UFC: Dana White not interested in Song v Cejudo rematch

UFC boss Dana White has dismissed any chance of an immediate rematch between Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo after the main event in Seattle on Sunday (AEDT) ended in controversy.

An eye poke in the third round meant Cejudo was unable to continue, with Song named the winner by technical decision on the judges’ cards.

Both fighters expressed interest in an immediate rematch after the fight, but White is not interested.

“Not at all,” he said in response to the idea during his post-event press conference. 

“Not even a little bit. I just don’t want to see it again.”

White was non-committal in his exposition of why the fight ended, but he implied that perhaps Cejudo had seen it as an opportunity.

“Yeah, I knew he wasn’t going to be able to continue,” he said.

“I have no idea how he was feeling. 

“I’ll let him answer all those questions. Only Cejudo can answer those questions. 

“I don’t know if he thought ‘if I stop here, is this a disqualification, no contest?’ I don’t know what he was thinking or maybe he can’t see.

“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.”

White did, however, speak up in support of referee Jason Herzog, who opted not to deduct a point from Song for the poke.

“Song looked good,” he said.

“If you thought he intentionally poked him in the eye… Why would he poke him in the eye? 

“He was doing pretty well. 

“If he was getting his ass whooped, and he poked him in the eye, you could probably make the argument.”

UFC betting sites had Song as a heavy favourite heading into the fight, with Marantelli Bet paying -250 for the Chinese native to win.

Cejudo, meanwhile, was a heavy underdog at +220 across top online bookmakers.

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