“Yeah, I’m excited for Spencer’s match. But he’s very good, right? Yeah. Olympic silver medalist. He’s strong, but I want to win.” These were the words that came out of Masanosuke Ono’s mouth before his match. The Japanese powerhouse knew exactly what he was up against. While many thought that Spencer would again prevail, Ono crushed him. But to the American’s credit, he is taking the loss like a true champ.

The record books all pointed that the former Olympic silver medalist Lee would beat Ono but on the night of February 26th, a total upset happened. With a scoreline of 3-2, Ono’s hand was raised as Lee had to accept defeat. But to long-time fans, this wouldn’t be totally unthinkable, as we had witnessed Ono claim the U20 and senior World Championships in the 61kg just last year.

And Spencer Lee wasn’t one to make excuses either.In his post-match reflection, Spencer Lee admitted, “It seems that when I wrestle these guys who are gaming me and they’re really good at what they do, I’m not doing a lot of offense,” as quoted by On3.com. A rare moment of self-critique from the American legend. “I think I respected him too much. There’s a lot of hype around him—not putting him down by any means—he beat me, and I’ll take the loss as a man.”

No excuses, no dodging the reality of defeat from a champion who has built his career on dominance. He was taking full accountability; whatever happens, he will fully accept that.For years, Spencer Lee stood as an unstoppable force in American wrestling, carving out a legendary NCAA career with three straight national titles for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

He was the guy—dominant, relentless, untouchable. However, the wrestling world witnessed an unexpected turn at the match between Ono and Lee. Masanosuke Ono controlled the match with precision, using a right-side underhook that controlled the battle. A penalty against Ono gave Lee a crucial two points.

But when it mattered most, Ono’s relentless underhooks and calculated aggression sealed the deal. While the spotlight belonged to the Japanese champion, Lee was there, accepting the defeat gracefully.

A Clash of Titans that never ignited: Spencer Lee reflects on the fight

As a leading wrestler in America, Spencer Lee earned his place through his aggressive fighting style and nearly perfect wrestling abilities. On the other hand, Masanosuke Ono entered the ring with his distinguished Japanese wrestling past. But with that, he also brought his unmovable belief in victory before facing Spencer Lee.

“I think I put him on a little bit of a pedestal, and I need to go out and wrestle a little more,” Lee shared after the match. Respecting an opponent is one thing, but placing them on a pedestal can be a costly mistake. One must have confidence in their abilities and trust the process.Lee’s agitation came from losing together with his annoyance about the competitive dynamic of the bout.

The defeat had two dimensions of disappointment for him because it exposed his failure to himself. A wrestler associated with intense fight styles and intense offensive moves experienced resistance from his opponent. It felt like a missed opportunity to showcase the aggression that made him a legend.

“I think we both shut each other down. So much so that it was boring—and I apologize for that,” he admitted to On3.com. Acknowledging the lack of fireworks that fans had anticipated. The match displeased Lee on several dimensions besides its score because of how it played out. The contest that he anticipated to be a battle for dominance and mental strength turned out to be slow and ultimately underwhelming.

But we all know Lee isn’t one to dwell on regret. The real question now is—will he rise from this setback and reclaim his dominance? Share your thoughts in the comments. What do you think?