Henry Cejudo is currently advocating for a rematch with Song Yadong following his recent technical decision loss at UFC Fight Night 252. The event took place at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, where Cejudo’s fight ended prematurely due to an accidental eye poke in the third round. After Cejudo was unable to continue effectively, the fight was scored after three rounds, resulting in a unanimous decision victory for Yadong.
Cejudo took to social media to express his belief that the circumstances of the fight, specifically the eye poke, tainted the outcome. He stated, “We need to run this fight back ASAP!!!” and emphasized that he believes he did not lose the fight, and that Yadong did not win it fairly. Both fighters have shown interest in a rematch, but UFC CEO Dana White suggested that it’s unlikely to occur soon.
During the bout, replays indicated that both of Cejudo’s eyes were inadvertently poked, which led to complications regarding his vision. Although he claimed vision in his right eye was fine, he struggled to see out of his left eye. Cejudo utilized the full five-minute recovery period available to him, during which he engaged with the referee and the audience, creating some debate around whether there was an element of gamesmanship involved.
This loss marks a challenging moment for Cejudo, who was previously a two-division champion but has now faced three consecutive defeats since coming out of retirement. His recent losses against Aljamain Sterling, Merab Dvalishvili, and now Yadong represent the first time in his career that he has endured such a losing streak.
In contrast, for Song Yadong, the victory over Cejudo is a significant achievement. This win follows a tough stretch that included a prior loss to former bantamweight champion Petr Yan. With six wins in his last eight fights, Yadong is firmly establishing himself in the bantamweight division, making his win over Cejudo the most notable of his career.
Cejudo’s call for a rematch presents the potential for an exciting future clash, which could capture the imaginations of fans eager to see these competitors face off again. The MMA landscape remains dynamic, and both fighters have a lot to gain from a second encounter in the octagon.