Henry Cejudo is getting ready to step into the Octagon for the final time at UFC 323, and the former two-division champion wants to leave the sport with one major change: stricter rules on eye pokes.
Cejudo returns on Saturday in Las Vegas against Payton Talbott. This marks his first appearance since losing a technical decision to Song Yadong at UFC Seattle in February, a fight that went to the scorecards because Cejudo couldn’t continue after a brutal eye poke.
In a year packed with fights ending early due to eye pokes and barely any real punishment for them, Cejudo has reached his limit.
“I think everybody needs to man up,” Cejudo said during a Tuesday media scrum. “Dana White, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the referees, and just make a fcking decision, man. That’s bullshit. If we’re being warned in the back, alright, I’m going to start taking my warning, I’m going to start sticking you in the eye, too. I get a warning. Everybody just needs to fcking man up and step up, and make this thing official.”
One of the most controversial incidents this year came at UFC 321, when Tom Aspinall’s heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane ended early after Gane poked him in the eye. The champion is still dealing with the injuries.
For Cejudo, this isn’t just about enforcing rules, it’s about fighter safety and avoiding long-term damage.
“Dude, somebody could lose an eye,” Cejudo explained. “Bisping. I mean, how many… these dudes are deformed for life, dude. That sucks. You know what I’m saying? It sucks, one, that it happened to me, and two, Bethe Correira, there’s a lot of people that have eye issues that you guys don’t even know about.
“So it starts here, and I think it needs to be immediate. And if not, I think people need to be held accountable for that stuff. If I also lose an eye, dude, oof. Can you imagine that? ‘Oh yeah, good job. You’re a warrior.’ Oh, OK. Who’s going to give me my eye back? Like everybody needs to step up. Everybody, including Dana White.”
As Henry Cejudo prepares for his final walk at UFC 323, he’s making it clear that the sport needs stronger accountability, and he’s not leaving quietly.
