Song Yadong (23-9-1-1 MMA, 12-4-1-0 UFC) is back in the conversation for a title shot in the bantamweight division.

Yadong thrilled the home crowd in the UFC Micau headliner by forcing former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo to tap after applying a nasty guillotine choke with only 18 seconds remaining in the second round. Yadong hooked up his backers as a massive favorite in the -600 to -650 range.

Bettors taking Yadong’s prop to win by submission cashed a monster +1700 ticket at FanDuel. Another prop on the 28-year-old Team Alpha Male member that paid out nicely was Yadong to win in Round 2 (+850 at FanDuel).

Wagers on ‘under’ 2.5 rounds provided a +205 return at BetRivers.

The fifth-ranked Yadong owns a 7-3 record in the last five years, including wins over former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, Chris Gutierrez, Ricky Simon and Marlon Moraes. During that stretch, his only losses have come against current 135-pound champion Petr Yan, former bantamweight champion and second-ranked Sean O’Malley and fourth-ranked Cory Sandhagen.

Yadong’s loss to O’Malley at UFC 324 earlier this year was controversial. MajorWager scored the bout 29-28 for Yadong. Per MMADecisions, 12 media members scored the contest 29-28 for O’Malley, while nine had it 29-28 in favor of Yadong.

The 38-year-old Figueiredo was ranked seventh in the bantamweight loop coming into the fight, but he’s now lost four of his last five scraps. The Brazilian moved up to 135 pounds in 2023 and won his first three fights, but his recent slump has him sporting a 4-4 record in the division.

In the co-main event, Sergei Pavlovich made quick work out of Tallison Teixeira with a 39-second knockout. The Russian slugger tagged the Brazilian with three overhand rights that sent him to the canvas, and Pavlovich followed up with multiple lefts before the referee halted the contest.

Pavlovich closed as a -650 favorite at FanDuel. Bets on ‘under’ 1.5 rounds were easy winners at a -180 price. Pavlovich props to win by KO/TKO (-240) and to win in Round 1 (+110) were rocking-chair victories.

Pavlovich is ranked third in the heavyweight division. The 34-year-old striker has won three straight fights to improve to 21-3 overall and 9-3 in the UFC. His losses have come against current champion Tom Aspinall, second-ranked Alexander Volkov and Alistair Overeem, who retired several years ago.

Pavlovich owns victories over fourth-ranked Waldo Cortes Acosta, 15th-ranked Teixeira, seventh-ranked Curtis Blaydes, ninth-ranked Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa.

With the winner of Ciryl Gane vs. Alex Peireira at the White House most likely facing Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight belt in the fall, I could see the promotion giving fifth-ranked Josh Hokit to Pavlovich if Hokit can get past Lewis at the White House.

In a light heavyweight battle, 15th-ranked Alonzo Menifield and Zhang Mingyang engaged in a thrilling slugfest. Menifield handed Mingyang his second straight loss by knocking him out with 45 seconds left in the opening round.

Menifield hurt Mingyang with a couple of powerful right hands before dropping him with a gorgeous left hook. He followed up with a flurry of punches before the referee intervened.

The 38-year-old Menifield improved to 3-1 in his last four fights, hooking up his betting backers as a +195 underdog. Prop bets on Menifield had generous payouts, including him to win by KO/TKO (+500 at BetRivers), to win in Round 1 (+700 at FanDuel) and to win inside the distance (+300).

Menifield and Mingyang took home an extra $100,000 for Fight of the Night honors, while Yadong and Kai Asakura won 100K apiece by bagging Performance of the Night bonuses.

Asakura starched Cameron Smotherman in 110 seconds in his return to bantamweight after going 0-2 in the UFC’s flyweight loop.

The card featured 10 finishes in 13 fights, including seven in the first round. All 10 fighters who won by finish earned $25,000 bonuses.