x
Song Yadong credits Team Alpha Male after submitting Figueiredo
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Song Yadong says his gym gave him the submission tools to finish Deiveson Figueiredo. The Chinese bantamweight tapped out the former flyweight champion in the second round at UFC Macau.

“Team Alpha male has the best BJJ in the world. I had the submission skills.”

— Song Yadong, via ESPN

What Song Yadong said

Song trains at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, a camp long associated with wrestling-heavy gameplans. His win over Figueiredo marked a shift toward grappling for a fighter known for his striking background. The result moved Song back into the bantamweight mix after recent setbacks.

What it moves

Song's emphasis on submission skills suggests he plans to lean on grappling going forward. Figueiredo will need to answer questions about his defensive wrestling after moving up a weight class. The performance puts Song in position to call for a ranked opponent next.

Source: espn.com. Full Song Yadong fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!