The fights didn’t stop at UFC Seattle after Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong’s controversial main event conclusion.
The UFC Seattle headliner between bantamweight contenders Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong was an entertaining back-and-forth for as long as the fight lasted. Cejudo was looking to snap a two-fight losing skid since ending his abrupt MMA retirement.
Cejudo and Yadong traded heavy shots on the feet in the UFC Seattle main event. But things took a controversial turn midway through the five-round booking.
Yadong landed an accidental groin strike and eye poke on Cejudo that brought the action to a screeching halt in Round 3. Cejudo was deemed unfit to continue after an eye poke made the former champion’s left eye go blurry, telling referee Jason Herzog he couldn’t see.
Because the fight went past Round 3, it was ruled a technical decision, and the fight went to the scorecards. Yadong earned the nod on all three judges’ scorecards.
- READ MORE: UFC Hall of Famer lays out ‘perfect scenario’ for Alexander Volkanovski’s featherweight comeback
Brawl breaks out just minutes after UFC Seattle concludes
The boobirds echoed throughout Climate Pledge Arena after the result. The frustration of fans carried over to the concourse as spectators exited the venue.
As re-shared by X account Seattle Submissions, a few fans got involved in a wild brawl just minutes after the Cejudo vs. Yadong decision was read.
As of this writing, it’s uncertain if arrests were made after the incident. Seattle Police haven’t issued a public statement on the brawl.
Crowd fights at UFC events aren’t anything new. UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili got into it with a spectator while cornering Aljamain Sterling for his fight at UFC 310.
At the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing event in November, two inebriated fans got into a bizarre scrap in the stands that went viral on social media.
UFC CEO Dana White isn’t keen on Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong 2
Despite Cejudo and Yadong being on the same page about an immediate rematch, UFC CEO Dana White feels differently about granting their wishes. He envisions booking different matchups for Cejudo and Yadong after UFC Seattle despite the anticlimactic end to their main event.
In reaction to White’s dismissal, Yadong pivoted his attention to a potential clash with former titleholder Sean O’Malley for his next fight. O’Malley hasn’t fought since a title loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in September.
The UFC’s long-awaited return to Seattle didn’t disappoint. Despite the frustrating ending and post-fight scenes, the card featured plenty of highlights, which you can catch up on here.