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 Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.

Following Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event in Auckland, New Zealand, 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.

Check out some of those reactions.

* * * *

The defeated

View this post on Instagram

Crazy…I don’t really have words. I felt amazing this camp, felt an overwhelming sense of calm this fight week. I’ve moved to @elevationfightteamco and have made growth and found myself and was ready to show the world. Unfortunately I got caught and was unable to show y’all this time. But I will next time Thank you to my coaches @seanmaddenmuaythai @christzen1 @dave_zabriskie and all my coaches back home. These men have coached me physically, mentally, and spiritually. I can’t wait to continue to work wit them. Thank you to my teammates grindin wit my everyday. Thank you to @pedritaprvtufc my opponent for stepping in short notice. Thank you to @mickmaynard2 and the @ufc always for the opportunity. Thank you to my family and friends and my fans. It’s an honor to be out here reppin as one of the only black queer Jamaican women on this stage. My heart hurts but I’ve made sacrifices for my fight career and I’ve only just begun wit one of the best gyms in the world. The work continues. I love you all, even y’all hatin ass folks in my DMs too .

A post shared by Shana Dobson (@danger_dobson) on Feb 23, 2020 at 1:11pm PST

View this post on Instagram

หนูรักพี่ตูนค่ะ รักพี่ตูนไม่น้อยไปกว่าพี่ก้อยเลยค่ะ ไม่คิดเลยว่าจะมีวันนี้เลยจริงๆ หนูดีใจมาก หนูใช้เพลงพี่ตูนเปิดตัวมาตลอดตั้งแต่ไฟต์แรกที่เริ่มชก MMA หนูร้องเพลงพี่ตูนได้เกือบทุกๆเพลง หนูขอบคุณพี่ตูนมากๆๆค่ะ รักพี่ตูนค่ะ @artiwara

A post shared by Loma Lookboonmee (@lomalookboonmee) on Feb 21, 2020 at 8:32pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Wasn’t the result I wanted. No excuses about. “Short notice” “Up a weight division” “Your foot got caught” @thetarantulamma was just the better fighter tonight. I promise everyone that supports me I’ll be back. This is just a small bump in the road. . Thank you @thetarantulamma for giving me the chance to share the octagon with you and your words of advice after the fight. I’ll be back. #KUYA

A post shared by J O S H C U L I B A O (@joshculibao) on Feb 22, 2020 at 8:42pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Салам алейкум всем. Этот бой был очень тяжёлый для меня. В начале боя пропустил удар который полностью заставил меня поменять план на этот бой. Но не смотря на это, считаю что первые два раунда остались за мной. Но судьи решили по другому. Алх1амдулиЛлагь в любом положении. Всем спасибо за слова поддержки, их было как никогда много.

A post shared by magomed_mustafaev (@magomed_.mustafaev) on Feb 22, 2020 at 9:43pm PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Karolina Kowalkiewicz Official (@karolinakowalkiewicz) on Feb 23, 2020 at 12:02pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Sooo… Wanna race?

A post shared by Paul Felder (@felderpaul) on Feb 22, 2020 at 7:57pm PST