“I wanted to be walking away with that belt, Joe. I know how tough I am anyway; I don’t need to prove it to anyone. I wanted to leave with that belt, but there’s no other man I’d rather lose to than 'The Highlight', know what I mean? Justin Gaethje is someone I’ve loved watching growing up and watching the UFC. It shows why he’s a legend, right there”

– via his post fight interview with Joe Rogan after his interim title loss at UFC 324

“He's asking you why Arman's trying to be like me, going around eating food. It's because he's got no personality and he's a little nit”

– via UFC 324 pre fight press conference after Dana White was questioned about Arman Tsarukyan’s aggressive media tour.

“Cry me a river b*tch @PaddyTheBaddy”

– via X, firing back at Paddy Pimblett immediately after the UFC 324 pre fight press conference.

“Sean, you know how I feel about this sh*t. Why would you invite this guy? F**k this guy. He is innocent, the same way Bill Cosby is innocent. Bro, why would you do this? Can we get him the f**k out, please?”

– via a viral social media video, pleading with Sean Strickland to remove a controversial guest from their training Gym.

“"Screw the interim belt. Grudge match, June 14th—Justin Gaethje vs. Conor McGregor. What about that? America's birthday—bring an Irish drunk guy to the White House, make sure he doesn't have any drugs on him or cocaine—fight Justin Gaethje.”

– via Submission Radio, proposing a massive "grudge match" for the UFC White House card in June if Ilia Topuria vacates the lightweight title.

“"Screw the interim belt. Grudge match, June 14th—Justin Gaethje vs. Conor McGregor. What about that? America's birthday—bring an Irish drunk guy to the White House, make sure he doesn't have any drugs on him or cocaine—fight Justin Gaethje.”

– via Submission Radio, proposing a massive "grudge match" for the UFC White House card in June if Ilia Topuria vacates the lightweight title.

“It's Chubby Paddy fight week but I'm doing the press run. Wake up fata and get to work. It's not a good look for the UFC”

– via social media, mocking Paddy Pimblett’s perceived lack of media presence during the final buildup to UFC 324.

“If I ever got offered to fight Arman, I would have punched his head in by now. He irritates me. He's an absolute helmet”

– via MMA Junkie and Gym Media Day (January 16, 2026), responding to the persistent narrative that he is "ducking" the #1 contender, Arman Tsarukyan.

“It’s annoying that people are saying I’m ducking Arman, I’ve never been offered to fight Arman. If I were ever offered that fight, I would’ve punched his head in by now. He irritates me. I think he’s an absolute helmet. So yeah, I’d fight Arman in a heartbeat. If Ilia can’t fight until June or July, he should be stripped because he’s holding the division up. I’ll defend against Arman, Max, Charles, whoever. I don’t care”

– via pre fight media interaction in Las Vegas (January 15, 2026), addressing the #1 contender’s claims that he is being "protected" by the UFC.

“Obviously, the most worthy contender is Nassourdine Imavov, that's the fight that needs to happen. He [Chimaev] needs to see if he can get through that test before we can start talking about him being unbeatable”

– via Submission Radio giving a technical breakdown on how to stop the newly crowned middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev.

“They're both on the same level, they can do that. [They're] trash cans”

– via MMA Fighting and Shak MMA (January 10, 2026), dismissing the high—profile feud between Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker as a distraction between low—level competitors.

“They're both on the same level, they can do that. [They're] trash cans”

– via MMA Fighting and Shak MMA (January 10, 2026), dismissing the high—profile feud between Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker as a distraction between low—level competitors.

“We are fighters, we can say what we want about each other, but mentioning family is below the belt. I wish him nothing but the best, mate. I hope it all gets resolved and he gets to see his child, lad”

– via The MMA Guru’s YouTube channel (January 9, 2026), taking a surprisingly respectful stance regarding Ilia Topuria’s ongoing legal and family struggles.

“Nate Diaz... I don't even think he's that good. I'll go look at his record if you want me to. He has convinced people he’s good at fighting somehow, some way... He was average. His record is 21–13... That’s not that great... Within the UFC, he was 16–12. That's not very good... Please don’t post this clip because the Diaz Army will attack me. He has some fans who are rabid.”

– via youtube sparking a massive debate with Daniel Cormier over the Stockton legend's true skill level.

“I think if I win and he wins, and I get upgraded to undisputed champ, it wouldn't surprise me if [Volk] thinks that's the perfect opportunity to win the lightweight belt. I don't want to fight Volk, I proper like Volk”

– via Social media, during a "Tea with Tom" segment on Tom Aspinall's YouTube channel, predicting a massive 2026 title collision with the featherweight king.

“I hope he does retire, and I'm the biggest Volk fan out there. I want him to retire if he wins this one, leave it. We don't want two mates fighting each other”

– via his YouTube channel urging Alexander Volkanovski to hang up the gloves on a high note if he successfully defends his title at UFC 325.

“I think they're all trying to be like Conor McGregor but no one comes close to him”

– via Ushatayka, discussing the "McGregor Blueprint" and its influence on current stars

“This guy is just a big jumped up joke of a juice ed. Has no respect for the sport. Just quit Costa and keep doing ur secret juice gig cos it’s the only thing that works for u. Ur an absolute mon*******. Ur a bum. Ur a wh***. Quit please quit my brother. You are so so f****** s***. I think you may be the worst fighter to ever fight in the ufc ever. And ur title challenge was worse than mine and that’s saying something”

– via X (formerly Twitter), launching a scathing attack on Paulo Costa following the Brazilian's withdrawal from his UFC 326 bout against Brunno Ferreira

“I’d wrestle the right guy. I’d wrestle Jon Jones... [But] No... I’m not wrestling Yoel Romero, bro. I wouldn’t wrestle Yoel. He’s still good, man! He’s like insanely good. I’m not wrestling with him. I’d wrestle like a Jon Jones or somebody”

– via his YouTube channel discussing a potential return to the mats for Real American Freestyle (RAF).

“Everyone thinks Charles Oliveira is good until Islam gets on top of him. Charles Oliveira s*cks comparatively to really good grapplers. He's not even near. You just know the substance of a guy like what Islam is versus a guy like Charles.”

– via The Casuals MMA, breaking down why he believes Islam Makhachev exists on a different level of grappling compared to the UFC’s all time submission leader.