Ilia Topuria shows true colours with nine-word message to agent after shock Justin Gaethje UFC White House defeat

Ilia Topuria showed his class with a nine-word message to his agent after his shock defeat to Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House event.

Topuria was full of confidence heading into the fight and even held a party the night before his clash, in which he claimed he had already secured victory.

El Matador was the heavy favourite to win the main event at UFC Freedom 250 and started strongly against Gaethje in the Lightweight Championship clash.

It all changed after the second round, though, when the American took control and launched a barrage of attacks on the adopted Spaniard.

The fight was eventually stopped after the fourth round and marked the first defeat of Topuria's UFC career and one of the greatest shocks in the history of the sport. It also marked the first time Gaethje had won a full UFC title in his career.

His defeat to the unfancied 37-year-old has cast doubt on what is to come next for Topuria, though it seems certain he will need some time to recover before he can contemplate a return to the octagon.

However, he still showed his class despite the demoralising defeat. Taking to social media after the shock loss, his agent, Jose Maria Diaz, issued a statement and revealed what Topuria supposedly told him in the aftermath.

"Did the fans enjoy the fight? Great fight, right?" Diaz claimed the Spanish fighter said, in a message that showed his appreciation for the sport.

The full statement originally posted in Spanish read: "In the good times and especially right now.

"I've been processing everything that happened and I really still don't understand how.. I’m not going to lie, I am heartbroken, because I never thought this would have ever happened but as we always say everything happens for a reason and we continue blindly believing and following the step that God has for us.

"The first thing Ilia said to me when I saw him was 'Did the fans enjoy the fight? Great fight, right?' That perfectly sums up who he is. Always willing to give everything to entertain, put on a show and enjoy the fans. Obviously he's always looking for victory but Sunday he put on an award-winning Fight of the Night spectacle in the most historic event in sports history. We can make thousands of excuses but in the end that will not change the result but as Ilia well said, faith is the last thing we will lose.

"Technically he lost but with all the support we’ve received and respect that has been gained from so many, it really doesn’t feel like a defeat.

"Thank God he has no serious injuries and the truth is spirits and vibes are super high and positive as always. Haters probably think he's wrong or depressed about everything he predicted and didn't happen, but in the end he just manifests and preaches what he believes and feels is going to happen. It's not perfect and we always knew, especially in this sport, that anything could happen, like not seeing eye to eye from the first down 😅, but we know God's plan is perfect and we're excited to find out what's next.

"@iliatopuria I love you brother now more than ever and rest assured ilia will give you that joy again very soon ❤️ I couldn’t be more proud to say I’m part of your team and that you’re a brother to me

"And to the f****** haters, enjoy your moment it won't last long."