Wellmaker says third straight UFC loss 'still really hurts' but vows to move forward

Malcolm Wellmaker's move to a world-class gym did not change his result, and he says the loss is still sinking in. In his first long statement since UFC Vegas 122, he described a fighter who gave up the familiar to chase a better version of himself and still came up short.

The slide has been quick. Wellmaker opened his UFC career with two knockout wins and looked like a rising talent. Short-notice opponent Ethyn Ewing then handed him his first professional defeat, and in his next fight he was choked out by another UFC debutant.

That sent him looking for a reset. Ahead of the Tanzilovi fight he left his small-town gym and switched to American Top Team. The early signs were good: he stunned the Georgian in round one. Tanzilovi recovered and finished him with a head kick, which made it three losses in a row.

In his Instagram post, Wellmaker wrote that the whole storyline of the fight was leaving home for a top team, "and I still lost." He said that for a while it felt like all of it had been for nothing. He also wrote that he never chased a flashy lifestyle and wanted to make it so he could support his family. He closed by calling the post a way of giving himself closure and added, "Let's see what's next."

What is next is not yet known. According to MMA Mania, no UFC release has been reported, so he may get another chance in the Octagon. Watch for whether the promotion books him again and whether he stays at American Top Team after a loss that began so well.