Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight knockout artists Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo will clash this weekend (Sat., May 30, 2026) inside Galaxy Arena in Macau, China for UFC Macau.
Though ranked in the Top Five at just 28 years of age, Yadong has a problem. He has previously fought three of the men ranked ahead of him, coming painfully close to victory each time before ultimately getting edged out by the divisional cream of the crop. If he’s to live up to his championship potential,
Yadong needs to take one more step and develop further. Meanwhile, it’s fair to see Figueiredo’s best days are behind him. Though still a top-ranked Bantamweight, the 38-year-old Brazilian has lost three of his last four to an elite level of competition. He’s still very good, but only one of these men will remain in the title mix after their UFC Macau main event.
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:
Yadong vs. Figueiredo Betting Odds
- Song Yadong victory: -700
- Song Yadong via TKO/KO/DQ: +130
- Song Yadong via submission: +1500
- Song Yadong via decision: +135
- Deiveson Figueiredo victory: +470
- Deiveson Figueiredo via TKO/KO/DQ: +1500
- Deiveson Figueiredo via submission: +2500
- Deiveson Figueiredo via decision: +800
- Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
How Yadong Wins
Yadong is something of a Bantamweight tank. He never seems particularly bothered by whatever offense his opponent is landing, yet they can rarely say the same. “The Kung Fu Kid” has very fast hands that land with serious impact, and his overall ground game has developed nicely in recent years.
Yadong needs a statement win, as it’s been three years since his last knockout win. Given that he’s a massive favorite against a former Flyweight a decade his elder, UFC has given Yadong an important opportunity to return to the win column in style.
How to stop Figueiredo? Yadong has to consistently pressure the Brazilian and extend exchanges. “Figgy” does his best work when able to blast power kicks and time single-shot counters, particularly as he’s aged and is less willing to pull the trigger. Yadong has to work through that initial big offensive moment — ideally by slipping his head or using his guard — and remain in position to throw afterward.
If Yadong pressures early, he has the speed and power to bully the former Flyweight king.
How Figueiredo Wins
Figueiredo is a very dangerous man. “Daico” has serious power even up at Bantamweight, complimented by a marauding Muay Thai style. Figueiredo is at his best when walking his opponents down and forcing them to make mistakes, but lately, he’s settled into more of a counter fighter/counter wrestler strategy.
In this matchup, Figueiredo has to find a way to slow down Yadong. Typically, his power is enough to scare off opponents from pressuring him, but Yadong is rarely deterred. Cory Sandhagen’s answer was intercepting elbows, which is a weapon Figueiredo has used to great effect in the past. In addition, Figueiredo’s excellent reactive takedown could help halt his foe’s pressure.
Yadong has five-round cardio, but he also swings with full power from the first bell and does slow down over time. If Figueiredo is evasive while timing hard shots and forcing him to wrestle up, Yadong’s seemingly inhuman speed and power will drop off, allowing Figueiredo’s experience and skill to play more of a factor.
Yadong vs. Figueiredo Prediction
Yadong is still at his peak, while Figueiredo is definitely fading.
I worry this will be the fight where Figueiredo is really punished for his inability to pull the trigger. When he fought Sandhagen last year, the American was landing at a really high clip and pretty easily dodging Figueiredo’s swings. Yadong has the speed and boxing to do the same, except his punches land with much more venom. Furthermore, Yadong is a very big Bantamweight, and that size advantage will only enhance his usual punching power.
Figueiredo has never actually been knocked out, but Yadong stands a solid shot at being the first.
