LAS VEGAS – Kyler Phillips beat Song Yadong with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 259 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Phillips, who won for the fourth straight time.
Kyler Phillips vs. Song Yadong
Result: Kyler Phillips def. Song Yadong via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Phillips (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Yadong (16-5-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC)
Key stat: Yadong won the striking battle 89-69, but Phillips’ three takedowns helped him get the win.
Phillips on the fight’s key moment
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 06: (R-L) Kyler Phillips punches Song Yadong of China in their bantamweight fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
“I was super impressed by the fight. I wasn’t super impressed by myself, but I was happy and grateful for the opportunity and also grateful for the firefight that I had. I haven’t had too many fights like that. Usually if I land a right kick to somebody’s head, they are going down. So when I hit him with that and he was still there, wobbling, I was like, ‘I’m in for a real fight.’ It woke me up and I kind of felt like I had a surreal experience.
“I hit him there with my best shot and I was like, ‘Damn. It just got real.’ I’m in the UFC top 15 now. This is where I’m at. It’s not going to be that easy. It kind of woke up something inside of me, especially in him, too. He hit me with some of his power shots and it didn’t faze me. I think that type of fight was just exactly what both of us needed to see who we truly are as fighters and has showed a good grasp of knowledge of different styles, being able to mix it up plus the heart and endurance that I had to use to win.”
Phillips on how everyone’s a champion
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 06: (L-R) Song Yadong of China punches Kyler Phillips in their bantamweight fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
“I’m already the champ. Always have been. But you are, too. Everybody is a champ. As long as you’re alive, you’re a champ. You’re here. Do you know what I mean? Amen to that, for real.”
Phillips on what he wants next
“I want to fight a couple of guys. I’m kind of excited to fight a couple of different names, but I don’t have a particular name right now. We’ll see.
“I’m actually going to spend some time with my family. With my third UFC fight, you think you make it big, you make some friends, all of a sudden everybody wants to be a friend and stuff. Sometimes I just have to keep the circle small (and) spend time with my family.”
To hear more from Phillips, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.