Fight By Fight Preview | UFC Seattle

Fighting for the third time since returning from a three-year sabbatical, Cejudo looks to snap a two-fight skid when he makes the walk this weekend. He landed on the wrong side of the cards in his title bout with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 two years ago and was out-hustled by current champ Merab Dvalishvili last time out, leaving many to wonder if the time away marked the end of the days of “Triple C” being a capital T threat in the division he once ruled.

Already in his eighth year on the roster, but still just 27 years old, Song has found stable footing in the thick of the Top 10, but has yet to take the next step needed to become a full blown contender. He’s posted a 5-2 mark over his last seven outings, but the two setbacks have come in bouts that could have carried him forward against Cory Sandhagen and Petr Yan.

UFC SEATTLE FULL FIGHTS: Cejudo vs Moraes | Song vs Simon | Hernandez vs Pereira | Allen vs Craig 

This is a crucial matchup for both individuals, and that should result in a spirited contest once they’re standing opposite one another. Cejudo is driven to avoid a three-fight slide and eager to prove he still has plenty to offer, while Song certainly doesn’t want to be saddled with a second consecutive setback and third defeat against fighters ahead of him in the pecking order.

Bantamweight is always ultra-competitive and there is the potential for some major hierarchical changes within the division this year, with this bout being one of those possible catalytic events. Buckle up and enjoy!

Additional Main Card Contests

Brendan Allen vs Anthony Hernandez

Seven years after facing off under the LFA banner, Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez meet for a second time, with a place in the UFC middleweight Top 10 hanging in the balance.

The 25-year-old Matsumoto touches down on the banks of Puget Sound having won each of his first two appearances inside the Octagon to extend his record to 16-0 as a professional. A member of the DWCS Class of ’23, wins over Dan Argueta and Brad Katona have established Matsumoto as an emerging name in the division, but a victory over Font would expedite his ascent in the ultra-competitive 135-pound weight class.

MORE UFC SEATTLE: Cejudo Greatest Hits | Hernandez Top Finishes 

This is a classic “veteran versus prospect” battle with a catchweight twist, and it will be interesting to see how things shake out. Font has the benefit of a full camp preparing for Cruz, while the Brazilian, who was scheduled to face Chris Gutieirrez next month at UFC 313, has youth and the air of invincibility on his side. We’ll see which one wins out on Saturday.

Alonzo Menifield vs Julius Walker

Alonzo Menifield moves his 2025 debut ahead a couple of weeks, trading London for Seattle as he welcomes undefeated newcomer Julius Walker to the UFC for the first time.

The 37-year-old Menifield went 4-0-1 during a five-fight run in 2022 and 2023, but has since dropped back-to-back contests, falling by stoppage to surging contender Carlos Ulberg and unbeaten Russian Azamat Murzakanov. Still a physically imposing figure with menacing power, it will be interesting to see how the early DWCS grad responds to the first two-fight losing streak of his career.

Walker touches down in Seattle with a 6-0 mark that includes regional title fight wins over TUF alum Nyle Bartling, DWCS grad Bevon Lewis, and veteran Myron Dennis. “Juice Box” has won nine straight overall dating back to his amateur days, and posted four wins in 2024, claiming titles in two promotions while finishing everyone he faced.

Will Menifield’s experience on the big stage help him carry the day or can the 25-year-old new arrival come in and catapult himself into the thick of things in the light heavyweight division after his debut effort?

Preliminary Card Pairings

Andre Fili vs Melquizael Costa

The prelims wrap in the 145-pound weight class, as veteran Andre Fili squares off with Melquizael Costa.

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A 23-fight UFC veteran, Fili, who was born in nearby Federal Way, WA, hits the Octagon coming off a quality win over Cub Swanson last time out that raised his record to 24-11 overall, with one no contest. Costa earned a victory in his lone appearance of 2024, collecting a third-round stoppage win over Shayilan Nuerdanbieke to bring his UFC record level at two wins and two losses.

Ion Cutelaba vs Ibo Aslan

“All gas, no brakes” light heavyweights Ion Cutelaba and Ibo Aslan collide in what promises to be a thunderous matchup in the 205-pound weight class on Saturday.

Eight years into his UFC run, Cutelaba remains a perpetually dangerous opponent, despite a sub .500 record inside the Octagon, and arrives in Seattle having outworked Ivan Erslan last time out. A member of the DWCS Class of ’23, Aslan earned a pair of wins in his rookie campaign, gaining a measure of vengeance against Anton Turkalj before quickly dispatching Raffael Cerqueira.

Adam Fugitt vs Billy Ray Goff

Oregon native Adam Fugitt welcomes Billy Ray Goff to the Pacific Northwest in this preliminary card contest in the welterweight division.

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The 36-year-odl Fugitt has gone 2-2 through his first four UFC appearances, landing on the wrong side of the results in bouts with Michael Morales and Mike Malott, while posting quality wins over Yusaku Kinoshita and Josh Quinlan. Goff punched his ticket to the UFC with a first-round finish on Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series and beat Kinoshita in his promotional debut before dropping a decision to Trey Waters last time out.

Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Eric McConico

Nursulton Ruziboev returns to action (and the middleweight division) on Saturday, as he welcomes Eric McConico to the Octagon for the first time.

The six-foot-five Ruziboev opened his UFC career with back-to-back stoppage wins before moving down to welterweight and landing on the wrong side of the results in a bout with surging contender Joaquin Buckley. McConico is the latest member of the MMA Lab crew to graduate to the UFC, arriving for his debut with a 9-2-1 record and riding a five-fight winning streak that includes a stoppage win over UFC vet Maki Pitolo.

Ricky Simón vs Javid Basharat

The first of the night’s three bantamweight pairings sees Ricky Simon and Javid Basharat share the Octagon in a battle of competitors looking to work into the Top 15 in 2025.

Order UFC 313: Pereira vs Ankalaev 

Simon has carried a number next to his name in the past, but has slipped from the rankings as a result of a three-fight slide. Basharat ran his record to 14-0 with wins in his first three UFC outings, but enters this one off a no contest result against Victor Henry and a unanimous decision loss to Aiemann Zahabi last time out.

Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Nick Klein

Recent DWCS graduates Mansur Abdul-Malik and Nick Klein square off in a clash of middleweight prospects on Saturday’s prelims.

The 27-year-old Abdul-Malik has already made a statement inside the Octagon, posting a first-round stoppage win over Dusko Todorovic in his promotional debut last November. Klein, who earned a 37-second upset win in the final bout of last season, looks to push his winning streak to four by handing the Xtreme Couture representative the first loss of his career.

Modestas Bukauskas vs Rafael Cerqueira

Saturday’s action gets underway in the light heavyweight division, as Modestas Bukauskas takes on Rafael Cerqueira.

Former Cage Warriors champ Bukauskas picked up his third win in four starts since returning to the promotion last July in London, submitting Marcin Prachnio in the third round to move to 16-6 overall. Eleven consecutive finishes in as many starts earned Cerqueira an opportunity to compete in the UFC last year, but unfortunately for the Brazilian, he landed on the business end of the first-round finish in his debut.