Will There be a rematch between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong? Here's what UFC CEO Dana White said

The UFC Fight Night 252 headliner between Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo ended in controversy, but UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear he has no interest in a rematch. The fight concluded with a technical decision in favor of Song after Cejudo suffered an accidental eye poke in the third round, leaving him unable to continue.

The Fight’s Controversial Conclusion
Song Yadong (22-8-1 MMA, 11-3-1 UFC) secured a victory over Henry Cejudo (16-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) by technical decision in Saturday’s main event at Climate Pledge Arena. The fight was halted after Cejudo informed his corner that he couldn’t see following an accidental eye poke midway through the third round. Despite taking the full five minutes to recover, Cejudo chose to finish the round, leading to the fight being decided by the judges’ scorecards.

While both fighters expressed openness to a rematch, Dana White shut down the idea during the post-fight news conference.

Dana White’s Firm Stance on a Rematch

When asked if he would consider booking a rematch, White was unequivocal. “Not at all,” he told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “Not even a little bit. I just don’t want to see it again.”

White acknowledged Song’s strong performance but questioned Cejudo’s decision to continue after the eye poke. “Song looked good,” White said. “Only (Cejudo) can answer those questions. I don’t know if he thought, ‘If I stop here, is this a DQ, a no contest?’ I don’t know what he was thinking, or maybe he can’t see.”

Debate Over the Referee’s Decision
The fight’s outcome also sparked debate over referee Jason Herzog’s handling of the situation. White disagreed with the decision to deduct a point from Song, arguing that the eye poke was unintentional.

“If you thought he intentionally poked him in the eye (he should have taken a point). Do you believe it was intentional?” White said. “Why would he poke him in the eye? He was doing pretty well. If he was getting his ass whooped, and poked him in the eye, you could probably make the argument.”

White also noted that eye pokes, while unfortunate, are a common occurrence in MMA. “Listen, eye pokes are never good, but they happen a lot, and fights do continue after eye pokes. I don’t know. I’d have to look and see how many fights are actually stopped due to an eye poke. Not many.”

What’s Next for Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo?
Despite the controversial ending, Song Yadong’s victory solidifies his position as a rising contender in the bantamweight division. As for Cejudo, the former two-division champion will need to regroup after this setback.

While fans and fighters alike may be curious about a potential rematch, Dana White’s stance leaves little room for speculation. For now, the UFC appears ready to move on from this chapter and focus on what’s next for both athletes.

The UFC Fight Night 252 main event may have ended in controversy, but Dana White’s decision to rule out a rematch ensures the spotlight will shift to new matchups and fresh challenges for both Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo.