Dan Ige Opens Up About Losing Three Straight UFC Fights: “Damn… I Want to Win”

There is nothing easy about going through a losing streak, especially for fighters who have been in the sport for many years. It can feel even worse when a veteran goes through the hardest part of their career. It has happened with BJ Penn and Tony Ferguson. Now, the same thing is happening with Dan Ige. Meanwhile, talking about his losing skid, ‘100K Ige’ shared how badly he wants to get back to the winning column.

Dan Ige Talks About His Struggles After UFC Noche Loss

Ige said he has worked hard and given his best, but he still has not been able to get the win he wants. He also said fighting is not like other sports. As per him, fighters only fight a few times each year, so a loss can hurt even more. Losing can also affect money, future fights, and confidence. But Ige said fighting is not who he is. His faith is what keeps him going. Even after three losses, he still wants to win badly.

“Losing three in a row hurts. There’s no way around that. It was never a matter of preparation or mindset. I’ve put in the work. I’ve sacrificed. But the gap between being a champion and feeling like an ultimate failure can be so small—and I still haven’t found that breakthrough I’m chasing. This sport is a game of inches and milliseconds. Technique, tactics, timing, a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of faith…But damn… I want to win,” Ige stated.

Ige has lost five of his last six bouts. Most recently, in his bout of UFC Noche, he moved to a heavier weight to face David Martinez, and it didn't turn out in his favor. But even with five consecutive losses, it doesn't seem like Ige is going anywhere. He's only 35, which still leaves a lot of time for him to turn things around. But as he said, MMA continues to evolve, so he needs to adapt.

Bobby Green Wants Arnold Barboza Jr. to Make MMA Debut Against Dan Ige

King Green has suggested a fight between boxer Arnold Barboza Jr. and UFC featherweight Ige. Green feels Ige would be a good opponent because he is not known for his wrestling and is more likely to stand and trade. Green also believes Barboza could do well against Ige if he gets enough time to prepare. For now, Green wants Barboza to consider taking on Ige and making the move into MMA.

“He's not like the best wrestler. You'd have a good fight where he'd stand with you more, but if you had more time you could fight with him,” Green said.

Barboza Jr. has been a successful boxer, securing 33 wins and a single loss against Lopez. At the same time, Ige is also a striking-oriented fighter, so the fight between them could become quite exciting.