Michael Bisping thinks one thing must be carried out about eye pokes within the UFC.
This previous Saturday’s UFC Seattle principal occasion resulted in controversy and confusion when a watch poke led to a untimely finish to the competition between Track Yadong and Henry Cejudo. The unintentional foul to Cejudo occurred close to the top of the third spherical and after a five-minute break was given to permit him to recuperate, the motion briefly resumed just for Cejudo to confess he was unable to see heading into Spherical 4.
Referee Jason Herzog dominated the combat to be over, and the judges went to the scorecards early, awarding the combat to Track through technical choice.
Bisping was on cageside commentary, and he’s surprised that Track wasn’t penalized in any approach for the brutal eye poke.
“No. 1, I believe we must always have had some extent deducted,” Bisping mentioned on his YouTube channel. “And I don’t say that as a result of I wish to see Track Yadong’s profession jeopardized or something like that. No, I like Track Yadong, I’m excellent mates with Urijah Faber, and I’ve quite a lot of respect for the entire staff.
“However the eye pokes, folks must know that there’s goddamn f*cking penalties. Eye pokes are horrible. You already know all about my historical past with the eyes. Eye pokes are unhealthy. For those who begin taking factors, folks will cease stretching their f*cking fingers out. Then when the third spherical began, and there was solely a minute left, Track Yadong had his fingers out and so did Henry Cejudo, and I’m like, why isn’t the ref saying something?”
Had Herzog taken some extent from Track and the bout nonetheless gone to a technical choice, the penalty would have modified the outcome utterly. Track gained through scores of 30-27 and a pair of 29-28s. With some extent deduction, these 29-28s would have turn into 28-28s, and the result would then be a majority draw.
Because it stands, Track formally has a win over a former two-division UFC champion on the books and Cejudo falls to 0-3 since getting back from retirement in 2023.
“One thing must be carried out,” Bisping continued. “Stricter penalties must be in place. There must be speedy penalties for folks poking fighters within the eye. It’s so simple as that.”
On the UFC Seattle post-fight press convention, UFC CEO Dana White was requested if he had any curiosity in a right away rematch between Track and Cejudo will likely be booked, to which he responded, “Under no circumstances.”
Bisping thinks a rematch is sensible, however wonders if that’s the best path for Cejudo to go because the clock ticks down on his profession.
“Track Yadong was declared the victor as a result of they went to the scorecards and he ought to have gained that, two rounds to 1, perhaps,” Bisping mentioned. “Possibly even all three rounds, he was quick, he was fast, he stopped all of the takedowns, and the boxing was stunning. It’s a disgrace that it ended like that.
“They are saying they’re going to run it again. Henry mentioned he needs to run it again, Track mentioned he’ll try this, it was his thought. However will Henry Cejudo try this at 38 years previous? I actually don’t know.”
Track and Cejudo have each expressed curiosity in working it again, agreeing to a rematch on social media.
