Dana White doesn’t sugarcoat things. “I didn’t wish any ill will on either one of my parents, but no, when they passed away I had almost no feelings about it, to be honest with you.” That statement, made in 2023, raised eyebrows for its brutal honesty. Some people just process loss differently. But for others, grief hits like a truck, and there’s no running from it, even in a fight. And that brings us to one of the most unexpected moments from UFC Fight Night 254.

Kevin Vallejos had just scored a dominant TKO in his UFC debut, the kind of win that usually calls for celebrations, bold callouts, and a moment in the spotlight. But Vallejos? His mind was elsewhere.  Instead of basking in his victory, ‘El Chino’ used his post-fight spotlight to make a heartfelt plea. “Choi lost his mother less than a month ago and still fought me. My heart aches for him,” he tweeted. “I really hope he gets another shot in the UFC.” It wasn’t just about extending condolences. It was a genuine push for Seung Woo Choi, a fighter who had just gone three brutal minutes with him while carrying a heartbreak no one should have to bear.

And this wasn’t out of character for Vallejos. Why? Because when handed the mic in the Octagon, rather than boasting about his performance, he made sure to show respect where it was due. “First of all, I’d like to send a message to my opponent,” he told Michael Bisping. “I know he just experienced a very, very tough moment in his life, and still, he showed up. He made it here. I’d like the UFC to continue to give him a chance because that was amazing. The fact that he shared the Octagon with me.”

That’s not something you hear often in a sport where roster spots are a constant battle. But this Argentine wasn’t just talking for the cameras, he meant it. And while his knockout at 3:09 in Round 1 proved he’s a real prospect, his actions after the fight showed he’s got character to match. Still, as harsh as it sounds, the fight game doesn’t stop for grief. Not for a minute. Because at the end of the day, the show must go on.

While Dana White shuts the door on grief, do fighters follow?

If you follow MMA long enough, you know that life doesn’t pause just because a fighter has suffered a personal tragedy. In fact, some of the toughest fighters have stepped into the octagon while carrying unimaginable pain.

Take Anthony Smith, for example. At UFC 310, ‘Lionheart’ walked into his fight against Dominick Reyes with the weight of losing one of his longtime coaches. It showed. He cried throughout his walkout, and in the fight itself, his emotions got the better of him. At one point, he literally told Reyes, “Punch me in the face.” And Reyes? Well, he obliged. Brutally. After the TKO loss, Smith was clearly drained, hinting at retirement with Joe Rogan. “I don’t know how many more times I can do this,” he admitted. And UFC boss, Dana White made the call for him, retiring Smith at the post-fight press conference.

And then, there’s Francis Ngannou. If you think fighting through grief is tough, imagine doing it after losing your 15-month-old son. That’s the reality this French Cameroonian faced before stepping into the cage against Renan Ferreira. The result? Ngannou bulldozed through Ferreira in the first round. But after the fight, the emotion finally spilled out. “I can’t think about anything other than my son, Kobe, I only took this fight because of him,” Ngannou said, breaking down in tears. “I hope they can remember his name because without Kobe, we wouldn’t be here tonight.”

UFC phenom Khabib Nurmagomedov held in the pain of his father’s loss for months until he finally won his final fight at UFC 254. After submitting Justin Gaethje, Khabib lumped to the canvas and broke down. His opponent was the first to come over and console him. Later, Dana White called Khabib “a man’s man” for the way he handled the loss and still kept his obligation and fought at UFC 254. Isn’t Choi’s action reminiscent of the same?

MMA might be the most unforgiving sport in the world, but fighters? They’re human. Some, like Mr. White, process loss with cold detachment. Others carry it into the cage and fight through it. However, ‘El Chino’ Vallejos has his sights set on avenging his only career loss, likely against Jean Silva next. But his UFC debut wasn’t just about making a name for himself, it was about standing up for someone else. So, what do you think? Will Dana White and Hunter Campbell listen? Will they give the former Top FC featherweight champ another shot? Or will Choi’s UFC run end under the worst possible circumstances? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!