Zhang Weili: ‘We are not the tyrants’

China’s Zhang Weili successfully defended her UFC women’s strawweight title against Polish rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk, winning a split decision in a brutal five-round contest at UFC 248 in Las Vegas on Sunday morning (Hong Kong time), after which both fighters had to be taken to hospital.

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The undefeated champion said, “We’re all martial artists here. No trash talking in the Octagon. We’re all champions. I want to show a good example for the kids. We are the champions. We are not the tyrants.”

Rose Namajunas: ‘Just be a good person, that’s it’

Another mixed martial artist who beat Joanna Jedrzejczyk was Rose Namajunas at UFC 217 in New York. Jedrzejczyk was attempting to defend her strawweight title, but lost in a first-round knockout.

Namajunas said in her post-fight interview: “There’s so much crap going on in the media, news and stuff, and I just want to try and use my gift of martial arts to try and make this world a better place and change the world. This belt … don’t mean nothing, man. Just be a good person, that’s it. You know, this [belt] is extra. This is awesome but let’s just give each other hugs and be nice, man. I mean, I know we fight but this is entertainment. Afterwards, it’s nothing.”

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Holly Holm: ‘How could I not do this?’

It’s tough when you’re not the crowd favourite. This was the case at UFC 193 when Holly Holm fought for the women’s bantamweight belt against Ronda Rousey in Melbourne. Holm knocked her opponent out in the second round to become the undisputed champion.

“The preacher’s daughter”, as Holm is known, didn’t shirk her post-fight moment. She patted Rousey on the back before taking the microphone and saying: “I had so much love and support. I just felt like, how could I not do this, with all that love? I had the best coach … I mean, look at this team right here. This right here is priceless. My husband, my father, my coaches, my brothers are here … And my mum back at home, I love you so much … I could go all day.”

Brock Lesnar: ‘This is about my family’

Considered one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history, Shane Carwin attempted to take the heavyweight title from Brock Lesnar at UFC 116 in Las Vegas in July 2010. Lesnar – who was forced to take a break from the Octagon for a year after being diagnosed with diverticulitis – somehow managed to hold onto the belt.

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What followed was an incredibly moving post-fight speech by the undefeated champion: “This isn't about me tonight,” remarked Lesnar, “This is about my family. This is about my doctors. This is about my training partners, my training staff … I stand before you, a humble champion. And I’m still the toughest SOB around, baby.”

Conor McGregor: ‘Dana, 60 Gs baby’

There are too many Conor McGregor sound bites to count, but the Irishman’s UFC debut in Stockholm in 2013 provided one of the most memorable post-fight lines in UFC history.

He had just beaten American opponent Marcus Brimage, in an astounding 67 second knockout. The famous line, “Dana, sixty Gs baby!” was directed at UFC president Dana White, who rewarded the fighter with a US$60,000 bonus for “KO of the Night”.

His short but sweet UFC post-fight speech seems even more heartwarming considering McGregor had picked up a welfare cheque for US$235 the previous week.

By October 2019, McGregor was worth US$47 million.

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