In a night filled with excitement and controversy, UFC Seattle hosted a highly anticipated fight between rising Chinese star Song Yadong and former Olympic champion Henry Cejudo. The dramatic ending of the fight, which saw a technical decision in favor of Yadong after Cejudo was hit by accidental eye strikes, raised questions about the fairness of the outcome and the future of both fighters in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA).
Round 1 and 2: Yadong’s Clear Dominance
From the first round, Song Yadong showed clear superiority in speed and power, managing to impose his rhythm on the fight. Using a combination of powerful punches and quick kicks, Yadong succeeded in destabilizing Cejudo, who seemed to struggle to find his usual timing. In the second round, Yadong continued to dominate, avoiding most of Cejudo’s counterattacks and responding with precise strikes.
Question raised: Was Cejudo struggling to adapt to Yadong’s style, or was the Chinese fighter simply at the peak of his physical and technical abilities?
Round 3: Accidental Strikes and Fight Stoppage
Midway through the third round, Cejudo was hit by two accidental eye strikes, leading to a temporary stoppage of the fight. After a five-minute break, Cejudo attempted to continue but indicated he could no longer see clearly from his left eye.
"The Cejudo-Song fight was stopped after the fourth round and continued to a decision!" 🥊
"توقف نزال سيهودو ضد سونغ بعد الجولة الرابعة واستمر حتى الوصول إلى القرار!" 🥊
"Le combat Cejudo contre Song a été arrêté après le quatrième round et a continué jusqu'à la décision!" 🥊 pic.twitter.com/f59lzeyLuz
— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) February 23, 2025
Referee Jason Herzog decided to stop the fight and leave the result to the judges.
What a disappointing end to #UFCSeattle! Song Yadong wins by decision after an accidental eye poke left Henry Cejudo unable to continue the fight😞🥊
نهاية مخيبة في #UFCSeattle!سونغ يادونغ يفوز بقرار احتساب الجولات الثلاث الأولى بعد إصابة غير مقصودة لهنري سيهودو إثر وخز في العين pic.twitter.com/clf2Aoum04
— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) February 23, 2025
Analysis: The referee’s decision to stop the fight was controversial. If Cejudo had withdrawn immediately after the accidental strikes, the fight could have been declared a “no contest.” But his decision to continue, despite his injury, led the referee to stop the fight based on medical advice.
Technical Decision: Yadong’s Victory by Judges’ Decision
After the fight was stopped, the judges awarded the victory to Song Yadong with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27. This decision sparked significant controversy, especially since Cejudo was clearly suffering from an eye injury.
Question raised: Was the judges’ decision fair given Cejudo’s injury, or did Yadong deserve the win based on his performance in the earlier rounds?
Reactions: Yadong Apologizes, Cejudo Criticizes the Decision
After the fight, Song Yadong apologized for the accidental strikes, stating: “It was totally accidental.” On his part, Cejudo criticized the decision, pointing out that he couldn’t see clearly due to his injury, which affected his performance in the third round.
"This fight has been stopped after 3 rounds! @SongYaDongLFG wins via technical decision." 🥊
"النزال يتوقف بعد 3 جولات! @SongYaDongLFG يفوز بقرار فني." 🥊
"Ce combat est arrêté après 3 rounds! @SongYaDongLFG gagne par décision technique." 🥊 pic.twitter.com/jwYpyQPEWO
— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) February 23, 2025
Analysis: This incident raises questions about UFC rules regarding accidental injuries and their impact on fight outcomes. Does the organization need to revise its rules to ensure greater fairness in such cases?
The Bigger Picture: The Future of Both Fighters
With this victory, Song Yadong strengthens his position as one of the most promising fighters in the bantamweight division. This win could open doors for him to face bigger names in the near future. On the other hand, Henry Cejudo finds himself in a tough spot, especially after declaring that this fight might be his last attempt to win the title before retiring.
Question raised: Can Cejudo, at 38 years old, bounce back from this loss and continue to compete at the highest level, or will this result hasten his decision to retire?
Open Questions for the Future
- Can Song Yadong Continue His Rise to the Top?
With this controversial win, can Yadong prove he deserves to face bigger names, like the current champion? - What’s Next for Henry Cejudo in the UFC?
After this bitter defeat, will Cejudo attempt a strong comeback, or will this result mark the beginning of the end of his career? - Does the UFC Need to Revise Its Rules?
With the controversy surrounding the fight’s ending, does the organization need to revisit its rules regarding accidental injuries to ensure greater fairness?
Conclusion
The UFC Seattle fight between Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo was filled with excitement and controversy. While Yadong strengthens his position as one of the most promising fighters, Cejudo finds himself in a difficult situation that could threaten his future in MMA. The dramatic ending of the fight raises questions about the fairness of decisions and UFC rules, making this fight a turning point in both fighters’ careers. Will we see a strong comeback from Cejudo, or will Yadong continue his rise to the top? Only time will tell.
