UFC Seattle’s main event failed to live up to the hype after an epic 11-fight undercard.
Modestas Bukauskas, Tom Aspinall’s training partner, kicked things off with a massive KO win over Raffael Cerqueira before Ricky Simon slept Javid Basharat to record arguably the most violent finish on offer at UFC Seattle.
On the main card, Paige VanZant‘s husband, Austin Vandeford, got into a post-fight scrap after winning his short-notice promotional debut – so there was lots to keep fans entertained at the Climate Pledge Arena.
Unfortunately, the headliner between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong ended in the most peculiar way.
Fans react to Henry Cejudo vs Song Yadong result
Song Yadong picked up the biggest win of his career against the former dual-weight UFC champion.
The Chinese bantamweight won a technical decision courtesy of 29–28, 29–28, 30–27 judges scorecards.
However, the fact his fight with Henry Cejudo went to the cards so early was due to an eye poke.
‘Triple C’ took all five minutes of his break before going back to his corner and insisting he couldn’t see.
This led to a stoppage at the start of the fourth, with the fight heading to the scorecards that declared Yadong the winner and left UFC fans expressing a mix of emotions on social media.
One fan said: “Cejudo should be cut.” While another added: “Terrible job by the ref. Was such an awesome card.”
“Go back into retirement,” a third social media user commented.
“Very weird series of events. Was shaping up to be a banger 5 rounder,” a fourth fan wrote.
“Triple C becomes Triple L,” one fan mocked.
“Great card ruined,” this angry fan tweeted.
Henry Cejudo speaks out after third straight loss
Cejudo was surprisingly upbeat during his post-fight interview with UFC legend Michael Bisping.
The former middleweight champion was famously left without an eye after being hit by Vitor Belfort in their fight and had to compete in a number of world title bouts with limited vision after cheating UFC medicals.
The Brit was commentating on the night and sent into the octagon to interview both men after the fight, with Cejudo telling Bisping: “We’re about to be brothers, Bisping. I couldn’t see out of my left, my right’s okay.
“But I think even in that last minute when he was chasing me I didn’t know what he was throwing at me. I can’t see from the left so I wanted to continue, I tried to continue but if I can’t see, bro, this dude’s going to hurt me.
“Of course, we can run it back. But f— it, man, that f—ing finger went in my eye pretty good.”
Cejudo temporarily retired from MMA after knocking out Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in May 2020.
The 38-year-old relinquished his bantamweight belt and spent three years on the sidelines.
Since returning in May 2023, Cejudo has suffered defeats against Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili.
After failing to get back in the win column against Yadong, it’s unclear what the future holds for Cejudo.