Morning Report: Referee Jason Herzog tells Henry Cejudo he should have taken a point from Song Yadong

Referee Jason Herzog admits he messed up.

This past Saturday, Henry Cejudo fought Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Seattle in a bout that ended in controversy. After dominating the early action of the fight, Song accidentally delivered a nasty eye poke to Cejudo in the third round. Herzog quickly stopped the action and gave Cejudo his five minutes to recover, but did not take a point from Song for the infraction.

After five minutes, the fight restarted but Cejudo was still compromised, and when the round was over he told his corner he could no longer see. As a result, the bout was halted and went to a technical decision which Song won with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28. It was a bitter pill for Cejudo to swallow as an illegal blow functionally ended the bout and cost him a chance at winning, and even Herzog agrees that he didn’t handle the situation correctly.

“I’m not saying you’re wrong about taking the point because as I have reviewed it a couple of times I’m leaning more towards, yeah, I definitely should have taken a point,” Herzog told Cejudo on his YouTube channel. “I’ll give you my perspective in the moment, just so you hear it. I’m not trying to say it’s right or wrong. I’ve heard you now and I completely agree, especially afterward when he came with his fingers [pointed out on the restart], ‘Why didn’t you then stop it and take a point immediately?’ I think that’s a very valid criticism and an adjustment that I probably should have made. I think that’s a fair point.”

But while Herzog acknowledged his initial mistake, he also made it clear to Cejudo that he did the best he could given the circumstances, and even tried to help him out because Cejudo could be looking at a TKO loss in other circumstances.

“I was just very focused on you, to be honest with you, and making sure that you’re good,” Herzog said. “So I can’t say that you’re wrong, and when I watch it again, I’m like, yeah, you should have probably stopped it and taken a point there.

“But I will tell you right now though, because we’re talking about the point deduction, when you go into the next round, when you say you can continue to fight, with everything that’s happened, you’ve taken your time, and you continue the fight, that debt is paid. We’re now talking about a fighter that continues on for one minute and then goes in between the round and says he can’t continue. I am restricted at this point and then that becomes a TKO loss for Henry Cejudo. So the best thing in that moment that I can do, when I hear that, is I’m getting this guy to the cards. That’s the best I can do in this moment.

“Now I see your point, if you had taken a point there, then it would have been a draw. I will tell you that we run ourselves right into an argument from Song’s group then … of saying, ‘No, actually, he forfeited. It’s a TKO loss. It should not have gone to the scorecards.’”

In the end, that’s of small comfort to Cejudo who now finds himself on a three-fight losing streak for the first time in his career.

Rematch. Justin Gaethje draws rematch against Rafael Fiziev in new co-main event for UFC 313.

Main Event. Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. set to headline UFC Kansas City in April.

Wish granted. Jean Silva gets his wish with Bryce Mitchell fight booked for UFC 314 in April.

Beef. Dustin Poirier says he would’ve bit off Michael Chandler’s fingers at UFC 281 if he didn’t have a mouthguard.

Bass. Arman Tsarukyan claps back at ‘big mouth’ Dan Hooker after UFC 313 withdrawal, Hooker responds.

Revenue. TKO revenue strong in 2024 despite UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement but poised for even bigger year in 2025.

Boxing. UFC owners “close on an agreement” with Saudi Arabia to launch new boxing league.

Suspended. Dennis Buzukja suspended, fined for altercation with fan at UFC 310.

Austin Vanderford interview.

UFC was quick to put this one up.

Media Day.

Francis Ngannou interview.

No Bets Barred.

Fiziev.

Bless Gamrot’s heart.

Joaquin Buckley is so close to getting it.

Cold world.

Justin Gaethje (25-5) vs. Rafael Fiziev (12-3); UFC 313, March 8

Jean Silva (15-2) vs. Bryce Mitchell (17-2); UFC 314, Apr. 12

Jamahal Hill (12-3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-6); UFC Kansas City, Apr. 26

Michel Pereira (31-12) vs. Abus Magomedov (27-6-1); UFC Kansas City, Apr. 26

Giga Chikadze (15-4) vs. David Onama (13-2); UFC Kansas City, Apr. 26

Ikram Aliskerov (15-2) vs. Andre Muniz (24-6); UFC Kansas City, Apr. 26

Real influx of news late last night. Given the circumstances I guess it’s fine, but I’m extremely underwhelmed by the Gaethje-Fiziev rematch. Wish they’d just punted the Dan Hooker fight down the line.

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