UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall recently expressed his disappointment over the losses of Max Holloway and Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, describing it as something that “hurt his soul a little bit.”
During the event held at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Holloway was knocked out by featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in the main event, while Whittaker was submitted by Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event. Both Holloway and Whittaker are fan favorites, and their defeats were hard for many to watch.
Tom Aspinall Reacts to Robert Whittaker and Max Holloway’s Losses
Aspinall, who has always shown respect and admiration for his fellow fighters, shared his thoughts on social media, saying, “Obviously, we’ve got two absolute fan favorites, two fighter favorites. Max Holloway being one in the main event, and in the co-main, Robert Whittaker. Unfortunately for me, this has hurt my soul a little bit because I absolutely love both of these guys as do all the fighters, and as do 99% of the fans out there.”
Despite the disappointment, Aspinall also acknowledged the impressive performances of Topuria and Chimaev, showing his sportsmanship and respect for the winners. He added, “So, our guys lost tonight, unfortunately, but, of course, we appreciate the winners. We appreciate Khamzat Chimaev. We appreciate Ilia Topuria as well.”
Aspinall’s reaction highlights the emotional connection fighters and fans have with their favorite athletes. Holloway and Whittaker, both experienced and beloved fighters, will undoubtedly bounce back from these setbacks and continue to be major players in the UFC.
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