Storylines to Watch at UFC Fight Night 233

Yadong Song has not yet progressed beyond the flirtation stage with the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s bantamweight elite, though his relationship status could change at any moment.

The Team Alpha Male rep will attempt to improve upon his 9-2-1 record inside the Octagon when he toes the line against Chris Gutierrez in the UFC Fight Night 233 main event on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Oddsmakers have installed Song as a significant betting favorite ahead of his third consecutive headlining assignment. Can he ignore the noise and live up to those expectations?

Song enters the match with wins in four of his past five outings. The 26-year-old Heilongjiang, China, native last fought at UFC on ESPN 45, where he put away Ricky Simon with punches in the fifth round of their April 29 encounter. Song was credited with 105 significant strikes landed by the time it was over, marking the third time he had surpassed the century mark in the category as a member of the UFC roster. Gutierrez, meanwhile, has rattled off five victories in six appearances. The Factory X standout last competed on Oct. 14, when he took a three-round unanimous decision from Heili Alateng at UFC Fight Night 230. Gutierrez has never been knocked out in his 27-fight career.

The Song-Gutierrez showdown and its resulting fallout at 135 pounds is but one storyline to watch at UFC Fight Night 233. Here are four more:

He Moves in Mysterious Ways

Khalil Rountree remains a mystery man for many, as his off-the-charts physical tools have not yet translated to consistent excellence. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 23 finalist finally appears to be pointed in the right direction ahead of his light heavyweight co-main event opposite Anthony Smith. Rountree, 33, steps back into the spotlight on the strength of a career-best four-fight winning streak. The Syndicate MMA and Tiger Muay Thai product last suited up in August, when he buried Chris Daukaus with punches in the first round of their UFC on ESPN 51 altercation. Smith poses a serious threat on a variety of fronts. The well-traveled 35-year-old sports 34 finishes—20 by knockout or technical knockout, 14 by submission—among his 37 professional victories. Can Rountree shed his “underachiever” label once and for all?

Tantalizing Talent

Speaking of enigmas, Nasrat Haqparast certainly fits the description. The Tristar Gym export will look to keep the good vibes going when he takes on Jamie Mullarkey in a three-round lightweight showcase. Haqparast’s tenure has been marked by uneven performances and setbacks at inopportune times, including back-to-back losses to Dan Hooker and Bobby Green at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. The 28-year-old Firas Zahabi protege has since recorded two straight wins. On the other side of the equation, Mullarkey has maximized his skills by most accounts. He has quietly won five of his past seven bouts, his surge highlighted by a 46-second knockout of Khama Worthy at UFC 260. Will the real Haqparast please stand up?

On the Upswing

Jun Yong Park might not be on the mainstream radar, but his current trajectory makes him impossible to ignore completely. “The Iron Turtle” will put his four-fight winning streak on the line when he battles onetime Ronaldo Souza tormentor Andre Muniz in a three-round middleweight attraction. Park, 32, has finished his past three opponents via rear-naked choke, with Albert Duraev being his most recent victim at UFC on ESPN 49 in July. The South Korean now carries a 7-2 record in the UFC. Muniz, meanwhile, has hit the proverbial skids. He entered his 2023 campaign with the wind of nine straight victories in his sails, only to suffer back-to-back losses to former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion Brendan Allen and ex-British Association of Mixed Martial Arts titleholder Paul Craig. Does Park use Muniz as a springboard into the Top 15 at 185 pounds?

Slow Burn

Tatsuro Taira should have everyone’s attention by now. The former Shooto champion will answer his latest call to arms with a perfect 14-0 record in tow, as he squares off with Carlos Hernandez as part of the undercard. One of the sport’s top prospects at 125 pounds, Taira has won all four of his bouts inside the Octagon—submissions of C.J. Vergara and Jesus Santos Aguilar anchor his resume—and looks more and more like a future contender in the flyweight division. He last fought at UFC 290, where he outpointed Edgar Chairez to a unanimous decision on July 8. On the opposite side of the ledger, Hernandez has sandwiched victories over Victor Altamirano and Denys Bondar around a rear-naked choke submission defeat to Allan Nascimento since he joined the UFC roster a little less than two years ago. Can Taira takes the next step in his development at the VFS Academy product’s expense?