, I’ve watched all of his fights and I know everything he does, and I’m ready to face all that. I don’t know if he’s ready to face me. I hope so, because then we’ll put on a great fight.”
Song Yadong (18-5-1, 7-1-1 UFC)
Yadong came into the UFC with a record of 11-4 and he has seven wins, one loss, and one draw in the UFC. He defeated Bharat Khandare by front choke submission, Felipe Arantes by TKO, Vince Morales by unanimous decision, Alejandro Pérez by KO, Marlon Vera by unanimous decision, Casey Kenney by split decision, and Julio Arce by TKO; while losing to Kyler Phillips by unanimous decision, and fighting to a draw against Cody Stamann. Yadong has been a pro since 2013 and he has seven wins by TKO/KO and three by submission. He has six first round finishes.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Moraes 3.34 / Yadong 4.88
Striking Accuracy: Moraes 40% / Yadong 42%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Moraes 4.47 / Yadong 3.77
Defense: Moraes 53% / Yadong 59%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Moraes 0.89 / Yadong 0.46
Takedown Accuracy: Moraes 41% / Yadong 42%
Takedowns defended: Moraes 46% / Yadong 60%
Submission average: Moraes 0.4 / Yadong 0.3
UFC Picks
There doesn’t seem to be any doubt as to what we are going to get in this fight and that is fireworks. Moraes has already gone on record saying that he is going to simply stand and trade shots with Yadong. I think there may be a little value in taking Moraes at the plus price, as I am not yet sold on Yadong, as he hasn’t fought anyone. I’ll take a small shot at Moraes at the plus price but I think the better play is on the rounds. The total rounds are listed at just 1.5 but I think there is a decent chance this fight ends in the first round and I can’t see it going deep into the second round. I will take the rounds to go under at plus money.
| DATE | FIGHTERS | MONEY LINE |
| 3/12 | Thiago Santos | +379 |
| Magomed Ankalaev | -550 |
| 3/12 | Marlon Moraes | +194 |
| Yadong Song | -250 |
| 3/12 | Alex Caceres | +183 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | -235 |
| 3/12 | Karl Roberson | -135 |
| Khalil Rountree | +105 |
| 3/12 | Bruno Silva | +143 |
| Alex Pereira | -180 |
| 3/12 | AJ Fletcher | +186 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | -240 |
| 3/12 | J J Aldrich | -105 |
| Gillian Robertson | -125 |
| 3/12 | Trevin Jones | +115 |
| Javid Basharat | -145 |
| 3/12 | Kamuela Kirk | -105 |
| Damon Jackson | -125 |
| 3/12 | Sabina Mazo | +248 |
| Miranda Maverick | -330 |
| 3/12 | Cody Brundage | -105 |
| Dalcha Lungiambula | -125 |
| 3/12 | Kris Moutinho | -145 |
| Guido Cannetti | +115 |
| 3/12 | Azamat Murzakanov | -185 |
| Tafon Nchukwi | +146 |
| 3/12 | Terrance McKinney | +146 |
| Drew Dober | -185 |
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