The recent UFC Seattle event just concluded, but it’s worthwhile to revisit particular aspects of this 12-bout contest – to speculate about what may lie ahead for some victors and runners-up. Of the dozen clashes, eight concluded decisively. Notably, all initial seven decisive victories occurred during the preliminary rounds, an observation which prompted UFC’s CEO, Dana White, to label it a ‘curse.’ By his logic, a thrilling preliminary stage often leads to a lackluster main event – a trend that held true for most of this year. However, UFC Seattle turned this notion on its head, notwithstanding an unconventional conclusion to the main five-round encounter between former dual-weight champion – Henry Cejudo, and top tier contender – Song Yadong.
Before moving on to the looming UFC APEX, set to commence in March, here are three key takeaways from the Seattle tournament. The Cejudo versus Yadong faceoff traced an unusual trajectory, rendering the UFC Seattle finale a tad awkward. Yet, the manner in which his bout against Cejudo concluded demonstrated that Yadong has what it takes to continue being a significant player in the UFC bantamweight section. His striking was precise, with his leg-kicks effectively undermining Cejudo’s formidable wrestling foundation.
Though Yadong didn’t secure a showy conclusion or ‘retire’ Cejudo as he’d previously vowed, his triumph over the most high-profile adversary he’s confronted in the UFC – and his MMA journey as a whole – deserves recognition. ‘My aspiration is to become the world champion, hence, I’m willing to compete against whosoever they pair me against. I aim to challenge someone ranked higher than me, or potentially Henry, or [Sean] O’Malley. I am prepared to face O’Malley at any given time,’ Yadong announced at the post-match press conference. The onus is now on the UFC to fulfill his demand.
Yadong, with an overall score of 22 victories, 8 losses in MMA, and an 11-3-1 in UFC, has emerged victorious in two out of his three recent battles, which extends Cejudo’s losing streak to a trio of matches. Cejudo, who commands a score of 16 wins, 5 losses in MMA, and a 10-5 in UFC, has expressed interest in a rematch against Yadong, however, there might be alternative plans brewing for the pair.
Climate Pledge Arena was graced by a standout lineup, and Dana White admitted how he ‘missed’ the experience of being in a city like Seattle, as well as western states excluding the usual suspects like Las Vegas, Arizona, and California. It seems clear that the UFC stands to profit from conducting Fight Night events in diverse locations. This fact becomes even more evident when you account for the box office sales, along with audience turnout. Holding 42 events every year, including in less frequented places like Seattle or Des Moines in May, appears to signal an approaching end to the COVID era, despite the comfort of holding the majority of Fight Night events at the UFC APEX.
Regardless, it seems evident the UFC has been paying attention to fan sentiment, and will endeavour to include new destinations ( or those visited infrequently) in their lineup more regularly. Cejudo’s defeat to Yadong cast a shadow over his eagerly awaited comeback. The erstwhile champion and Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist will have to reconcile with this loss for a while.
That said, Cejudo was quick to acknowledge his ability to match up to the world’s best, independent of the division he competes in. Nevertheless, Cejudo is intent on writing his own ending to his narrative with Yadong, disregarding any potential dissatisfaction on White’s part. ‘I must say this. Dana White, I hear you may be disinterested in a rematch; let’s have another go,’ read a section of Cejudo’s post.
‘There were still two rounds before the end, the pace was escalating, both of us were injured, and we were both giving our all. I believe we should go toe-to-toe again. Dana, while I respect you, I hope we can organize a repeat with Song – and soon… I believe we should do a rerun.’ As we all know, life, and especially MMA, comes with no guarantees. Dana White typically stands strong on his decisions, hence Cejudo would be wise to avoid counting on a rematch unless he can make a compelling case for it.