MMA News wrap-up: UFC Seattle fallout, Dricus du Plessis and Belal Muhammad trade shots, more

First published at www.mmafighting.com

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

UFC Seattle ended in controversy, casting confusion over a pivotal contest between Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo.

Song walked out the victor of Saturday’s main event, though an eye poke to Cejudo caused the bout to come to an abrupt end between rounds, leaving the fighters’ futures murky. Does Song rank up after not getting the chance to put an exclamation point on his performance? Is it time for Cejudo to retire as he continues to seek his first win since 2020?

Earlier this week, fans were also treated to a budding feud between UFC champions Dricus du Plessis and Belal Muhammad. Muhammad accused du Plessis of being the champion of a weak division, while du Plessis dismissed the insult by essentially doing the verbal version of the NBA “too small” taunt.

In this week’s MMA News Wrap-Up, we take a look at some of the best comments from you, the readers, and the other buzz-worthy stories of the week.

Song Yadong wins after Henry Cejudo can’t continue following nasty eye poke in UFC Seattle main event

Here’s one theory as to why the UFC Seattle main event went completely haywire.

NordicFightFan
Jason Herzog should’ve taken a point from Song, at least in my opinion.
But with that being said; once that wasn’t done, it did seem obvious to me that Cejudo was searching for a way out, and he looked like a guy who was trying to play the game, without being fully aware of the rules. Cejudo took all five minutes (which was a veteran move, and I actually do think more fighters should do), asked how much time remained of the round, then sat down the last minute or so, smiled and waved at the crowd and the cameras, got up and told Herzog he was good and ready to continue, only to then say he couldn’t see once the round ended.
This – from my point of view – were the actions of a guy who was slowing down and felt the tides turning while possibly hoping/believing he was up on the scorecards and therefore also thinking he’d get the decision if he survived the third round (which would also explain why he asked how much time remained of the round).
Now, I’ve seen some counter my points by saying that he could’ve just called it during his five minutes of recovery if it was a case of him wanting out, and although that’s true, a no contest would’ve only given him half his purse given the fact that he’s on a show/win contract, so there’s actually a very good reason for him to seek the decision rather than take the no contest.
I obviously can’t say all this with 100% certainty, but nothing I saw from him told me that he had any other intent than to play the game and seek a DQ or decision once the point wasn’t taken.

Belal Muhammad declares middleweight ‘probably’ easiest in UFC outside of Khamzat Chimaev

Belal Muhammad is set to defend his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, but prior to that announcement, fans didn’t appreciate him taking shots at another division for no reason.

Tuhghn
I was almost starting to like Belal but he is working hard on making me dislike him again. Talk less and defend your damn title!

Dricus du Plessis not interested in ‘unfair’ Belal Muhammad fight: ‘I step on his head and it’s over’

DeuceMcNast1
“THE UFC doesn’t even like belal Muhammad”. That’s because nobody does.

As for the quality of how du Plessis handles these public feuds, there’s apparently appreciation for the simplicity of his approach.

Vanilla_Gorilla
Can’t be offended by what people write about you if you can’t read.
DDP lives in my head as a mythical caveman who just comes out twice a year to club people.

Aaron Pico responds to PFL co-founder Donn Davis: ‘I’m not fighting for the PFL, if I have to wait out a year … then I’ll do it’

I’m not saying I endorse this idea for how Aaron Pico and other unsatisfied fighters could work there way out of their PFL contracts, but it’s not the worst I’ve heard.

UFC_CFU_FUC
Maybe there should be a ‘fight your way out of contract’ type of stipulation. Davis can pick anyone from the featherweight division and if Pico can beat him, he is released. If not fight out the remaining two fights in a year or wait. Litigation is for the birds unless you’ve got the time money and patience. Either way, good luck Aaron.
CHEERS!

Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier propose coach vs. coach matchup to cap off TUF 33 season

Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier aren’t going to fight at the end of the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, so they’ve proposed a matchup between their coaches Colby Covington and Michael Chiesa.

It makes sense, but one reader had a a grim premonition regarding that possibility.

Shake Junt
what i’m hearing: “the season just isn’t looking very interesting, so what if we manufacture some drama and try to sell two past-prime fighters?”
what will happen: colby will be an actual dickhead and say something about chiesa’s parents, resulting in him crying and the matchup being scrapped. colby goes on to fight a replacement fighter from dc’s crew, probably some russian, and gets beat up in front of his heroes again.

Israel Adesanya does not expect to win UFC title again, dismisses claims that he’s ‘washed’

Damn, readers got some bars for Izzy.

Derek_Jizzora
“They call me washed, but how are you going to call me washed when you haven’t even been in laundry?” Adesanya said. “You haven’t even gotten dirty. What have you done?”
This line of thinking always baffles me. Izzy, I don’t need to be a 4x quadruple champ to see with my own two fucking eyes that you’ve been demolished pretty handily despite continuing to be a counter striker who never takes the initiative. Even when you were the champ, you were in some boring ass fights and refused to engage, with all of your most spectacular wins coming because the other guy wanted an actual fight. Can’t fault us for calling you washed now, you can’t even win those snooze fests anymore, and instead it’s your snooze button being pressed.

Ben Askren sets odds of Jon Jones fighting again at ‘less than 50 percent’

Ben Askren shared his thoughts on Jon Jones ever stepping into the octagon again, spurring some reader responses and a surprising poll result.

stippenstoh
He’ll wait another few months, then agree to fight Aspinall, only to fake an injury shortly before it happens and announce his retirement. He’ll do it because he’s a..

Nicolas Caged
Good morning everyone! I think Jones is waiting to see what happens in the Pereira-Ankalaev fight. If Pereira wins, he will try to fight him which I really hope the UFC won’t allow. If Pereira loses, I think he will decide to retire. I don’t believe he is ever going to fight Tom Aspinall. I think he knows that Tom will likely knock him out. And I don’t think the UFC is gonna be willing to pay him the F-U money he’s asking for to end his career looking up at the lights. So he will say, peace out and run off into the sunset.

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