Henry Cejudo has hinted that his time in the octagon may be coming to an end.
The former two-division UFC champion suffered his third straight loss at UFC Seattle, falling short against Song Yadong in a fight clouded by controversy. The bout saw an unfortunate eye-poke incident, which left Cejudo struggling with vision issues. Despite the injury, the fight continued to the final bell, with Yadong securing a victory on the judges’ scorecards—without any penalty for the foul.
Cejudo’s last victory came in 2023 at UFC 288, but since then, his future in the sport has been uncertain. Now 38, he has achieved more than most fighters ever will, holding titles in both the flyweight and bantamweight divisions. However, the recent eye injury has made him seriously reconsider his career, as lingering vision problems have affected him for months.
His focus has now shifted toward his family, and retirement seems like a real possibility.
“I still see double. It’s been a month, and it was just a little pinkie that went inside my eye, yet I’m still not 100 percent. My doctor says it’ll take another month. ‘Korean Zombie’ [Chan Sung Jung] had the same issue, and that’s why he retired.
“Luckily, I only see double when I lay down or look down, but for five days after the fight, my vision was completely off. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see—it was that I was seeing two of everything. I never really saw MMA as dangerous, but now? I’ve had serious conversations with my wife. This might be my last fight.
“One more, and that’s it. I want to be able to play with my kids. I don’t want to risk losing an eye,” Cejudo admitted.
If Cejudo chooses to continue, there are still big fights on the table. A rematch with Song Yadong is a clear option, as Cejudo remained competitive despite the eye injury. Yadong hasn’t ruled it out, meaning the ball is in Cejudo’s court.
Another possibility is a fight against Petr Yan. Cejudo has expressed interest in facing the Russian striker, who has regained momentum with back-to-back wins over Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. After breaking his own three-fight losing streak, Yan is back in the mix, and Cejudo sees him as a worthy challenge.
“I’d love to fight Petr Yan if we don’t run it back with Song,” Cejudo said. “But I don’t know where the UFC stands on this. They probably think I burned out. Dana, Hunter (Campbell)—they all probably think I did.
“But at the end of the day, I want to be there for my kids. I’d rather have two eyes than one, you know?”
Whether this truly marks the end of Cejudo’s legendary career remains to be seen. But one thing is clear—his next move, whether a fight or retirement, will be one of the most pivotal decisions of his life.
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