UFC 296 reactions: Winning and losing fighters on social media
Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums, and, perhaps most importantly, social-media platforms.
Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of X, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.
Following Saturday’s UFC 296 event in Las Vegas, several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.
The defeated
The defeated: Lucas Almeida
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1AX8KRu5ft
The defeated: Cody Durden
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1AjFAfp8j5/
The defeated: Casey O'Neill
https://www.instagram.com/p/C09bQh4r-zX/
The defeated: Brian Kelleher
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0979BpSBtp/
The defeated: Karol Rosa
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08gzoxuDh1
https://www.instagram.com/p/C09FbX4raqR
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0_xkR7Ly27
The defeated: Dustin Jacoby
https://www.instagram.com/p/C07DD77JoTL/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1AXxNCv531/
The defeated: Bryce Mitchell
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08SL0irK8p/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1AVsqNvHS7/
The defeated: Stephen Thompson
The defeated: Brandon Royval
https://www.instagram.com/p/C09srngvPxB/
The defeated: Colby Covington
Colby Covington says complaining about his #UFC296 loss is "not the cloth that I was cut from" then calls out "Wonderboy" for a 2024 clash. pic.twitter.com/yoAHZVrsJF
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 17, 2023
Colby Covington doesn't regret his comments about Leon Edwards' father ahead of #UFC296, and doubles down on them. 😳
"I don't feel bad about that at all. Why would I feel bad for a criminal?" pic.twitter.com/K5maAKGlvN
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 17, 2023
"'I said, 'You thought I was a character?'"
Colby Covington clarifies his comment to Leon Edwards at their #UFC296 ceremonial weigh-in faceoff. pic.twitter.com/ODO1w1OklB
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 17, 2023
Colby Covington isn't keen to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov after #UFC296 but vouches for the unbeaten contender to fight Leon Edwards next.
"That's a fight for the fans, and I think that's the direction the UFC should go." pic.twitter.com/IQdgHitIod
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 17, 2023
The victorious
The victorious: Shamil Gaziev
https://www.instagram.com/p/C07wNtVCM1S/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08eVmJuOWh/
The victorious: Andre Fili
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1AYJYTPZlf/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Ad_qxJCvo
The victorious: Tagir Ulanbekov
https://www.instagram.com/p/C071dz7JsUV
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08C8nPiIkP
https://www.instagram.com/p/C09f1y4smp6
The victorious: Ariane Lipski
https://www.instagram.com/p/C074n4eJ8zZ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C07-PD9sDu2/
The victorious: Cody Garbrandt
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-oo-qrz46/
The victorious: Irene Aldana
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-DfOhPPDV
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-OmSzP6N-
The victorious: Alonzo Menifield
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08ewl6OCYn
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-B-4vy37J
The victorious: Josh Emmett
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08G9yOLgg1/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08Ql1isgSW/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08TVThu05T
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-lBGvrCgC
The victorious: Paddy Pimblett
https://www.instagram.com/p/C09-Dp2S2nH
The victorious: Shavkat Rakhmonov
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08UV9hOPlu
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08kP1Buhx4
The victorious: Alexandre Pantoja
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08UkuROewQ
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-DctIxTQi/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08m0RpOLVg/
The victorious: Leon Edwards
https://www.instagram.com/p/C08mJWKrkOG
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-NGuSMtgV
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1AndAkSMCz
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.