Upcoming headliner, Music Yadong has revealed he was involuntarily sidelined from the Octagon by the promotion forward of his UFC Seattle return this weekend, claiming organizational brass inspired him to “wait” on the sidelines relatively than compete extra final 12 months.
Yadong, who returns this weekend in the primary occasion of UFC Seattle, takes on former two-weight champion and Olympic gold medal winner, Henry Cejudo, in his first outing since UFC 299 bac in March.
On that event, Chinese language star, Yadong welcomed former bantamweight champion, Petr Yan again to motion following his prolonged hiatus, seeing his spectacular two-fight profitable run halted in a unanimous determination defeat to the Russian fan-favorite.
Music Yadong reveals reasoning for 11-month layoff from the UFC
And returning this weekend in a ‘Fight Night’ setting in opposition to veteran former duel-weight champion, Cejudo, Yadong revealed throughout an interview with Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned this night, how his time away from the Octagon was largely not all the way down to his selecting.
“Actually, it’s a long story. UFC offered me to fight Henry (Cejudo) in September last year, but he got injured,” Music Yadong defined. Then UFC supplied me to battle in Macau, and nobody needed me to battle there. Then UFC supplied me to battle Umar (Nurmagomedov). Ultimately, he fought Merab (Dvalishvili). That’s the story.
“UFC didn’t give me anyone. I told UFC I will fight anybody, even unranked opponents, but no, they didn’t give me anyone. They wanted me to wait.”
Music Yadong on his involuntary one-year layoff from the UFC octagon. pic.twitter.com/0gXyIJeiOU
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 17, 2025
Like, it wasn’t damage. It was simply you couldn’t discover an opponent,” Music Yadong mentioned. “‘No, no, no’.Henry was injured. Yeah. For me, it’s very, very difficult. The method is so boring. … UFC didn’t give me anyone. I told UFC I would fight anybody. Even unranked opponents, it’s okay. But no, they didn’t give me anyone. They wanted me to wait. They wanted you to wait.”
Previous to his complete determination loss to Yan final 12 months, Yadong had beforehand landed a pair of consecutive primary occasion wins over each Chris Gutierrez, and Ricky Simon — ending the latter with a knockout win besides.
And dealing with the highest-profile opponent of his Octagon tenure up to now, Yadong has been boldly warned by the polarizing, Cejudo that an “assassination” awaits him in D.C. this weekend.
You guys can witness a rattling assassination man. You guys are going to witness a dwell assassination. Music Yadong you ain’t that lengthy,” Cejudo mentioned.
“Song doesn’t have that long dong that you guys think he does and that he’s gonna bend the knee and everybody watching should also bend a knee to ‘King Triple C.’”
