UFC Fight Night 252: Cejudo vs. Song Odds, Picks, & Best Bets

The UFC heads up to Seattle for the first time in 12 years for UFC Fight Night 252. And it’s a pretty good lineup for a Fight Night card, featuring five ranked mixed martial artists on the main card.

The main event will be a top 10 bantamweight battle between the old and the new in Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong. The card will also feature a co-main event pitting light heavyweights Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez against one another, as well as legend Rob Font taking on newcomer Jean Matsumoto. So, without further ado, let’s see what kind of value these UFC sportsbooks are offering for our best bets of the night!

UFC Fight Night 252: Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong Main Card Best Bets & Odds

All odds provided by Betway.

No. 7 Henry Cejudo vs. No. 8 Song Yadong Bantamweight Main Event Bout Betting Odds

Olympic champion Henry Cejudo (16-4) continues his attempt to march back to relevancy five years after his first retirement. He has lost both fights since his return. Both were decision losses against current or former champs who beat him at his own game on the mat. But Song Yadong (21-8-1, 1 NC) is no slouch either.

The Kung Fu Kid has won five of his last seven, with his only two losses coming against Cory Sandhagen and Petr Yan. Here, the Chinese fighter will have advantages all over the place. He’s 10 years younger, four inches taller, and three inches longer in the arms than his opponent. Not to mention that by the time they enter the octagon on Saturday night, Yadong will probably be a lot heavier than Cejudo too.

That’s what makes this such an uphill battle for Cejudo. Yadong’s advantage on the feet is going to be overwhelming in terms of his power, speed, and technical ability. Cejudo is going to have to shoot. A lot. And while we think he will complete a few (Yadong does have an impressive 72 percent takedown defense though), even when he does get the 27-year-old down, he’s going to be too big and strong for the elder statesman of the bantamweight division to keep him down.

Yadong seems the obvious choice to win here, but the -275 odds from Ontario sportsbooks are not nearly worth the bite of the apple. If you want to go super safe, the fight to go the distance at -155 is solid. If Cejudo wins, it will no doubt be a decision, the power’s not there anymore to get a finish on a specimen like Yadong. On the other hand, Cejudo has been finished just once in 20 fights, and that came at the hands of the greatest fighter this weight class has ever seen: Mighty Mouse, Demetrious Johnson.

Yadong has won tough decisions before against the likes of Chito Vera and Chris Gutierrez, so he can go the distance. We believe that’s how he’ll get it done here as well. Yadong by decision offers much more attractive +130 odds as well.

Best Bet: Song Yadong via Decision (+130)

No. 9 Brendan Allen vs. No. 12 Anthony Hernandez Middleweight Co-Main Event Bout Betting Odds

Brendan Allen (24-6) rarely loses, but when he does, he loses pretty badly. In his most recent fight, he was pummeled for 15 minutes by Nassourdine Imavov, who isn’t nearly the defensive wrestler Anthony Hernandez (13-2, 1 NC) is. If he couldn’t get Imavov down, he won’t be able to get Hernandez down, and Fluffy is the type to make guys pay when they shoot.

If Allen can’t get Hernandez to the mat and take control position, he’s going to have a rough go of it in this one, because Hernandez is very dangerous. He has won six straight fights, five of which have come by finish. Half of Allen’s losses, meanwhile, have come via finish, including two of his last three. We like Hernandez to run his finish streak to five here.

Best Bet: Anthony Hernandez Method of Victory Double Chance - KO/TKO/DQ or Submission

No. 9 Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto Bantamweight Bout Betting Odds

In the third fight of the main card, we have another grizzled legend of the UFC going against a relative newcomer. Rob Font (21-8) was supposed to fight another legend in Dominick Cruz, but the latter retired instead. UFC youngster Jean Matsumoto (16-0) stepped in for a catchweight bout at 140.5 pounds.

However, the Brazilian is only two fights into his UFC career, and he hasn’t fought anyone of note yet. Meanwhile, 37-year-old Font refuses to back down to Father Time. He won as a big underdog last time out, and we believe his superior boxing technique and slight reach advantage will shine through here. We’re rolling with the wily underdog.

Best Bet: Rob Font Moneyline (+125)