Henry Cejudo, preparing for his final UFC fight at UFC 323, urges stricter enforcement of guidelines against eye pokes to prevent serious injuries and ensure fighter safety.
Henry Cejudo is gearing up for what might be his last dance in the octagon at UFC 323. He’s hoping to exit the sport with stricter rules against eye pokes.
Facing Payton Talbott at the Las Vegas event, Cejudo makes his return since a controversial loss to Song Yadong in Seattle. That fight ended with a technical decision after a brutal eye poke.
This year, eye pokes have been a recurring nightmare, halting fights and rarely facing penalties. Cejudo’s patience? Worn thin.
“Everyone needs to man up,” he vented at a media scrum. “Dana White, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the referees—make a f*cking decision. It’s bullshit.”
He’s frustrated with the inconsistency. “If we’re warned, I’ll start poking eyes too. Just man up and make it official.”
A notorious eye poke incident occurred at UFC 321, with Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. Gane’s poke left Aspinall injured, sidelining him indefinitely.
Cejudo wants change for the sport’s integrity and fighters’ safety. Vision issues are no small matter.
“Someone could lose an eye,” he stressed. “Look at Bisping. These guys are deformed for life.”
He’s calling for immediate action. “If I lose an eye, who’s giving it back? Everyone, including Dana, needs to step up.”