RADIO
After last week's UFC Vegas 102 event, the promotion returns to Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash., for UFC Seattle for the first time in over a decade. The event will mark the promotion's fourth visit to Seattle and first since UFC on Fox 8 in July 2013. Originally, this card was stacked and included fighters like former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, Edson Barboza, and Curtis Blaydes, but they were all forced to pull out.
The main event features former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo taking on the top-ranked Song Yadong. In the co-main event, Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez are scheduled for a rematch. On the main card, bantamweights Rob Font and Jean Matsumoto are scheduled for a catchweight bout. Also on the main card, we have a featherweight bout between Jean Silva and Melsik Baghdasaryan after a light heavyweight bout between Alonzo Menifield and Julius Walker.
In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Seattle: Cejudo vs. Song on 2/22/25. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck!
Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 30% off using code NEW! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!
DraftKings MMA Bantamweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Song Yadong, $8,900 - vs. Henry Cejudo
On Saturday, in the main event of UFC Seattle, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo faces always-dangerous Song Yadong in an intriguing bantamweight bout.
Both Cejudo and Song are coming off a loss, with Cejudo falling to current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, while Song lost to former bantamweight champion Petr Yan. This bantamweight bout is a critical matchup for both fighters.
That's a WRAP 🔥#UFCSeattle is getting closer! pic.twitter.com/aa5snrLXpq
— UFC (@ufc) February 20, 2025
Cejudo vacated the flyweight belt in early 2020, and nearly three years after his retirement, Cejudo returned to action, losing to then-bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling via split decision in an attempt to reclaim the bantamweight title.
The former two-division champion has gone 0-2 in his last two fights, so this fight will be crucial for Cejudo as he plans to make one last run at the title.
Song has been quietly climbing up the rankings and now has a chance to make a real statement if he can beat the former two-division champion Cejudo. He's won five of his last seven but has struggled against opponents ranked in the top five, dropping fights to Cory Sandhagen and, more recently, Yan. Before losing to Yan, Song was on a two-fight winning streak, defeating Chris Gutierrez and Ricky Simon.
Cejudo enters this fight with an MMA record of 16-4 and is 10-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 46 percent. Cejudo absorbs 3.29 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 60 percent. In regards to his grappling, Cejudo is averaging 1.99 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 32 percent and a takedown defense of 75 percent.
Song enters this fight as the favorite with an MMA record of 21-8-1 and 10-3-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.49 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 43 percent. Song is absorbing 3.96 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 55 percent. When it comes to his grappling, Song is averaging 0.66 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 40 percent and a takedown defense of 72 percent.
If this fight was made a few years ago, I would've picked Cejudo to win the fight. That being said, this fight is more suited for his style than his previous two outings as he lost to two grapple-heavy opponents. I think Cejudo will be able to get Song down. I just don’t think he will be able to keep him down.
Cejudo is past his prime, he doesn't seem to have the same cardio he once had, and his opponent is 10 years younger than him and in his prime. I think Song will keep this fight standing and piece up Cejudo on the feet with his crisp boxing. My prediction is that Song will win via unanimous decision.
DraftKings MMA Middleweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Anthony Hernandez, $9,000 - vs. Brendan Allen
Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez are scheduled for a middleweight showdown in the co-main event of UFC Seattle this Saturday. Allen will look to get back in the win column while Hernandez looks to extend his win streak to seven.
Allen will look to bounce back following his loss to Nassourdine Imavov last September in Paris, which ended his seven-fight winning streak. There were some big red flags seen in Allen's last fight, most of all that Allen was tiring in the third round. Against Imavov, Allen struggled on the feet and managed to land just 1-of-10 takedown attempts. Between February 2022 and April 2024, Allen went 7-0 with five submission wins and two decision triumphs.
Hernandez was last seen in action at UFC Vegas 99 where he fought in his first UFC main event, dominating Michel Pereira from the start and finishing him via fifth-round TKO. He joined the promotion in 2019, starting his UFC career with a 1-2 record.
Since losing to Kevin Holland, Hernandez has been on a tear, winning six in a row. Known as a pressure grappler with tremendous cardio, Hernandez uses his grappling to exhaust his opponents as he does damage and makes opponents work the entire fight.
Allen enters this fight with an MMA record of 24-6 and he is 12-3 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.79 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 53 percent. Allen is absorbing 3.83 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 46 percent. His grappling is great, as he's averaging 1.67 takedowns every 15 minutes and 1.3 submission attempts during the same period. Allen has a takedown accuracy of 39 percent and a takedown defense of 58 percent.
Hernandez enters this fight with an MMA record of 13-2 and he is 7-2 in the UFC. He averages 4.90 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 63 percent. Hernandez absorbs 2.88 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 46 percent. His grappling has been elite in the UFC, averaging 6.64 takedowns every 15 minutes and 2.3 submission attempts during the same period. Hernandez has a takedown accuracy of 44 percent and a takedown defense of 65 percent.
These two already fought back in 2018 at LFA 32 and Hernandez won that fight via unanimous decision. Both men relied on a heavy grappling approach but it was Hernandez who did more to win the fight. I think Hernandez will outgrapple Allen but I don't think he'll be able to finish him. I'll pick Hernandez to get another win over Allen.
DraftKings MMA Catchweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Jean Matsumoto, $8,600 - vs. Rob Font
On the main card of UFC Seattle, UFC veteran Rob Font is scheduled to take on undefeated prospect Jean Matsumoto in a catchweight bout. Font aims for his second consecutive win while Matsumoto looks to remain undefeated and extend his win streak.
Font was originally set to face off against former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, but after Cruz's injury and subsequent retirement, Matsumoto stepped in. The 37-year-old Font enters this fight as the underdog with an MMA record of 21-8. He was last seen in action at UFC Vegas 99 where he managed to get back in the win column by defeating Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision. Before beating Phillips, Font lost to both Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo.
Matsumoto was initially scheduled for a bout against Chris Gutierrez but was asked to step in for the injured Cruz against Font on six days' notice. The 25-year-old Matsumoto enters this bout with an undefeated record of 16-0. He earned his UFC contract by defeating Kasey Tanner via unanimous decision on "Dana White's Contender Series." Since then, Matsumoto has won two in a row, defeating Dan Argueta via submission and, most recently, Brad Katona via unanimous decision.
Font enters this fight with a UFC record of 11-7. He averages 5.44 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 45 percent. Font absorbs 3.58 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 57 percent. In regards to his grappling, Font is averaging 0.84 takedowns every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 34 percent and his takedown defense is 44 percent.
DraftKings sees Matsumoto as the favorite in this fight. Matsumoto averages 5.20 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 40 percent. He's absorbing 5.05 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 46 percent. In regards to his grappling, Matsumoto is averaging 1.13 takedowns every 15 minutes. Matsumoto has a takedown accuracy of 27 percent and his takedown defense is 57 percent.
This is, without a doubt, the biggest test in Matsumoto's career. A well-rounded fighter with slick submissions, Matsumoto's strength lies in mixing up his striking and takedowns. In contrast, because of his slick boxing and knockout power, Font likes to keep the fight on the feet.
Font's weakness is his wrestling, and Matsumoto will need to use his wrestling if he wants to win this fight because he's not going to beat Font in a striking battle.
It's not going to be easy for Matsumoto, but I think he'll be able to keep taking Font down and control him there. Plus, Matsumoto is 12 years younger than Font. My prediction is that Matsumoto will mix up his striking and his grappling en route to a unanimous decision victory.
