Aljamain Sterling and Sean O'Malley won’t be the only top bantamweights competing at UFC 292.
Before the 135-pound title fight takes place, contenders Rob Font and Song Yadong will square off in a three-round bout Aug. 19 at TD Garden in Boston.
Two people with knowledge of the booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup but asked to remain anonymous. Contracts have not yet been signed but are expected to be in the coming days.
The promotion also officially announced the bout Wednesday evening. Eurosport NL was first to reported the targeted bout.
HOT OFF THE PRESS🔥🔥🔥@RobSFont will face @SongYadongLFG at #UFC292!
Get your tickets here 🔗 https://t.co/mpJ6ZUQ4hA pic.twitter.com/BMhadSRugW
— UFC (@ufc) June 22, 2023
One of the faces of the New England Cartel, Massachusetts’ Font (20-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) will have a homecoming of sorts as he competes at TD Garden for the third time. Following back-to-back losses to Jose Aldo and Marlon Vera, Font bounced back with a brutal TKO victory over Adrian Yanez at UFC 287 in April.
Yadong (20-7-1 MMA, 9-2-1 UFC) most recently competed in a five-round bout April 29 at UFC Fight Night 223 when he finished Ricky Simon with punches early in Round 5. Yadong has won four of his most recent five bouts, with the only loss a TKO due to a laceration against Cory Sandhagen.
With the addition, the UFC 292 lineup includes:
- Champion Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley – for bantamweight title
- Champion Zhang Weili vs. Amanda Lemos – for women’s strawweight title
- Henry Cejudo vs. Marlon Vera
- Rob Font vs. Song Yadong
- Ian Garry vs. Geoff Neal
- Brad Tavares vs. Chris Weidman
- Mario Bautista vs. Cody Garbrandt
- Gerald Meerschaert vs. Andre Petroski
- Maryna Moroz vs. Karine Silva
- Andrea Lee vs. Natalia Silva
- Gregory Rodrigues vs. Denis Tiuliulin
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.
