In the heart of UFC Seattle, former bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo was eyeing a comeback to reclaim the title. However, blocking his path was the formidable Song Yadong, all set for the showdown on Saturday night.
Cejudo, with a record of 16 wins and 4 losses, entered the octagon after back-to-back defeats to reigning champ Merab Dvalishvili and ex-champ Aljamain Sterling. For the former dual-title holder, a decisive victory over Song was crucial to stake his claim for another title shot.
Song Yadong, boasting a record of 21-8-1, has been steadily climbing the ranks. His victories over Marlon Moraes and Ricky Simon positioned him as a rising contender, but a win against Cejudo would solidify his place among the elite at 135 pounds.
As the fight kicked off in Round 1, Cejudo went on the offensive with relentless pressure, aiming to corner Song against the fence for a takedown. Yet, Song remained elusive, countering with sharp kicks. Throughout the round, Cejudo unleashed a series of punches, trying to find an opening.
While Cejudo focused on gauging Song’s reactions to his feints, Song capitalized with short counterstrikes. Near the round’s conclusion, Cejudo attempted a single-leg takedown but quickly shifted to land a solid left hook instead. The round wrapped up with Cejudo pressing Song against the fence.
Moving into Round 2, Cejudo adjusted his strategy, opting for fewer feints but still struggling to penetrate Song’s defenses. The exchange was rife with leg kicks from both fighters, and Song had notable responses to Cejudo’s takedown attempts.
The round morphed into a tactical striking match, with Cejudo focusing heavily on calf kicks, while Song adeptly countered with strikes to the head.
Round 3 echoed the precision and patience of the earlier rounds, neither fighter overcommitting. A low blow from Song briefly interrupted the bout, but once resumed, it was a continued exchange of strikes and feigned takedowns from Cejudo, who failed to land many of them accurately. Another foul from Song caused another pause in action.
As the fight restarted after a five-minute hiatus, it became evident that Cejudo’s vision in his left eye was compromised, prompting him to repeatedly wipe it. Despite trying to push through, he was visibly impaired as Song pressed forward. During the break, an exasperated Cejudo informed his corner about his impaired vision.
Ultimately, Cejudo communicated his inability to see clearly to the doctor and referee Herzog, leading to the fight being stopped.
In the end, Song Yadong claimed victory over Henry Cejudo by technical decision, with scores of 29-28 from two judges and 30-27 from the third.
