‘Everyone needs to take responsibility… including Dana White’: Henry Cejudo speaks out about UFC’s ongoing eye poke issue

Henry Cejudo is preparing for his final fight at UFC 323, facing Payton Talbott in Las Vegas, and he wants stricter enforcement against eye pokes in the sport. This fight marks his first return since his loss to Song Yadong in February at UFC Seattle, where a severe eye poke led to a technical decision.

Eye pokes have repeatedly interrupted fights this year, often with minimal penalties. Cejudo expressed his frustration during a Tuesday media session:

Everyone needs to take responsibility Dana White, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the referees. Make a decision and enforce it. This is unacceptable. If Im being warned, then Ill respond. Everyone has to step up and make the rules count.

One notable incident occurred at UFC 321 when Ciryl Gane poked Tom Aspinalls eye in a heavyweight title match, forcing a stoppage and leaving Aspinall with lasting injuries. Cejudo stresses that enforcing rules is not just about fairness but also fighter safety.

Someone could seriously lose an eye, Cejudo said. Fighters like Bisping and others have permanent damage. Its not just my experience others, like Bethe Correia, have also suffered eye injuries. This needs immediate action. If people arent held accountable, the consequences could be severe. Everyone, including Dana White, must step up.

Author's Opinion: The Urgency of Tackling Eye Pokes in MMA

As Henry Cejudo prepares for his final fight at UFC 323, a critical issue in the sport has once again come to the forefront: the frequency and minimal penalties for eye pokes. This issue, which disrupted Cejudo's last fight against Song Yadong, has been a growing concern in the UFC and MMA as a whole. Eye pokes are not just an inconvenience – they pose real, long-term risks to fighter safety.

Cejudo's call for stricter enforcement is not just about maintaining the integrity of the sport; it's about protecting fighters from permanent harm. The UFC has faced numerous instances this year where eye pokes have affected the outcome of matches. In one case, Ciryl Gane’s poke on Tom Aspinall at UFC 321 forced a stoppage and left Aspinall with lasting injuries. These incidents are not isolated; they reflect a broader problem within the sport that demands urgent action.

It’s crucial that the UFC, along with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and referees, take a firm stand on this matter. Fighters need to be held accountable for their actions inside the octagon, and that includes enforcing rules that are designed to protect their health and safety. Cejudo's frustration is justified—if eye pokes continue to go largely unpenalized, the consequences could be disastrous. As Cejudo pointed out, it's not just his own experience that highlights the danger; fighters like Michael Bisping and Bethe Correia have also suffered permanent damage to their eyes due to these injuries.

The time for change is now. We need to see immediate action to address this issue, not just for Cejudo but for all fighters who risk their health every time they step into the octagon.

Sources:

• ‘Everybody needs to man up… including Dana White’: Henry Cejudo goes off about UFC’s ongoing eye poke debacle