Feb 22, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Henry Cejudo (red gloves) fights Song Yadong (blue gloves) in the bantamweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Henry Cejudo Eye Injury Update- Triple C Reveals Damage To His Eye After Fight Stopping Eye Poke

Henry Cejudo showcases the damage to his eye that left him unable to continue after the third round at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song

The history of MMA is filled with unfortunate endings to big fights. From the infamous Jon Jones disqualification against Matt Hamill to Anderson Silva’s leg break against Chris Weidman. Now, Henry Cejudo’s main event battle against Song Yadong at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song joins this list of memorable but unfortunate endings.

Cejudo, the former two-division champion and Olympic gold medalist, has always been known for his toughness and resilience. But the kind of injury he endured during UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song in Seattle was something else.

The fight was heating up in the third round when everything changed with an accidental eye poke. Referee Jason Herzog gave Cejudo the full five minutes to recover, and in true Olympic champion fashion, he tried to continue. But between rounds, Cejudo made it clear to his corner with some colorful language that he couldn’t see properly. The fight ended there, with Song winning by technical decision.

Also Read: UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song Results: Who Won The UFC Fights Last Night?

The Medical Reality

Some fans started questioning Cejudo’s toughness. However, ‘Triple C’ didn’t waste time proving his critics wrong. He posted photos of his injured eye on social media, revealing three serious conditions: Diplopia (fancy doctor talk for double vision), soft tissue damage, and a corneal abrasion.

Diplopia, Soft Tissue Damage, Corneal Abrasion.

“hE wANteD a wAy OuT” #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/SYG48fmb3M
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) February 23, 2025

For those wondering what that means in plain English, this means that his eye was basically a mess. It’s like trying to drive a car with Vaseline smeared all over one side of the windshield, except way more painful.

The Aftermath Of Cejudo’s Eye Injury

While Henry Cejudo rushed to a Seattle hospital instead of attending the post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White quickly shut down any talk of a rematch. Both fighters had agreed verbally for a rematch. However, it seems that the UFC brass isn’t liking it. It’s a tough break for both fighters. Song was starting to find his rhythm, and Cejudo was showing flashes of his old championship form.

I ridicule Dana White when he’s unfair but he is 100% right here.

The media, commentators & fans running with the narrative that Song vs Cejudo should be ran back is the dumbest take I’ve heard in a while. Song won 3-0 & Henry quit on the stoolpic.twitter.com/iGT5DDhHxU
— MMA Joey (@MMAJOEYC) February 23, 2025

The scorecards showed Song ahead, but here is a twist: if Herzog had taken a point for the eye poke (which he didn’t), fans would have had a majority draw on our hands.

Caught up on Song/Cejudo.

I think Herzog should have definitely taken a point after he resumed action in round 3. Song immediately came out & did the prime Jon Jones by pressuring Cejudo with outstretched fingers. Kinda hilarious for him to do that after such a horrific eyepoke
— LAMO (@lookatmyopinion) February 24, 2025

The incident adds another chapter to the ongoing debate about eye pokes in MMA. From Bruno Silva’s battle with Chris Weidman’s eye pokes to Jon Jones’ infamous open hand stance, this has been a persistent issue in the sport. Cejudo’s detailed medical report might help silence those who questioned his inability to continue, but it also raises questions about fighter safety.

(Image Credit: Steven Bisig – Imagn Images)

Henry Cejudo

Song Yadong

UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!