Unexpected Outcome at Climate Pledge Arena
The UFC Fight Night 252 turned out to be one of the most unusual events in recent MMA history. Held at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, the much-anticipated bout between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong took a strange twist in Round 3 that left fans and fighters across the globe buzzing.
The fight began with high energy as both competitors showed their prowess. Song, known for his striking skills, and Cejudo, a former champion with a reputation for resilience, were both eager for a victory. However, the match took an unfortunate turn in the third round when an inadvertent eye poke by Song Yadong incapacitated Cejudo. Despite attempts to recover, Cejudo found himself unable to continue, communicating his vision problems to his corner and referee Jason Herzog.
Technical Decision Seals the Outcome
In the aftermath, with the third round only partially completed, officials had no choice but to employ a technical decision to determine the winner. The judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 in favor of Song before the match was stopped. Although Cejudo was disadvantaged by the unfortunate incident, the official decision awarded Song the victory, extending his winning streak to three out of his last four fights.
The outcome did not go unnoticed by the MMA community. Fighters and commentators, including those from ESPN MMA, took to social media to express their disbelief, labeling the event as the ‘weirdest night ever’ in UFC history. The decision sparked debates about the rules surrounding such incidents and the potential need for clearer guidelines to handle eye pokes effectively. Meanwhile, for Cejudo, this fight marked his third consecutive loss, putting additional pressure on the former titleholder to reassess his approach and strategy moving forward.
Beyond this fight, the reactions might prompt the UFC to reconsider some of its protocols to ensure the safety of fighters and the integrity of future matches. As the conversations continue, fans and fighters alike are hoping for more clarity in handling similar situations down the line.