Controversial Ending at UFC Seattle
The UFC Fight Night in Seattle on Saturday night left fans in a tumultuous state of disappointment and anger. The main event between rising star Song Yadong and former two-division champion Henry Cejudo took an unexpected and controversial turn that culminated in a bitterly divided crowd. The event, the first UFC show in The Emerald City since 2013, was marred by an accidental eye poke that left Cejudo unable to continue the fight. The decision to award Song the win by technical decision after three rounds left the Seattle crowd booing mercilessly, questioning the integrity of the fight and the decision-making process.
The Incident: A BizarreConclusion
The main event began promisingly, with both fighters showing their prowess and strategic acumen. However, the pivotal moment came in the third round when Song’s fingers accidentally pierced Cejudo’s left eye. Referee Jason Herzog immediately stopped the action and gave Cejudo the standard five-minute timeout to assess his condition. Despite the clear discomfort and visible distress, Cejudo chose to maximize the pause, hoping to regain his vision. The crowd’s frustration began to escalate as the timeout dragged on, and the boos grew louder with each passing minute.
The Referee’s Decision
After the timeout, Cejudo managed to stay on his feet, but it was evident that his vision was severely compromised. Between rounds, he urgently told his coaches, "I can’t fing see. I don’t know what the f he’s throwing at me." The medical team was called in, and after a brief assessment, it was clear that Cejudo could not continue into the final rounds. Referee Herzog, adhering to the UFC rules, started the fourth round but quickly halted the bout and called the doctor into the cage. With more than half of the scheduled rounds completed, the fight was taken to the judges’ scorecards, and Song was awarded the technical decision.
The Aftermath: Mixed Reactions
The decision to go to the scorecards rather than declare a no-contest was a source of further controversy. Herzog explained his decision to in-cage announcer Bruce Buffer, stating, "More than half of the scheduled rounds have been completed, so we go to the scorecards." He also informed Song’s corner that the fight "either loses this from an incidental foul or I go to the scorecards." The final scores were 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27, all in favor of Song. Despite the win, Song was quick to brush off its legitimacy. Addressing the displeased audience, he said, "Sorry that was totally an accident. That is not the result I wanted. I am sorry, Henry. He’s a legend, we should run it back. We will fight again. Sorry fans."
Cejudo’s Resilience and Future
For Cejudo, the loss marked his third straight and fifth in his illustrious career. Despite the setback, he remained defiant and even suggested a rematch. "We’re about to be brothers, Bisping," he joked at commentator Michael Bisping, who also suffered a serious eye injury during his career. Cejudo elaborated, "I couldn’t see out of my left. My right’s okay. But even that last minute, when he was chasing me, I didn’t know what he was throwing at me." He added, "I wanted to continue, but if I couldn’t see, he’s just gonna hurt me. Of course, we can run it back but that f***ing finger went in my eye pretty good." The broadcast crew later revealed that the fight would have resulted in a no-contest if Cejudo had chosen to forfeit during the timeout.
A Night of Mixed Emotions
The controversial main event overshadowed what was otherwise a thrilling night of fights. The prelims featured five knockouts and two submissions, delighting the fans with high-octane action. However, the main card, which included one knockout and four decisions, was marred by the unfortunate conclusion of the main event. For Song, the win was a significant boost to his career, despite the cloud of controversy. The 27-year-old now holds a 22-8-1 record in MMA and 11-3-1 in the UFC. As the dust settles, the UFC community will likely be calling for a rematch to settle the score and provide the closure that the Seattle crowd so desperately craved.
