Home of Fight Expert Picks: UFC Macau
UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Figueiredo brings the Octagon back to Asia with one of the most intriguing main cards of the year, headlined by a fascinating bantamweight clash that could reshape the 135-pound picture.
Song Yadong (22-9-1) puts his ranking on the line against former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (25-6-1), who is looking to recapture elite status. This is a striker vs. finisher showdown, Song’s crisp boxing and durability against Figueiredo’s relentless pressure and submission arsenal. Don’t sleep on “Deus da Guerra”, he’s dangerous until the final horn.
The co-main event is a light heavyweight showdown between China’s Zhang “Mountain Tiger” Mingyang (19-7) and Alonzo “Atomic” Menifield (17-6-1). Zhang has finished all 19 of his professional wins in Round 1 and is fighting on home soil off a loss to Johnny Walker, making him a dangerous and motivated pressure fighter. Menifield is a smart counter-striker with heavy hands, but his durability has been questioned after back-to-back KO losses.
Elsewhere on the card, heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich (20-3) returns against undefeated Brazilian Tallison Teixeira (9-1) in a knockout artist showdown that could end in seconds. Bantamweight veteran Kai Asakura (21-6) faces Cameron Smotherman (12-6) in a fight where Asakura’s experience gives him a clear edge. Jake Matthews (22-8) squares off with Carlston Harris (19-7) in a welterweight clash of durable grinders, while flyweight Alex Perez (26-10) takes on China’s Sumudaerji (19-7) in what figures to be a fast-paced, fan-friendly scrap. Saturday night in Macau should deliver.
Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
HayJive – Song Yadong
- “This feels like a great spot for Song Yadong. He’s younger, faster, and on the better career trajectory. Figueiredo looks like he’s nearing the end of his run, while Yadong is entering his prime. I’ll take Song to get it done.”
Nolan – Song Yadong
- “Song is younger, more explosive, should be a lot faster and have the power edge. I think his defensive grappling will keep it standing, as well.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Song Yadong
- “Yadong is in his prime while Figgy, unfortunately, is on his way out. While that chin has held up, this is one of those fights where, over five rounds, I could see the damage piled up continuously.”
The Fight Analyst – Song Yadong
- “Song is still in his prime while Figueiredo is currently out of his. He has Figgy beat pretty much everywhere, and I fully expect a dominant performance from Song to get his hand raised this weekend.”
Austin Swaim – Song Yadong
- “Though the betting line is out of control, Yadong’s sturdy base, hallmark durability, and general athleticism should push him past the smaller Figueiredo, who has really struggled to carve out an offensive identity at bantamweight.”
Zhang Mingyang vs. Alonzo Menifield
HayJive – Zhang Mingyang
- “Zhang Mingyang is a one-dimensional fighter, but this matchup sets up well for him. His gas tank remains a concern if the fight extends, but against a 38-year-old Menifield coming off another KO loss, I think he finds the finish early.”
Nolan – Zhang Mingyang
- “Zhang has a good bounce-back opportunity here against a very hittable Menifield. Menifield has gone to close decisions with lower-level guys, and Zhang has everything to prove here.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Zhang Mingyang
- “Pretty straightforward. Just be patient, wait for opportunities, and capitalize when given the chance.”
The Fight Analyst – Zhang Mingyang
- “This is a get-right spot for China’s Zhang Mingyang as he goes up against a very hittable Alonzo Menifield. I thoroughly expect another quick exit for Menifield as he gets flattened by Zhang, who gets the emphatic win in front of his home crowd.”
Austin Swaim – Alonzo Menifield
- “We know very little about Mingyang Zhang at this point. UFC would like him to be the latest to chin Menifield, but this seems like an evenly matched brawl where the American has faced much stiffer competition and also, theoretically, could have a grappling advantage.”
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tallison Teixeira
HayJive – Sergei Pavlovich
- “This looks like a clear knockout spot for Pavlovich. Teixeira has power, but Pavlovich should be the first one to land clean. I expect him to find the finish in the opening round.”
Nolan – Sergei Pavlovich
- “Both guys are dangerous, but I’ve hated what I’ve seen out of Tallison’s cardio. Pavlovich will have him backing up and constantly moving, which should wear him down.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Sergei Pavlovich
- “I think Tallison is dangerous, but at the same time, his game has some flaws that an experienced power-puncher like Pavlovich will take advantage of.”
The Fight Analyst – Sergei Pavlovich
- “This is the perfect matchup for Sergei Pavlovich to get a big knockout. Tallison Teixeira has some grappling chops in which he showed in his win over Tai Tuivasa, but Pavlovich’s Greco-Roman wrestling background will keep this fight standing. Expect an early knockout victory for Pavlovich to get back on track in the heavyweight division.”
Austin Swaim – Sergei Pavlovich
- “Teixeira has surely improved training with Poatan, but it wasn’t that long ago we saw him lose Round 3 to Tai Tuivasa. I’m not sure he’ll have the early grappling advantage here to hide his poor head defense from the Russian bomber.”
Kai Asakura vs. Cameron Smotherman
HayJive – Kai Asakura
- “Smotherman is probably the better minute-winner, but I trust Asakura’s speed and finishing ability more. He’s the more dynamic striker, and I think that difference shows over the course of the fight.”
Nolan – Kai Asakura
- “Huge step down in this spot. Kai needs a win here, and Smothermann has been a letdown at a lower level.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Kai Asakura
- “Perfect opportunity with a step down in competition, without a weight cut, to do what he needs to do.”
The Fight Analyst – Kai Asakura
- “Another bounce-back spot on the main card, as Kai Asakura makes his move to 135 lbs. This will be tough sledding for Cameron Smotherman as he’s outmatched in every facet of this fight. Asakura should eventually land something big on Smotherman and take him out midway through the fight.”
Austin Swaim – Kai Asakura
- “Three years ago, this fight wouldn’t have even been sanctioned — even at 135 pounds where Asakura was a RIZIN champion. Smotherman’s lone UFC victory came from outpointing a flyweight, but the inexperienced boxer’s true UFC ceiling is probably closer to the guy who got slimed by Charlampous Grigoriou.”
Jake Matthews vs. Carlston Harris
HayJive – Jake Matthews
- “I don’t love the betting price, but I do like Matthews as the pick. Harris is coming off back-to-back knockout losses at 38 years old, while Matthews is in a much better spot career-wise. If he keeps the fight standing, his boxing should be the difference.”
Nolan – Jake Matthews
- “Jake is younger and well-rounded, showing the ability to box with anyone as well as grapple. I see a finish in this spot after a tough refereeing call against Magny. Jake should be ready to show out.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Jake Matthews
- “I think it’s simply a skill, durability and experience advantage for Jake.”
The Fight Analyst – Jake Matthews
- “Jake Matthews laid a dud against gatekeeper Neil Magny, but after Muslim Salikhov pulled out of their bout, Matthews now gets another old, aging fighter in Carlson Harris. As long as Matthews can avoid the grappling exchanges with Harris, he should be able to stay on the outside and pick Harris apart for the decision win.”
Austin Swaim – Carlston Harris
- ““Mocambique” has been dropped in each of his last two fights, but Jake Matthews has never carried much power. It’s actually Harris that has an above-average knockdown rate (1.03%) and a great squeeze on front chokes for this division. Remember kids — never bet Jake Matthews at chalk.”
Alex Perez vs. Sumudaerji
HayJive – Sumudaerji
- “I’ll stick with Sumudaerji here. He’s younger, longer, and fights from the southpaw stance. If he can avoid getting clipped by a big shot, I think his takedown defense is good enough to keep this fight where he wants it. From there, he has a path to win minutes on the feet and potentially hurt Perez along the way.”
Nolan – Sumudaerji
- “Su is far more talented than he gets credit for. Perez KO’d Charles Johnson for a rare win in the later portion of his career. Su will have crowd with him, and the ability to make this a kickboxing fight.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Alex Perez
- “I think Perez has the momentum to make a statement here.”
The Fight Analyst – Sumudaerji
- “Sumudaerji is at the best point of his career right now riding a three-fight winning streak. His defensive grappling woes look like a thing in the past and he’s just as fast and powerful on the feet. As long as Sumudaerji can avoid getting his back taken, he should pick apart Perez on the feet and make it 4 in a row.”
Austin Swaim – Sumudaerji
- “‘The Tibetan Eagle’ has a length advantage few can match at 125 pounds, and his grappling has exponentially improved under Urijah Faber’s watch. I tip my cap to Alex Perez’s late-career resurgence, but I still don’t trust his durability, and he’s always prone to stick his neck into a bad spot.”
🔍 Want to know more about each event? Visit homeoffight.com or any of our social media accounts for more articles, fighter interviews, and plenty of additional coverage.
💰 Want to get in on the action? Visit homeoffight.com/picks to tail all of the Home of Fight expert’s picks & bets each week!
