The recent UFC Seattle event delivered a night of exciting finishes, but the main event between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong ended in controversy, sparking a heated debate and a demand for a rematch.
The fight took an unexpected turn in the third round when Yadong inadvertently poked Cejudo in the eye. The foul resulted in Cejudo losing his eyesight temporarily. Cejudo, a former two-division champion, took the full five-minute recovery period but continued to struggle with his vision. Between rounds, he informed his corner that he couldn’t see. Referee Jason Herzog ultimately stopped the contest in the fourth round, leading to a technical decision.
The decision, which favored Yadong, was met with disapproval from the Seattle crowd. Cejudo later disclosed that he sustained a corneal abrasion and experienced double vision (diplopia) due to the eye poke.
Despite the setback, Cejudo is adamant about getting another shot at Yadong. He believes that the eye poke significantly impacted the fight’s outcome and that he wasn’t truly defeated. He has taken to social media, urging UFC CEO Dana White to schedule a rematch. Cejudo claims that Yadong himself expressed interest in a rematch immediately after the fight and that Yadong’s facial expression at the end of the bout revealed that he knew he hadn’t won decisively. Cejudo is also calling on Yadong to “learn how to close his fists” and sign the contract.
The loss is particularly painful for Cejudo, marking his third consecutive defeat. Adding to the frustration is the fact that Yadong wasn’t penalized for the foul. A point deduction could have altered the outcome, potentially leading to a technical draw, as two judges marked Cejudo as winning at least one of the rounds completed. However, some argue that even a draw would have been controversial, given that the majority of the fight had unfolded without incident, aside from the accidental foul.
Yadong has responded to Cejudo’s callout, stating he is open to a rematch. He claims the first three rounds were merely a warm-up, and his strategy was to increase the intensity in the fourth round and secure a knockout victory. He has urged the UFC to organize the rematch, indicating his readiness to sign the contract immediately.
However, the likelihood of a rematch seems slim, at least for now. Dana White expressed his disinterest in seeing the two fighters face off again during the post-fight press conference.
The situation highlights the complexities and potential for controversy in combat sports, where accidental fouls can dramatically influence the outcome of a fight. While the fighters seem eager to settle the score, the final decision rests with the UFC and Dana White. Whether they will grant Cejudo’s wish remains to be seen.
If you want to watch UFC streams online from anywhere in the world, check out VPNpro’s list of the best VPNs to use. Until then, the controversy surrounding the Cejudo-Yadong fight will likely continue, fueling discussions among fans and analysts about the rules, officiating, and the need for potential rematches in similar situations.
