Eye pokes have long been a frustrating and dangerous issue in the UFC, leaving fighters sidelined, fights compromised, and fans outraged. Despite being an illegal move, accidental eye pokes occur far too often, sometimes even altering the outcome of high-stakes matchups. With gloves designed in a way that leaves fingers extended, and fighters instinctively reaching out to gauge distance, the problem still persists. The issue isn’t just about unfortunate accidents—it’s about fighter safety and the integrity of the sport. This was exactly the case at the UFC Seattle event which turned into a nightmare for Henry Cejudo.

The former dual-champion didn’t just leave the cage with a loss, but also with diplopia and a corneal abrasion to show for it. Song Yadong had his hand raised in victory and neither Cejudo nor the MMA community were satisfied with the outcome. Calls for the fight to be overturned grew louder, as controversy swirled around the result. Cejudo, after the fight, discussed the entire incident with Kamaru Usman in their Pound 4 Pound podcast. Former welterweight champion Usman seemed pretty impressed with the performance of Cejudo.

However, he is rooting to see a rematch between the pair really soon. This is what Cejudo is also looking for in the future but feels Dana White might not agree with it. While speaking to Usman he said, “Yeah I’d love that but I don’t know if Dana’s too fond with that dude. I just wish that. But honestly Kamaru I don’t regret my decision. Even though it’s going to be counted as a loss in my record. I don’t because I wanted to give myself that shot dude.” 

Well, Cejudo does have a point. At the post-fight press conference, the UFC head honcho was asked about a rematch between Yadong and Cejudo. However, Dana White wasn’t interested in running it back. The UFC boss made it clear—there would be no do-over.

The former dual champion has been getting a lot of mixed reactions from the fans and even experts. Cejudo a former Olympic champion is known for his relentless grit and determination inside the Octagon. However, his latest loss has forced many to believe that he just gave up on the fight. One of the experts who feels exactly the same is former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen. ‘The American Gangster’ took to his Good Guy/ Bad Guy podcast to share his honest opinion on the whole.

Chael Sonnen gives a hard reality to check to Henry Cejudo after UFC Seattle

The fight in Seattle stirred plenty of controversy, as an eye poke from Yadong in the third round left Cejudo suffering from diplopia and a corneal abrasion. Despite the blatant foul, Cejudo’s protests went unanswered, and Yadong walked away with the win, leaving ‘Triple C’ frustrated and the MMA world buzzing with debate. But the big question is what do the experts feel about the whole scenario? Should Cejudo be awarded a rematch with Yadong? Well, Chael Sonnen doesn’t quite feel the same.

The former UFC fighter didn’t mince his words while speaking on the matter and urged Cejudo to “move on” while accusing him of “playing the game”. He further added, “I’m essentially accusing possibly the greatest combat athlete of cheating. That is just so unlike Henry. I mean, truly, so unlike Henry in the way that he did play it. This is a guy who walked through fire many times. This is a guy who walked through fire at 20 years old to become an Olympic Champion. It didn’t seem like he was willing to walk through fire this night,”. 

Sonnen’s words carry weight. Henry Cejudo was once a dominant force in the UFC, cementing his legacy after an already stellar wrestling career that saw him claim Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games.

But the big question is what’s next for Henry Cejudo in his career? Will he get his rematch against the 27-year-old fighter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.