UFC 265: China’s ‘Kung Fu Monkey’ Song Yadong sets sights on rankings return, says ‘I’m more well-rounded’
- Bantamweight faces Casey Kenney in Houston as he looks to rekindle his rise to fame
- ‘I’m going to pick up the pace even more this time,’ says Chinese star, who looks to shrug off first UFC loss
Put it down to the acoustics provided by an empty arena but when Kyler Phillips’ right shin connected with Song Yadong’s head back at UFC 259 in March the sound echoed out like someone was chopping down a tree.
Rather than fall, however, the Chinese bantamweight simply shrugged the blow off – and he continued to move forward and to fight – and Song is similarly dismissive when asked what had been going through his mind in the moments immediately after the American’s leg landed.
“I didn’t feel anything,” Song shrugs and smiles. “His punches were light so I don’t know what you are talking about.”
History shows us Song (16-3-1, one no contest) lost a barnburner with Phillips (9-2) via a tight decision but such was the Chinese fighter’s that it left the “The Kung Fu Monkey” with his reputation as one of the UFC’s most exciting bantamweight prospects intact.
The guess is that the memory of that loss still bristles, and that Casey Kenney (16-3-1) might well be the one who has to pay the price come Saturday night at UFC 265 in Houston, Texas.