Song Claims Controversial Victory in UFC Seattle
Song Yadong’s career took a dramatic turn in the main event of UFC Seattle, securing a hard-fought victory over Henry Cejudo. The win, however, was far from straightforward, marred by a controversial eye poke in the final round.
A Tense Main event
The fight unfolded with intensity, Song dominating the first two rounds. However, a intentional eye poke in the third round threw the contest into disarray.
Cejudo, visibly affected, declared he could no longer see, prompting a pause in the action. The bout ultimately went to the judges’ scorecards, with Song emerging victorious via technical decision.
A Matter of Controversy
The incident sparked immediate debate among commentators and fellow fighters. Lead play-by-play commentator Brendan Fitzgerald revealed that the UFC’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Marc Ratner, had confirmed that the fight could have been called a no contest had Cejudo chosen to withdraw.
Despite the controversy, Song and Cejudo both expressed a willingness to rematch, emphasizing the importance of fair play. Song’s apology to the fans underscored the respect he held for the sport.
Reactions from the MMA Community
The controversial ending ignited a firestorm of reactions from fellow UFC professionals, as evidenced by the following tweets:
Hes saying he cant see, the fight goes on?
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) February 23, 2025
Ref should take a point from Song. Eye poke like that can change the fight #UFCSeattle
- Rafael dos Anjos (@Rdosanjosmma) February 23, 2025
Big eyepoke from Song.Would like to see the rest of this fight stay clean and keep the fight fair for both #UFCSeattle
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) february 23, 2025
