Dana White: ‘Henry Cejudo already retired’ once, so no Joe Rogan interview after UFC 298 loss
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Dana White didn’t see a reason for Henry Cejudo to get the mic after UFC 298.
Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) removed his gloves after losing a unanimous decision to Merab Dvalishvili Saturday at Honda Center – which he said he would do if he lost. However, Cejudo never got to address his fighting future in the immediate aftermath because he wasn’t given a post-fight in-cage interview.
White had no intention of giving Cejudo the mic if he lost. He was critical of Cejudo retiring in May 2020, and didn’t want to see him steal Dvalishvili’s (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) shine.
“Henry Cejudo already retired, OK? He did the whole drop the gloves thing,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight at UFC 298. “Tonight was Merab’s night.
“Merab went in there, fought the No. 3 guy in the world, former world champion, and easily won the fight. Tonight was Merab’s night. If he wants to retire again, he can do that here (at the press conference) or somewhere else. You don’t give the mic to Cejudo tonight.”
White thinks the long layoff hurt Cejudo. When Cejudo retired in May 2020, he was on a six-fight winning streak – including title wins over Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw, and Dominick Cruz.
But since coming out of retirement this past May, Cejudo has dropped back-to-back fights to Aljamain Sterling and Dvalishvili.
“In my opinion, you can’t take three years off in combat sports,” White said. “It’s never done well for anybody, and Cejudo looked great in the first round. I thought he started to gas out in the second round. Merab just got stronger as the fight went on.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.
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Merab Dvalishvili
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UFC 298 - Merab vs Cejudo
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Henry Cejudo UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Henry Cejudo UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Henry Cejudo UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Henry Cejudo UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Merab Dvalishvili UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Merab Dv alishvili vs Henry Cejudo
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Merab Dvalishvili UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo pins Merab Dvalishvili to the mat during UFC…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo pins Merab Dvalishvili to the mat during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili lands a hit against Henry Cejudo during UFC…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili lands a hit against Henry Cejudo during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili lands a hit against Henry Cejudo during UFC…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili lands a hit against Henry Cejudo during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo pins Merab Dvalishvili to the mat during UFC…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo pins Merab Dvalishvili to the mat during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo applies a hold against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo applies a hold against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in with a hit against Merab Dvalishvili…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in with a hit against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili moves in with a hit against Henry Cejudo…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili moves in with a hit against Henry Cejudo during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili moves in with a hit against Henry Cejudo…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili moves in with a hit against Henry Cejudo during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili moves in against Henry Cejudo during UFC 298…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili moves in against Henry Cejudo during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo reacts following his loss against Merab Dvalishvili during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo reacts following his loss against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili celebrates his victory against Henry Cejudo during UFC…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili celebrates his victory against Henry Cejudo during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo reacts during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo reacts during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo, UFC 298
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili celebrates his victory against Henry Cejudo during UFC…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili celebrates his victory against Henry Cejudo during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Dvalishvili vs Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo reacts following his loss against Merab Dvalishvili during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo reacts following his loss against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo, UFC 298 Scorecard
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