UFC featherweight shares four-word reaction to viral clip of judoka Uta Abe's emotional outburst following Paris Olympics elimination
The Olympics always has the undivided attention of the sporting world - from casual fans to seasoned journalists to professional athletes. The heartfelt moments always become viral while the shocking upsets generate reactions from fans and fellow athletes alike.
Recently, UFC featherweight fighter Sodiq Yusuff reacted to the shocking elimination of former Olympic Judo gold medalist and 4-time world champion Uta Abe at the Paris Olympics this year. Abe suffered what looked like a mental breakdown after a clean Ippon loss via an outside leg reap, courtesy of Uzbekistan's Diyora Keldiyorova.
Sodiq Yusuff posted a video of the loss and subsequent grief by Abe on X, with the caption:
"F**k this is powerful."
You can feel the agony in Abe's wailing. One couldn't help but feel for such a perfectionist of her craft. Abe, who hasn't lost a bout in half a decade, fell to an opponent she beat in the last world championships and the previous Olympic Games. She was favored to win gold this year alongside her brother, Hifumi Abe, in what could have been a repeat of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Props to the victor, Keldiyorova, for not celebrating during her opponent's grief and showing respect in the end. The heart-stopping win, the show of respect, and the crowd chanting Abe's name to console her made this moment truly powerful. Yusuff made the perfect assessment.
After Abe win, Diyora Keldiyorova went on to become first Uzbek woman to win gold at the Olympics
After avenging her loss to Abe in the World Championships and the Tokyo Games, Uzbekistan's Diyora Keldiyorova went on to win the gold medal in the - 52kg category of women's Judo this year. With her marvelous run, the proud Uzbek has made history.
She defeated France's Amandine Buchard in the semifinals via points. In the final round, the very game Uzbek defeated yet another former gold medalist in Kosovo's Distria Krasniqi. This made Keldiyorova the first female Olympic gold medalist from Uzbekistan as well as the country's first Judo Olympic world champion.