Henry Cejudo, Jason Herzog hash out differences on UFC Seattle eye poke controversy

Henry Cejudo confronted referee Jason Herzog over the attention poke controversy in his loss to Music Yadong.

Cejudo (16-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) misplaced a technical determination to Music (22-8-1 MMA, 11-3-1 UFC) within the UFC Battle Night time 252 principal occasion at Local weather Pledge Enviornment. Cejudo was poked within the eye in direction of the top of Spherical 3, however selected to complete off the spherical after taking the complete 5 minutes to try to recuperate.

Nevertheless, by the top of Spherical 3, Cejudo stated he couldn’t see, and the battle went to the judges’ scorecards the place Music was awarded the win. Cejudo FaceTimed Herzog to debate his discontent with the way in which he dealt with the scenario.

“Once I bought poked, Jason, one, you didn’t take a degree,” Cejudo stated on his YouTube channel. “After which two, after I took the five-minute break and we ended up coming again to really battle, I nonetheless wasn’t recovered, however that dude nonetheless got here right here (with fingers out), and also you didn’t do something.

“Fortunately, I couldn’t see, or a minimum of I noticed 4 arms, however you by no means warned him, otherwise you by no means took away a degree. Jason, Bisping misplaced a watch due to this. Once more, Jason, I respect your job. What I’m making an attempt to do is, how can we make this sport higher? Dana White thinks I’m b*tching out. Dana White thinks I wished out after I’m nonetheless seeing blurry proper now.”

Herzog admitted that he ought to have possible taken a degree from Music.

“You’re asking me concerning the level deduction, and I agree,” Herzog responded. “Let’s say we took the purpose deduction so we are able to play this out. So I take the purpose, you could have the deduction. I’m not saying you’re fallacious about taking the purpose and never taking the purpose as a result of as I reviewed it a few instances, I’m leaning in direction of yeah, you positively ought to have taken a degree.

“I’ll provide you with my perspective within the second after which simply so that you hear it, and I’m not making an attempt to say that it’s proper or fallacious. I’ve heard you now and I fully agree. Particularly afterwards when he got here out along with his fingers like this (stretched out), why didn’t you then cease it and take a degree instantly, and I believe that’s a really legitimate criticism and an adjustment that I in all probability ought to have made. I believe that’s a good level.”

Cejudo took concern with the truth that Herzog went over the principles with him previous to the battle, however didn’t find yourself penalizing Music.

“You say these guidelines within the again Jason, and I believe that’s what sort of bugs me, is that you just particularly did this factor (outstretched fingers), every little thing that you just stated occurred to me and there’s no level taken away,” Cejudo stated. “I regarded like the most important b*tch on earth. … I’ve a loss on my report, Jason, since you didn’t make the precise name and that bugs me a bit of bit.”

Cejudo thought had Herzog taken a degree away from Music, the battle would have been dominated a majority draw after going to the judges’ scorecards. Nevertheless, Herzog clarified that had he deducted a degree from Music and Cejudo couldn’t proceed combating after Spherical 3, he would have misplaced by TKO.

So in hindsight, Herzog was making an attempt to present him the best-case situation.

“Once more, I’m making an attempt to maintain you within the battle is my purpose on this second,” Herzog stated. “How do I hold this man within the battle, how do I let him compete? The criticism I hear is legitimate, ‘Why didn’t you are taking a degree?’ Nicely, you then stroll into this, ‘Then it might have been a draw.’ That ‘would have been a draw’ half doesn’t exist. Then it might have been a TKO loss. That’s the precise argument. It will have been a TKO loss as a result of Henry Cejudo may not proceed to battle.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Battle Night time 252.