“From the moment [the injury] happened to [Ulberg], I wasn’t at 100 percent anymore. I was at maybe 40—50% of my performance, and I was just sparring and waiting for the referee to stop the fight at any moment… It was a big mistake, maybe one of my biggest”

– via X, reflecting on his UFC 327 defeat to Carlos Ulberg and admitting that a moment of "mercy" cost him the Light Heavyweight title.

“I felt mercy. I felt sorry for him. This is one of the biggest lessons of my life... It was in my hands and I just let him [win]”

– via his UFC 327 Octagon interview, reflecting on the shocking moment his "Samurai" code may have led to his downfall against Carlos Ulberg

“I saw somebody who jumped off another opponent's back. When you have time for these stupid things, fight better. Don't do these stupid things in the cage. You have to respect the athletes in the cage.”

– via a Kick livestream with Adin Ross, expressing his disapproval of showboating in Mixed Martial Arts.

“Alex Pereira is a gentleman. He did the right thing when leaving the division. Even though he has left, I still believe sooner or later, we will fight again.”

– via The Ariel Helwani Show, reacting to the news of Alex Pereira vacating the Light Heavyweight title to move to Heavyweight.

“Let’s go for the title. Let’s go for the hunt. Let’s go hunt Ulberg.”

– via Instagram, accepting the challenge for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship

“I don't care who, but my stand is still the same. Now I believe I am in position to fight for the belt”

– via X (formerly Twitter), making a definitive claim for a title shot after a dominant 2025 campaign.

“I really don't know how much it was in the last week Title Fight, but for me it's essential to win”

– reacts to UFC 321 eye poke incident

“He came up to me and said 'Hello' in the UFC P.I. I said f**k man are you a nice guy or a bad guy? Then I realized someone else is writing on Twitter so I can't be angry for him but he is still responsible”

“This is something that I already deal with. You know me, I meditate and do a lot of inner work... I can’t have that attitude of vendetta towards him. The only thing I can say is I believe I’m on a level where I can beat [Magomed] Ankalaev or Pereira.”

“This is something that I already deal with. You know me, I meditate and do a lot of inner work... I can’t have that attitude of vendetta towards him. The only thing I can say is I believe I’m on a level where I can beat [Magomed] Ankalaev or Pereira.”