Henry Cejudo reflects back on travesty of pokes as ‘greatest threat’ after UFC Vegas 103 fallout

Henry Cejudo lays into eye poke controversies with flyweight Manel Kape snagging momentous win at UFC Vegas 103.

Henry Cejudo reflects back on travesty of pokes as ‘greatest threat’ after UFC Vegas 103 fallout

Henry Cejudo, recently poked, gives 'unbiased' take on Manel Kape after UFC Vegas 103 (Source: X/YT)

UFC Vegas 103’s Manel Kape set himself apart from the rest this Saturday and is eyeing a title crack. The ex-Rizin FF champion bagged and tagged a TKO win over Asu Almabayev at the UFC Vegas 103 (aka UFC Fight Night 253) main event. However, there were subsequent eye pokes before it happened. Now, former champ Henry Cejudo sounds off on them.

Kape was dominant from the outset despite facing an opponent with a 17-fight win streak. However, several punches to the eyes in the early frame might’ve impacted the discourse. Referee Mike Beltran even missed one such poke. Manel Kape chased down his rival in R3 and secured a win at UFC Vegas 103. However, done with the shambles of referee non-intervention, Cejudo pitches in on it.

Eye pokes are the greatest threat to the growth of this sport (unbiased) #UFCVegas103

Henry Cejudo via X (@HenryCejudo)
YouTube video

‘Henry Cejudo’, who and why? The guy subject to a double-eye-poke in Round Three in the UFC Seattle event headliner, that’s who. “Triple C” could not fight through the chance of injury and called it quits. Henry Cejudo later paid a visit to the Seattle Rain City hospital, as he still had an ocular dent due to diplopia!

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The history books will always remember Seattle as a big blemish and a dark asterisk on the former double-champ’s run. In a contrary kind of manner, Manel Kape could be the same. Although Kape’s tactical pressure to the fence and win was impressive, some fans believe the UFC Vegas 103 headliner will always have an asterisk.

Former rival lambasts ‘dirty fighter’ Manel Kape after UFC Vegas 103

Manel Kape came into UFC Vegas 103 riding high on a win over Bruno Silva at UFC Tampa this last December. Right into the 2025 season, “Starboy” proved a star and made a good case for a title shot. The flyweight bout at the UFC Apex saw him swarm the opponent hard in later frames. Despite notions of cheating due to pokes early on, Kape defeated Asu Almabayev via TKO (strikes) in Round 3.

UFC Vegas 103's Manel Kape catches heat from old foe over alleged eye pokes
UFC Vegas 103’s Manel Kape catches heat from old foe over alleged eye pokes (Source: X)

However, one dark-horse contender and ex-UFC name now rises up to rip him for it. That would be Muhammad Mokaev, who is Kape’s ex-rival. His backstage antics with the Team Xtreme Couture fighter are part of why head litigation/UFC matchmakers dropped him. Mokaev, who, just like Kape, was scouting a potential No. 1 contender featherweight fight before leaving, now lays it on.

Dirty fighter
Popped on steroids
Eye poked and didn’t even stopped , when I eyed poked you I stoped and let you recover!
I apologised for whatever happened between us and I thought it ended but you still talking shit about me in every interview! 🎭 because live in your head ,
I beat you not even in my prime and pull your pants down in front the whole world!
And you will be my son for rest of life!

Muhammad Mokaev via X (@muhammadmokaev)

Mokaev is having his own affairs and even won recently at BRAVE CF 91. He even attended Power Slap 11: Da Crazy Hawaiian vs. Dumpling 2; UFC brass, though, is not keen on giving second chances to the Team KHK MMA Team fighter. But Mokaev is keeping the strains of rivalry on and hoping to return someday. As such, he bills himself as better than Kape and the only flyweight suited for Alexandre Pantoja.

Related: 3 reasons why Henry Cejudo retiring at UFC 249 was bad idea