UFC fighter Henry Cejudo was given a loss at UFC Fight Night 252, but many question whether he was wronged by the referee. Cejudo’s eye was poked in the third round, and despite taking five minutes to recover, he continued fighting without being stopped.
Cejudo claimed his vision was impaired during inter-round breaks, prompting referee Jason Herzog to wave off the action despite the scheduled five-round fight. The judges awarded the win to Song Yadong, who wasn’t deducted a point for multiple fouls. Cejudo’s team argues that he should have been given more time to recover and not been forced to continue fighting.
The incident sparked controversy among fans and experts, with some calling for a change in the current rule set regarding eye pokes and recovery time. Others believe the fight should be rematched between Cejudo and Song. MMA Junkie’s panel discussed the issue, exploring what could have been done differently by the referee and whether the loss should be overturned.
As the mixed martial arts community debates this incident, one thing is clear: Henry Cejudo’s loss to Song Yadong has left many wondering if justice was served in the Octagon.
Source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/02/ufc-seattle-reaction-henry-cejudo-eye-poke-controversy