A Bittersweet Victory for Song Yadong
On paper, Song Yadong emerged victorious over Henry Cejudo, but the win certainly wasn’t the way he had envisioned it. The fight started strong, with both fighters showcasing their skills. However, a single, accidental move would change the course of the match in an unforeseen manner. During the third round, Song unintentionally delivered an eye poke to Cejudo, leaving the Olympic gold medal wrestler struggling to see out of his left eye. The incident was captured on replays, showing two fingers going directly into Cejudo’s eye. Despite the severity of the foul, referee Jason Herzog did not assess any penalties, and the fight continued until the end of the third round.
Cejudo’s Struggle and the Doctor’s Intervention
Between rounds, Cejudo informed his coaches that his vision was completely compromised. "I don’t know what the fck he’s throwing at me … I can’t fcking see," Cejudo said, expressing his frustration and inability to continue effectively. The doctor came in to evaluate Cejudo’s condition, and it became clear that the fight was already over because he couldn’t see out of one eye. In a strange twist of fate, if Cejudo had not attempted to continue after the eye poke, the fight could have been stopped and potentially declared a no contest. However, because he tried to fight and the round came to a close, Herzog ended the contest and gathered the scorecards for a decision.
The Verdict and Song’s Apology
The judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27, awarding Song the win by technical decision. This outcome was far from what Song had hoped for. "That was totally accidental," Song said about the eye poke. "This result is not what I wanted. I’m so sorry, Henry. I think we should run it back. We will fight again. Sorry fans. I learned a lot from this fight. I will do better next time in a rematch." It was an unfortunate ending for Song, who was performing exceptionally well throughout the fight. The eye poke clearly affected Cejudo and prevented him from continuing, overshadowing what could have been a more decisive and fair contest.
Cejudo’s Reaction and Future Prospects
For Cejudo, the loss was particularly difficult to swallow, especially since the referee did not deduct a point for the foul. Based on the scorecards, a point deduction would have resulted in a majority draw, changing the outcome of the fight. "I couldn’t see [out of] my left [eye]," Cejudo said. "My right’s OK but even that last minute when he was chasing, I didn’t know what he was throwing at me. I can’t see from the left. I wanted to continue. If I can’t see, he’s going to hurt me. Of course, we can run it back 100 percent. F*ck, that finger went in my eye pretty good." The damage to his eye and the loss on his record were tough pills to swallow, but Cejudo remained open to the idea of a rematch, recognizing the unfortunate circumstances that led to his defeat.
Song’s Strong Performance and the Eye Poke
Prior to the incident, Song was putting on a strong performance. He managed to deal with Cejudo’s nasty leg kicks early in the fight and controlled the distance, hammering away at the former two-division champion with a barrage of punches. Song really started surging ahead in the third round, but that’s also when the eye poke connected, ultimately ending Cejudo’s night. It’s a tough way for Song to score what could be the biggest win of his career, but his willingness to face Cejudo again demonstrates his commitment to the sport and his respect for his opponent.
Looking Ahead: A Potential Rematch
Prior to the fight, Cejudo had stated that he was making one final run for title contention before retiring. The peculiar way the UFC Seattle main event concluded has likely rekindled his hopes for another shot at Song in the future. Despite the unfortunate ending, both fighters showed great skill and determination, and a rematch could be highly anticipated by fans and the UFC organization alike. Song’s strong performance and Cejudo’s undeniable talent make a rematch a compelling possibility, ensuring that the story of this fight is far from over.
