Henry Cejudo in shambles after unceremonious UFC Seattle loss: “Dana probably thinks I b*tched out…”

Henry Cejudo is not sure of his standing with brass after UFC Seattle headliner eye poke vs. Song Yadong and subsequent 'quitting.'

Henry Cejudo in shambles after unceremonious UFC Seattle loss: “Dana probably thinks I b*tched out…”

Henry Cejudo unsure where he stands with brass after UFC Seattle main event eye poke (Source: X/IMAGO)

Henry Cejudo left the UFC Seattle event headliner at Climate Pledge Arena, with a heavy heart. “Triple C” locked horns against Song Yadong, and headlined the UFC’s return to Seattle last weekend. However, it ended unceremoniously with an eye poke and the matter going to the judges’ scorecards. The result was a controversial one – to say the least.

Cejudo got eye-poked in the third-round and took the whole five minutes. However, he couldn’t see out of his left eye when the match resumed. UFC Seattle main event referee Jason Herzog thus waved off the action as R4 started and it went to a technical decision. ‘Triple C’ said he wanted to stretch it out; as a father of two though, the thought of raising them without being at his fullest made him opt out of it.

Um, if we don’t run it back with Song, I would love to get Yan, but I don’t know where the UFC [stands]. They’re probably pissed at me. Like, Dana probably thinks I b*tched out, and so does Hunter, like, this is what I’m thinking in my mind, where I’m just like, ‘Dude, I’m not [backing down].’ I got a one-year-old and a fu*king three-year-old…I’ll be happy to have one eye and raise them, but sh*t, it’s better to have two than one, you know? So, I don’t know where I stand with the UFC.

Henry Cejudo on “Believe You Me” podcast Ep #624 (@bispingpodcast)
YouTube video

“Triple C” fears that he dejected Dana White and head litigator/CBO Hunter Campbell with his ‘chickening’ out of a main event; main event being a big takeaway. The brass seems less-than interested in Cejudo running things back with Song Yadong.

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UFC legend Michael Bisping, co-host of the podcast, understands the gravity of the situation. Song Yadong came out victorious without a point deduction, which Bisping takes umbrage on.

Eye pokes are an issue that prevails and will continue to do so despite means and measures. If a poke is deemed ‘unintentional’, it goes without severe penalty. This is why Herzog didn’t deduct a point from Yadong. Nevertheless, it has Triple C in an awkward position regarding his UFC future.

Henry Cejudo talks on what’s next for him

Cejudo’s fighting future remains more unsettling than ever after UFC Seattle. The Olympic gold medal winner has never lost thrice in a row in his career. Before this, the bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili dominantly outworked Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. Having accomplished a double champ status, the question becomes what more can Triple C do at this point.

Henry Cejudo has others in mind, if not a Song Yadong rematch
Henry Cejudo has others in mind, if not a Song Yadong rematch (Source: X)

Many peers and former rivals have nudged Cejudo to not chase after contenders anymore. He himself is looking at a shift down to 125. Whilst Cejudo and Yadong want to coax out a rematch from the CEO, there’s options. Yadong is already moving on to better options out there. Speaking on the ‘Believe You Me’ Podcast, Cejudo later wished for #2 ranked 135-pounder Petr Yan.

I would love to run it back with him, …but if I can’t run it back with him; I know that Yan said that May was open – I’d love that fight with Petr Yan…You know what I’m saying? We could scrap it out – if my eye is going to get better then I’ll be ready by May and Song’s already had his shot at Petr Yan, so give me Petr Yan dude.

Henry Cejudo further said

Yan defeated Yadong via a unanimous decision in March 2024. He is also fresh off a UD win (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) over “God of War” Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau. Shooting for the gold with his current momentum, “No Mercy” has said he’d like to return in May or June. The tease came right after Cejudo’s controversial matchup.

While still unlikely, Cejudo later said in the podcast that he’d like this clash. The former dual-division champ also pleaded to White for one last fight, despite the unceremonious main event flub. It remains to be seen if Triple C returns to the octagon again.

Related: 3 reasons why Henry Cejudo retiring at UFC 249 was bad idea