Austin Vanderford made a statement in his UFC debut, defeating Nikolay Veretennikov via overwhelming second-round TKO at UFC Fight Night 252 in Seattle. Despite having just four days’ notice, Vanderford dominated the fight from start to finish in front of over 18,000 fans. However, it was the post-fight reaction that made major headlines, completely overshadowing the victory as Veretennikov’s rage spilled over, resulting in a brief but intense exchange inside the Octagon. So, what’s next now? Will the 35-year-old be fired?

UFC boss Dana White promptly rejected the possibility of disciplinary action. “He went over and pushed the guy. What do you want us to do?” White said at the post-event press conference. I understand why he was upset, because he was still defending.” While some fighters have been cut for considerably less, the head honcho’s answer suggests the incident will not have an impact on Veretennikov’s standing with the promotion— at least for the time being. For the ones who missed it, instead of accepting defeat, Veretennikov shoved Vanderford from behind, generating a strong reaction from the audience and prompting security to interfere.

However, Veretennikov’s main concern is not the shove, but rather his record. Now 0-2 in the UFC, he’s on unstable footing in a promotion where results are everything. So, one can claim that his dissatisfaction is natural, but it does not change the fact that he is still not proving his worth at this level. Fighters who fail to deliver frequently leave the organization, and unless Veretennikov can turn things around quickly, Dana White may be less tolerant the next time his name is mentioned.

Meanwhile, Vanderford left Seattle with momentum, both professionally and in the eyes of the fans. His ability to come in on short notice and dominate a UFC-caliber opponent shows his potential. While Veretennikov’s acts elicited boos, Vanderford’s cool response further strengthened his reputation. With his wife, former UFC star Paige VanZant, cheering him on, Vanderford ensured that all eyes were on him for the right reasons. However, the controversies surrounding the event were far from over. After all, how can we forget the finish of the main event? So, will Dana White book a rematch between Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo to make things right?

Dana White reveals the fate of Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong rematch

Dana White has made it clear that there will be no rematch between Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo following the dramatic conclusion to their UFC Seattle main event. The bout stopped after the third round when ‘Triple C’ was poked in the eye by Yadong and informed his corner that he could not see. While several fans and commentators argued that the fight should have been declared a no-contest, the judges scored the completed rounds and gave ‘The Kung Fu Kid’ a technical decision win.

As expected, this did not sit well with both fighters, as they expressed a desire to have a rematch. However, it seems like Dana White is completely against the idea. “Not at all,” White answered when asked about a possible rematch, “Not even a little bit. I just don’t want to see it again.” The head honcho did not condemn Cejudo for being unable to continue, but he was not surprised by the outcome. Song was in the lead on the scorecards and still appeared to be winning before the bout ended abruptly.

The UFC CEO also supported referee Jason Herzog’s decision not to deduct a point, claiming that Yadong did not intentionally commit the foul. “If you thought he intentionally poked him in the eye, [you take a point)],” said White. “Why would he poke him in the eye? He was doing pretty well.” While eye pokes are one the worst parts of the sport, White highlighted that they rarely cause fights to be stopped entirely. But what do you think? Is the head honcho being too strict here and should actually book a rematch? Let us know in the comments.