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 Friday’s Bellator 226/Bellator Europe 4 events in Dublin, 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.

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Bellator 227

The defeated

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Can’t thank everyone who came out on Friday night enough The reception I got walking out and during the fight was incredible. I work my balls off to be the guy who gets his hand raised and take great pride in the effort I put into this camp. But unfortunately my defense to his overhand was non-existent and after the first knockdown my reactions weren’t what they needed to be. I did everything I could to get myself back into the fight, the crowd were a huge part of why I always felt I could turn it around. Unfortunately I didn’t. Fortunately I know who I am and what I can do and I’m extremely determined to come back a better version of Will. Major props to @magicnorbi he’s a fantastic fighter and I’ve no doubt he’ll go on to do incredible things in the sport. Also can’t thank @kierandavern1, @coach_roche_sbg_ @tommygunnmma @coach_kavanagh and Adrian Quinn enough for the effort they’ve put into me over the last few months. I’ve no doubt I’ll do them proud in time. Stand by for Rawbastard2.0

A post shared by Will Fleury (@willfleurymma) on Sep 29, 2019 at 11:23am PDT

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Shit still hurts but that’s the game for you. Came up short on Friday night. Lost via a unanimous decision to a tough, game, solid opponent @fransmlambo. Got caught early on in the fight with a good solid shot that sat me down for the first time in my whole fighting career. Was a new experience for me as that’s never happened to me before so quite a few things changed during the fight and also quite a few mistakes were made during the fight that I’m currently assessing and will assess and adjust when I get back on the mats. All in all it was a great scrap for the fans. For now I’ll take some time off to heal and rest my body and get back to the drawing board and improve on my game ASAP and bounce back in spectacular fashion. Be Right Back.

A post shared by Dominique Wooding (@realdwooding) on Sep 29, 2019 at 8:06am PDT

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Well, this week has been an absolute blast – highest of highs, and the opposite end of the spectrum! I’m completely fine – not a mark on me, just left my neck open and took a little nap. In front of 30,000 people. On worldwide television. (Maybe my pride is a little dented ) I cannot thank this amazing team enough – for preparing me, for being here with me, for helping me and for believing in me. I’m sad that I didn’t get to show what I’m capable of in there, but given that until about 1500hrs on the day, I wasn’t medically cleared and thought I was going to be pulled out – I’m just grateful that I was able to get in there. Thank you to @drsafiyahahsan Yoni Gottlieb and Eoin Kelly – as well as Dr Doherty. These guys dug in absolutely blind to get my brain scans cleared, literally managing it an hour before the coach left to the venue Thank you to all my coaches for giving up your time and secrets to help me improve: @primalpaulharper , @williamtimmis , @stephenbyerleypt , @ldfighters , as well as @harrystleger for all the time making me videos. I appreciate you all so much. Thank you to all my wonderful training partners at both @primalcombatacademy and LDMMA, you guys rock and your support was invaluable. Thank you to LadyTeresa Mary Harper, Amanda Hall and Kerry Masarati for making the long journey to come to Dublin and support me. I cannot emphasise enough how much it meant. My wonderful friends and family and my amazing other half, for putting up with my silences, the necessary selfishness and lack of social graces for the past couple months. Thank you to @judesamuel_ and the @bellator.europe team for looking after me so well. I’m feeling happy and positive – I have a lot to look forward to, as well as some bits to improve. I may not be chuffed with the momentary lapse of concentration that led to the RNC, but overall I know how much I have been improving and how much more I still have to do in this sport.

A post shared by RocksteadyMMA (@rocksteadymma) on Sep 29, 2019 at 6:38am PDT

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Fun times last night! The fight was close, but I believe I won rds 1&3. You Never know when you leave it to the judges. I will be back better and stronger. Thank’s to my family, team, friends and fans, your support never goes unnoticed. With out you all I would not be where im at today.

A post shared by Myles Jury (@furyjury) on Sep 28, 2019 at 7:45am PDT

The victorious

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What an experience! It’s still hard to comprehend. When I walked-out, 10,000 irish fans were booing me and the only thing in my head was “By the end of the fight you will be cheering for me”! I enjoyed the moment so much and it probably became one of, if not the best experience in my life so far. (I mean I was doing @fortnite dances mid fight and couldn’t stop smiling) I just want to thank my coaches @shootfightersofficial and @shootpaul for believing in me even when I trained like shit! And all my Shootfighters family who were giving me massive ass whoopings. Will had a big heart as he just kept coming forward and this just shows the quality of fighter I am cos he’s no joke either. Onto the next one #worldchamp

A post shared by “Magic” Norbert Novenyi Jr. (@magicnorbi) on Sep 29, 2019 at 4:07am PDT

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What a night. All glory to god. Thanks to @bellator.europe @bellatormma @judesamuel_ @mikekogan and all the Bellator Staff for another unbelievable experience. There is no show and crowd like Bellator Dublin. What a night. Ready to go again. . . Not possible with my sponsors and team @sbgcharlestown/ @teamtorreshq / @rayginleyboxing / @air.una @meatballmolly @ezacharopoulou / @hazardharvey / @lindseydoylept / @coachcarlevans /@slimshealthykitchen/ @ifitni/ @thecbdfarmacy/ @boojummex/ @a_mcgreevy/ @healing_heat/ @virusintl/ @wartribegear also everyone at @tigermuaythai for all there help at start of camp. Posted @withrepost • @bellator.europe Another stoppage win for @leahmccourtmma in Bellator! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The Northern Irish fighter submits @rocksteadymma on the @skysports portion of #BellatorDublin

A post shared by Leah McCourt (@leahmccourtmma) on Sep 28, 2019 at 6:04am PDT

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Some team. Your a product of who you surround yourself with. The best . . . Sponsors & Team @sbgcharlestown/ @teamtorreshq / @rayginleyboxing / @air.una @meatballmolly @ezacharopoulou / @hazardharvey / @lindseydoylept / @coachcarlevans /@slimshealthykitchen/ @ifitni/ @thecbdfarmacy/ @boojummex/ @a_mcgreevy/ @healing_heat/ @virusintl/ @wartribegear

A post shared by Leah McCourt (@leahmccourtmma) on Sep 29, 2019 at 3:10am PDT

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8-0. From the bottom of my heart, I wanna thank every single one of you for making last night one of the greatest experiences of my life. I can’t even explain what the crowd was like, the greatest fans in the world 100%. Blew the roof of the place big time. Thank you for all the support I wouldn’t be here without it, I love you all. Different type of fight this time but that’s the way it goes sometimes. You can win them all but you can’t finish them all. I will be back in there again real soon. Thank you all again. What a fucking night, one I will never forget for the rest of my life.

A post shared by B D K (@kiefercrosbie_mma) on Sep 28, 2019 at 8:04am PDT

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Thanks to God for giving me the strength to do something I love… Big, enormous shoutout to my Wife, at home taking care of our 3 boys…when I get home I’m gonna take you out, wine & dine you, bring you home… & then I’ll take the boys & let you get a whole night of sleep all by yourself (that’s that real world romantic talk, )… Hats off to Myles for bringing a super smart fight to the table & dictating the pace of the fight, you guys all know me well enough & know that when things are going crazy at 100mph that’s when I’m at my best & shine the most, Myles did a great job of keeping the fight at 50mph, I gotta learn from this & be better…it’s awesome to learn a lesson & still walk away w/a ‘W’ rather than a loss… That’s 4 W’s in a row & a lot of lessons learned…whoever & whenever you want next Bellator but you know you can’t keep that title shot from me for too much longer… #TheOnceAndFutureKing #TheEuropeanTakeover #TheMMALabElite #IOweYouAShowIrishFans #ManOnFire #TheGrindDontStop

A post shared by TheOnceAndFutureKing (@bensonhenderson) on Sep 28, 2019 at 1:31am PDT

Bellator Europe 4

The defeated

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A face of calmness and determination. Fight day has arrived

A post shared by Richard Kiely (@richardkielymma) on Sep 27, 2019 at 12:08am PDT

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I want to sum this experience as one of the coolest experiences of my whole life. Hearing the Irish crowd cheer their fighters on was extraordinary. Obviously I took this on 8 days notice but am always ready to fight.. I know this dublin crowd deserves a war. I’m sorry to anyone I let down. I will comeback a stronger man and fighter from this… you definitely haven’t seen the last of me. #heartbroken #letdown

A post shared by Roman Salazar (@romansalazarmma) on Sep 27, 2019 at 5:19pm PDT

The victorious

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Buckle up

A post shared by Peter Queally (@peterqueally) on Sep 26, 2019 at 1:46pm PDT

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Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m so so lucky to have you behind me. You guys make this arena a fortress!! If you are coming here to fight me, then you better be ready to fight all of us! If we are going to go down, then we are going to go down together! Thank you all!

A post shared by Peter Queally (@peterqueally) on Sep 29, 2019 at 11:21am PDT

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Don’t let your mouth write cheques, your ass can’t cash #MVPTV #TEAMPETTY #stormdublin #ALAKAZAMMYACCOUNT #MIP #Michaelirishpage

A post shared by Michael Page (@michaelvenompage) on Sep 28, 2019 at 1:49pm PDT

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You ain’t never seen a selfie taken during a fight before. Well… Now you have #MVPTV #TEAMPETTY #stormdublin #selfie #MIP #Michaelirishpage #Danmiragliottaisahater

A post shared by Michael Page (@michaelvenompage) on Sep 29, 2019 at 12:31am PDT

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Can’t really put it into words. I’m humbled and grateful. Years and years of hard work to get to this stage and I still only few like I’m beginning I’ve got that much more to give. I’ve got way too many people to thank who got me to the position I’m in, so just want to thank everyone who has helped me and supported me. I’m blown away and excited to get back into to training and grow as a young martial artist. That was the best experience of my life, thank you #thejimmyshow

A post shared by James gallagher (@strabanimalmma) on Sep 28, 2019 at 11:26pm PDT

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