There are some losses that just sting a bit more.
For Carlos Condit, coming up short against Robbie Lawler at last night's (Sat. Jan. 2, 2016) UFC 195 pay-per-view (PPV) event in Las Vegas, Nevada, was one of those defeats.
"I did (think I won). It was close though. It didn't go my way tonight, but I left it all in there and fought my ass off. So, I'm disappointed but I am proud of my performance," he said during the post-fight press conference (video replay here).
The two talented strikers engaged in what proved to be one of the best five-round Welterweight title fights in recent memory, with both men having their shining moments in what was an all-out stand up war.
In the end, though, "Ruthless" retained his 170-pound strap via unanimous decision. And though it wasn't exactly a highway robbery, many felt Condit should've gotten the nod.
To watch Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit full fight video highlights from UFC 195 last night click here.
As for what's next for "Natural Born Killer," he explained that his bout against Lawler may have been his last one of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career.
"It's not really an emotional thing, I'm not dejected," said Condit. "I don't know, I have to evaluate, but yeah there is a possibility that this might be my last one," concluded the former interim champion.
While it's not exactly what fight fans wanted to hear, Carlos did mention prior to UFC 195 that retirement wasn't too far off.
At 31 years of age, Condit is now 0-2 in his attempt to capture the undisputed welterweight title, failing to unify the titles against Georges St-Pierre back in 2012.
His only taste of UFC gold was defeating Nick Diaz for the interim belt three years ago. Still, it wasn't enough for "Natural Born Killer," as he desperately want the "real" title.
Now, with nothing but time on his hands to evaluate his career, Condit will head back to Albuquerque, N.M., to decide whether or not he wants to make a third run at the division strap. And if the answer is "no," then you can bet the collective hearts of fight fans around the world will break just a little bit, as Condit has long been a fan favorite.
And you have to look no further than last night's performance to see why.
For more UFC 195 news and results, including post-fight recaps and analysis, click here and here.