In a thrilling bantamweight showdown at UFC Fight Night in Seattle, Song Yadong emerged victorious over Henry Cejudo by technical decision after the latter suffered an accidental eye poke, rendering him unable to see out of his left eye. The match, which showcased both fighters’ skills, ended after three rounds with judges scoring the fight 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 in favor of Yadong.
The unfortunate eye poke occurred late in the third round as both fighters exchanged powerful strikes. Though Cejudo initially attempted to continue fighting, he ultimately informed the referee that he couldn’t see, leading to the decision to stop the bout. Had Cejudo been unable to continue immediately after the incident, the fight would have been ruled a no contest.
Following the fight, Yadong expressed his regret about the way the match concluded, stating, “That was totally an accident. The result is not what I wanted. I’m so sorry. Henry is a legend. We should run it back. We will fight again.” Cejudo, who returned to action after nearly a year away and remains a two-weight champion and former Olympic gold medalist, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing his eagerness for a rematch despite his unfortunate outcome. “I couldn’t see out of my left eye…Of course, we can run that back. One hundred percent,” Cejudo stated.
Throughout the fight, Yadong, 11 years younger than Cejudo, demonstrated impressive striking, managing to outland his opponent 84 to 67 in total strikes. Cejudo, who has previously made a name for himself in both wrestling and MMA, struggled to take Yadong down, going 0-for-3 on takedown attempts.
Both fighters, ranked No. 7 and No. 8 respectively in the bantamweight division, showcased their skills, and the conclusion of the match has set the stage for a possible immediate rematch that many fans would welcome. Highlights from this bout showed the potential for a longer battle and the competitive spirit that drives these athletes, leaving fans hopeful for a rematch in the near future.