UFC Fight Night 252 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live round-by-round coverage and official results beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). UFC Fight Night 252 (ESPN+) takes place at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will try to snap a two-fight skid since he unretired when he meets Song Yadong (21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) in the main event. Middleweight standouts Brendan Allen (24-6 MMA, 12-3 UFC) and Anthony Hernandez (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) meet in the co-feature.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN+ and 9 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Round 1 – They touch ’em up, and the inital exchange leads to a quick clinch by Walker, putting Menifield’s back against the cage. Walker adds a couple of knees t othe body as they jockey for position. The crowd doesn’t like the action, but Walker looks for a double leg. Menifield keeps things standing. On the exit, Walker cracks Menifield with a couple of big punches and immediately clinches again. They separate. Walker goes for a high kick and takes himself off balance. He gets up and defends a clinch from Menifield. Now Walker is back on the charge. Menifield gets space and cracks Walker with a punch. Walker looks to clinch, but Menifield isn’t having it. Menifield starts unloading big punches! Walker is in real trouble here as he covers up. Somehow, he weathers the storm to clinch. A few more big shots from both land before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Menifield.
Round 2 – Both come out offering punches as Walker stalks forward. Walker gets in on the clinch, but Menifield separates fairly quickly this time. Walker continues to come forward with strikes, and then looks for another takedown, but can’t can’t get it. Short punches land for both in the clinch. Back in the center now. Walker offers a few punches before clinching. Menifield gets away and then comes forward with a combination. Both men are very labored now. Menifield starts to come forward a little more as Walker’s movement gets worse. They both swing and miss, but Walker finally gets a takedown in the closing seconds.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Walker.
Round 3 – They touch gloves to start the first Round 3 of the evening, but an eye poke from Menifield pauses the action briefly. Back to the action, Walker’s mouthpiece comes out for another short pause. Now we’re back to it, and they’re swining heavy punches. Walker gets in a nice kick to the body. Menifield answers with a left. Walker digs in for a knee to the body, but it goes low, and we have another break in the fight. After the restart, Menifield lands clean punches. Walker goes to the body with a kick. Menifield looks for an uppercut as Walker comes foward to clinch. Two minutes to go. Menifield defends the takedown well as the crowd boos. Back to the center with 75 seconds left. Menifield lands a punch. The action is slow now, but Menifield comes forward, connecting with punches before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Menifield, giving him the fight 29-28.
Result: Alonzo Menifield def. Julius Walker via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)
Photos:
Records: Menifield (16-5-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC), Walker (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Sal D’Amato (29-28), Derek Cleary (30-27), Brianne Davis (28-29)
Round 1 – Aslan takes the center. Cutelaba offers a leg kick to start the action, followed by a couple of kicks to the body. Cutelaba looks for a big overhand punch, but Aslan evades and fires back. They resent momentarily, and start letting hammers fly in a wild exchange. Aslan appears to get the better of it. More wild punches are thrown by both. Cutelaba decides to change things up with a takedown. Aslan gets free, and Cutelaba offers a wild spinning punch on the exit. Cutelaba then lands a punch that stubles Aslan! Another takedown for Cutelaba. Ground and pound now. Cutelaba steps off to the side with an arm triangle choke and it’s tight! The squeeze continues and the ref check’s Aslan’s arm. There’s the tap and the celebration is on for Cutelaba!
Result: Ion Cutelaba def. Ibo Aslan via submission (arm triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:51
Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Ion Cutelaba vs. Ibo Aslan slugfest ends in surprise submission
Photos: Ion Cutelaba def. Ibo Aslan at UFC Seattle: Best photos
Records: Aslan (14-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Cutelaba (19-10-1 MMA, 8-9-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Kevin MacDonald
Round 1 – “U-S-A” chants for Fili to start here. Costa looks for a leg kick and then a couple to the body. Fili comes foward with a jab, but is met with more leg kicks. Another hard kick to the body from Costa appears to have been blocked. Fili rips a combination, catching Costa clean. Costa spins with a kick, but misses the target. Fili gets in a kick to the body. They continue trading strikes at a steady pace as they cover a lot of space in the octagon. They take turns offering head kicks. One minute to go. Fili kicks to the body and evades one in return, then taunts. Now Fili changes levels and gets a takedown. Costa slaps on a guillotine. Fili looks like he might be trapped. Costa keeps squeezing. There’s the tap! Beautiful finish for Costa!
Result: Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:30
Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Melquizael Costa breaks Andre Fili’s decade-long submission-less streak
Photos: Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili at UFC Seattle: Best photos
Records: Costa (22-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Fili (24-12 MMA, 12-11 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jeff Hoiby
Round 1 – They touch’em up and start sizing each other up as Abdul-Malik stalks foward. Klein offers a kick and then ducks under a punch from Abdul-Malik, looking for a single leg. It’s sprawled nicely, though. Klein kicks to the body and then the inside leg. Abdul-Malik continues to patiently stalk forward. Klein grabs another single leg attempt, but it’s defended well. A spinning back elbow out of nowhere wobbles Abdul-Malik! Klein rushes in! He gets the takedown, but Abdul-Malik works up and prevents follow-up punches well. Klein stays attached to him, grinding him against the cage. Eventually Abdul-Malik gets free and looks for a spinning elbow of his own just seconds before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Klein.
Round 2 – Abdul-Malik comes out with a little more aggression as he works behind a jab. Klein is able to change levels for a single leg, and the wrestling game is on again along the fence. Abdul-Malik gets free and lands a jab. Klein touches with leg kicks. Abdul-Malik gets close, and once again Klein looks for a single leg. Abdul-Malik catches a kick and shoves Klein to the ground. Abdul-Malik swarms with huge punches. He’s completely unloading! This barrage is furious! There it is, the ref has seen enough!
Result: Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Nick Klein via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:24
Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Mansur Abdul-Malik rallies for TKO of Nick Klein
Photos: Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Nick Klein at UFC Seattle: Best photos
Records: Abdul-Malik (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Klein (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Round 1 – The tradition of “U-S-A” chants to start the fights tonight continues, this time in support of Simon, who is from the PNW. After the opening exchanges, Simon finds a standing back take, lifts and dumbs Basharat to the canvas, but can’t keep the fight on the ground. Simon closes in for another takedown, but Basharat gets away. “Ricky” and “Let’s go Ricky” chants alternate from the crowd. Basharat steps in with a nice knee and punches. Simon charges foward with punches to set up a level change. Basharat keeps it standing, and gets away. Basharat lands a sharp left. A hard knee to the midsection gets through for Basharat. Simon steps in and sleeps Basharat out of nowhere with a wicked two-punch combo! WOW! Basharat is out cold!
Result: Ricky Simon def. Javid Basharat via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:58
Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Ricky Simon sleeps Javid Basharat early with Dan Henderson-esque knockout
Photos: Ricky Simon def. Javid Basharat at UFC Seattle: Best photos
Records: Basharat (14-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Simon (21-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mike Beltran
Round 1 – Chants of “U-S-A” echo through the arena as this one gets underway. Vanderford lands a couple of quick jabs. Veretennikov lunges forward with a left. A 1-2 combination not far behind it. Vanderford changes levels nicely for a clean takedown. Vanderford looks for ground and pound while Veretennikov tries his best to keep him pulled in close. Vanderford gets in a couple of solid elbows, opening a cut. Vanderford threatens an arm triangle, but lets it go. He looks for it again though a moment later with short time on the clock. Vanderford gives up on it again and tries to get in some more ground and pound.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Vanderford.
Round 2 – Vanderford looks to go right back to his wrestling game. He lifts Veretennikov and gets him down after some initial resistance. More ground and pound from the top with elbows and big punches. Vanderford traps a wrist underneath and really starts to unload with big left hands. The referee steps in closer. Veretennikov is stuck. More punches unanswered and that’s it! TKO finish for Vanderford! Veretennikov gets up and walks over, shoving Vanderford for some post-fight drama.
Result: Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:13
Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Austin Vanderford TKOs Nikolay Veretennikov, who responds with shove
Photos: Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov at UFC Seattle: Best photos
Records: Vanderford (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Veretennikov (12-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: 175-pound contract weight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Kevin MacDonald
Round 1 – They touch ’em up, and McConico starts the action with an inside leg kick. The crowd chants “U-S-A” to show their support for McConico as the feel-out process continues. Those chants quickly turned into boos as neither fighter offer offense. Ruziboev swings with a big right hand that just misses. McConico is staying cautious as he circles to his right. Ruziboev blitzes forward with punches and catches a kick, driving McConico into the cage. Not much comes from the clinch, and they’re back in the center. Ruziboev darts forward with a punch, and a few more a moment later.
MMA Junkie scores the roudn 10-9 for Ruziboev.
Round 2 – McConico comes out aggressive with punches, but Ruziboev is game to answer. A sharp right hand wobbles McConico! He stumbles backward across the cage. Ruziboev gives chase and unloads punches until McConico goes down and the ref stops the fight! Woah!
Result: Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:33
Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Nursulton Ruziboev TKOs Eric McConico after multiple knockdowns
Photos: Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico at UFC Seattle: Best photos
Records: McConico (9-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Ruziboev (35-9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Round 1 – Bukauskas comes out of the gate with an axe kick, that doesn’t come close to connecting. Cerqueira slaps with a hard inside leg kick. Another kick to the body. Bukauskas responds with a pair of kicks. Now a speedy combination upstairs for Bukauskas. Cerqueira sits on a 1-2 and cracks with the right hand. Another clean 1-2 for Cerqueira. And another. Bukauskas fires back with a big left hand! Cerqueira is hurt! Bukauskas swarms for the finish! Each punch goes unanswered and Cerqueira crashes to the mat. It’s over! A first round KO to start the show!
Result: Modestas Bukauskas def. Rafael Cerqueira via knockout (punches) Round 1, 2:12
Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Modestas Bukauskas kicks off Seattle event with TKO – and a backflip
Photos: Modestas Bukauskas def. Rafael Cerqueira at UFC Seattle: Best photos
Records: Bukauskas (17-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Cerqueira (11-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jeff Hoiby
UFC 2025 upset winners, complete list
UFC 2025 bonus winners complete list with career totals
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Sign up for our newsletter to get updates to your inbox, and also receive offers from us, our affiliates and partners. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy
Sign up for our newsletter to get updates to your inbox, and also receive offers from us, our affiliates and partners. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy
© Copyright MMA Junkie 2025
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
UFC Fight Night 252 lineup
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker
Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba
Melquizael Costa vs. Andre Fili
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein
Javid Basharat vs. Ricky Simon
Austin Vanderford vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Eric McConico vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rafael Cerqueira
UFC 2025 upset winners
UFC 2025 bonus winners
UFC Fight Night 252 final faceoffs
UFC Fight Night 252 main card betting odds
UFC Fight Night 252 prelim betting odds
UFC Fight Night 252 hype video
Upcoming Events
Most Popular
ADVERTISEMENT
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Like this article?
ADVERTISEMENT
Want the latest news and insights in MMA?
Photos: UFC Fight Night 252 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs
UFC Fight Night 252 live updates: Results, round-by-round coverage of every fight
UFC Fight Night 252 predictions: Is Cejudo or Song the better man in Seattle?
Diego Lopes says Ilia Topuria vacating title after UFC’s ‘very clear’ message
Photos: Miesha Tate through the years
Dana White explains Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate UFC featherweight title
Photos: UFC Fight Night 252 official weigh-ins
ADVERTISEMENT
Follow MMAJ!
Sign up for our newsletter to get updates to your inbox, and also receive offers from us, our affiliates and partners. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy
See MMAJ stories in your feed
UFC Fight Night: Expert picks, best bets for Cejudo vs. Song
Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo makes his first Octagon appearance in a year at UFC Fight Night, taking on rising bantamweight contender Song Yadong in the main event at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday night (9 p.m. on ESPN+, with prelims at 6 p.m. on ESPN+).
Cejudo, No. 6 in ESPN’s divisional rankings, looks to get back into title contention and end a two-fight skid following losses to former champion Aljamain Sterling in May 2023 and current champion Merab Dvalishvili last February. Song, unranked by ESPN, also enters the fight following a loss. Petr Yan, another former champion, beat Song by unanimous decision at UFC 299 last March.
Brett Okamoto spoke to Factory X MMA coach Marc Montoya to get his perspective on the UFC main event. ESPN betting expert Ian Parker adds insight and analysis on the main event and other intriguing bets he likes on the card.
Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.
How Cejudo wins: If a younger guy such as Song does show too much respect to Cejudo, he could allow Cejudo to build momentum. Song is super fast, both defensively and offensively. And we all know that fighters older than 35 years old haven’t fared well when facing younger opponents, especially in the lower weight classes. Cejudo’s wrestling will always be his best advantage. But can he even get to Song with the younger fighter’s speed? And if Cejudo can get him down, he’s not a big submission guy, so he’d have to control Song on the mat and try to land shots from top position. His cardio needs to be there, and he needs to use that experience and fight IQ to get to his wrestling.
How Song wins: He has to remove the face and name of his opponent. Pretend it’s just a body in front of him and run right through it. Cejudo has accomplished some amazing things, but his run of beating Demetrious Johnson and TJ Dillashaw was five years ago. And his run in the Olympics was well beyond that. I think the coaches will remind him to be a savage and not think about the name he’s facing. Also, against a wrestler, it’s important to target that low calf kick and punches to the body.
X factor: I haven’t seen a solid reason for why Cejudo took this fight. Did he see a hole in Song’s game that he hopes to take advantage of? If he doesn’t have a good reason, that could show.
Prediction: Song to win. And if there is a finish, I’ll say it happens in the later rounds.
Odds accurate as of publication. For the most up-to-date odds, visit ESPN BET.
Parker: Song to win (-280) and over 2.5 rounds. Song is the favorite, but the odds are pretty high, considering he’s coming off a loss. However, it makes sense given Cejudo’s lack of success since returning from retirement two years ago. Cejudo has to establish his wrestling early in the fight and control Song for all five rounds on the mat to have a chance at winning. If he can’t successfully do that, he is going to get picked apart on the feet and it’s going to get ugly as the fight goes on. Song will be able to successfully defend the early takedown attempts and outstrike his way to victory. To lower the odds to a much more manageable number, let’s take Song to win and over 2.5 rounds.
Hernandez to win by decision. There might not be another UFC fighter flying under the radar like Hernandez. Since his last loss to Kevin Holland in 2020, Hernandez is riding a six-fight winning streak with five of those wins by finish.
Get your favorite live sports, stories and originals with ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu. Upgrade to a Disney Bundle plan and start streaming something for everyone today!
Hernandez has transformed himself into a true sleeper in the middleweight division with his menacing pace and pressure. His opponents crumble as the fight goes on. Allen is a good striker, but he truly shines on the mat, where he can dictate the narrative of the fight with his jiu-jitsu.
If this was a five-round fight, my pick would be Hernandez to win inside the distance. Hernandez’s pressure and pace would likely be too much for Allen to handle for 25 minutes, and Allen tends to fade in the later rounds of a five-round fight. However, I think Allen can survive and get to the final bell vs. Hernandez in a three-round fight. If you are taking Hernandez, add him to the parlay and don’t take the risk on the money line. If you want to lower the line, take Hernandez to win by decision.
Font to win (+130). Originally slated to fight Dominick Cruz in Cruz’s retirement fight, Font now takes on late a replacement in Matsumoto. Matsumoto, who has won two UFC fights since earning a contract on “Dana White’s Contender Series” in 2023, now steps up on short notice to take on his stiffest test to date. Surprisingly, Matsumoto is the betting favorite. Although Matsumoto is 16-0 and a talented prospect, this is wild to me. This is a huge step up in competition for the prospect on short notice, so I will take the well-rounded vet in Font at plus money.
Not only has Font fought the division’s best, but he has shown that he belongs among the elite bantamweight fighters and is nearly impossible to finish. On top of that, Font is coming off a huge win over another blue-chip prospect in Kyler Phillips. If Font can keep this fight on the feet, he wins plain and simple.
Over 2.5 rounds (+105). Silva is quickly becoming a fan favorite because of his fun, action-packed fighting style. Riding an impressive three-fight winning streak, he now takes on an underrated and dangerous fighter. Baghdasaryan has all the tools to make this a fun standup fight. While Silva has a knack for knocking out opponents, Baghdasaryan might be the better striker. If he can avoid the KO shot of Silva, we might be in for a three-round banger. I believe this fight will go over 2.5 rounds, and at plus-money odds, that’s how I am playing it.
San Antonio Spurs Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season, and his NBA future is uncertain as he recovers from a mild stroke suffered in November, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Saturday.
The latest development provides some closure during what has turned into a difficult season for San Antonio, which Thursday announced plans to shut down franchise superstar Victor Wembanyama after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.
“It is wild to think of the circumstances and the situations that we’ve been through as a team this year,” Spurs point guard Chris Paul said after Wembanyama’s latest medical setback. “But I think you guys know when situations happen in your family, that, somehow, someway brings you closer.”
The NBA’s winningest head coach with 1,390 regular-season victories and another 170 in the postseason with five championships, Popovich suffered on Nov. 2 what the team called a “mild stroke” ahead of a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
San Antonio moved assistant Mitch Johnson into the head coaching role that night on an interim basis, and he has since posted a record of 21-27 in leading the young Spurs.
Popovich, who has coached the Spurs since the 1996-97 season, turned 76 in January and potentially leaves the game as the oldest coach in NBA history. In 2020, he passed the previous record held by Hubie Brown, who was 71 when he coached his final game with the Memphis Grizzlies.
When the club first named Johnson acting head coach, it did so with plans for Popovich to eventually return. Popovich even released a statement in December thanking the community, the Spurs organization and friends for their outpouring of support.
“No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process,” Popovich joked in the statement. “They’ve quickly learned that I’m less than coachable.”
Throughout his absence, Popovich, who also serves as the team’s president, has remained in contact with Johnson as well as Spurs players by providing support and opinions about game plans for attacking opponents.
Johnson mentioned in January that Popovich is “giving praise and cussing me out all at the same time.”
Spurs CEO RC Buford, Popovich’s closest confidant and architect of most of the franchise’s title teams, said in January the coach was “attacking his rehab.”
“The same resilience he’s shown over the course of our career as a coach, he’s approaching his return in his rehab in an incredibly unique way,” Buford said. “The relationships he’s had with former players and the care they’re sharing with him is amazing, and his improvement continues.”
In addition to his success in the NBA, Popovich has shined on the international stage, coaching USA Basketball in 2021 to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
“It’s not one person to fill Pop’s shoes in this moment,” general manager Brian Wright said 11 days after Popovich’s stroke. “It’s a village. We’ve all bonded together. We’re all playing our roles in that part, and we’ll continue to do that. It’s what he would want.”
