Cameron Saaiman promises to bounce back from brutal UFC knockout
Taking to social media on Wednesday, Saaiman spoke of a 'challenging last 12-18 months' and said he 'WILL bounce back'.
Saaiman wrote: 'I would firstly like to thank each and every person who showed their support. I really appreciate you guys.
'To my team, family, friends and sponsors,
'Thank you for sticking by my side through a very challenging 12-18 months. I am deeply grateful to you guys for always being there through the highs and lows.
'I felt amazing in that cage. It felt like home. So it really pains me knowing that I could not live up to the expectations and standards that I set out for myself.
'I truly love this sport more than anything in the world and I will not allow these losses to define me.
'I know that I WILL bounce back from this.
'Thank you all '
Malcolm Wellmaker's right hand earned him a UFC contract and on Saturday night it earned him his first UFC victory.
The 30-year-old bantamweight made a spectacular octagon debut at UFC Kansas City, needing less than two minutes to land a right hook that floored South African opponent Cameron Saaiman.
Wellmaker was aggressive from the start, cutting off the cage in pursuit of Saaiman.
When Saaiman attempted to punch his way off the fence, Wellmaker slipped the shots and countered with his own, landing square on Saaiman's chin and sending him crashing to the canvas.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:59 into Round 1.
Wellmaker, known as 'The Machine', improved to 9-0 as a professional.
Meanwhile, Saaiman now finds himself in something of a slump after a 3-0 start to his UFC career.
He is now heading in the opposite direction, having lost three straight fights.
Whether he's given another UFC fight any time soon remains to be seen.
Click HERE to watch the end of the fight
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
'The Blessing': Vincent Tshituka and wife share sweet wedding post
Springbok Vincent Tshituka and his wife Katlego Monare are sharing more content from their picturesque wedding which took place a week ago. The rugby player and his influencer bride wed in an intimate ceremony attended by close family and friends. Last month, the DRC-born player proudly made his green and gold debut against Italy at Loftus. In an Instagram post, Vincent Tshituka shared a clip of his beautiful wedding ceremony to wife Katlego Monare. 'He who finds a wife finds a good thing,' he says to the camera, which captures him weeping as he waits for his bride at the altar. The couple received showers of blessings as rain soaked them while they said their vows. The clip featured imagery of the couple enjoying intimate moments together and celebrating with their friends and family. 'The blessing,' read the caption of the emotional post. In November last year, Vincent Tshituka and Katlego Monare celebrated their lobola negotiations with a ceremony merging their Congolese and South African cultures. The Springbok also posted a screenshot of a DM he had sent to his partner in 2022. In it, the brazen rugby player stated his intentions to marry the beautiful woman. 'I'll come back to this in a couple of years to see', she jokingly responded. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
'Chapter is closed': Tatjana Smith won't swim competitively again
Former Olympic swimmer Tatjana Smith (formerly Schoenmaker) has reflected on the first anniversary of her retirement, insisting she has no desire to ever competitively compete again. The 28-year-old ended her professional career after a successful stint at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where she won gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m race. Tatjana is the wife of sports agent Joel Smith, who is the brother of former Springbok WAG, Rachel Kolisi. In an Instagram post, Tatjana Smith reflected on the anniversary of her decision to suddenly retire from competitive swimming. As South Africa's 'golden girl', the news came as a surprise to the public. She shared: 'It still feels surreal. A journey that began with a dream ended up exceeding every expectation I ever had. Swimming gave me more than medals or records — it shaped who I am. It taught me discipline, resilience, humility, and the power of showing up, again and again.' Tatjana added that her final race was dedicated to her family, who made many sacrifices to make her dreams come true, and even to her competitors, who helped motivate her. She continued: 'Swimming gave me a stage — but more importantly, it gave me a purpose, a second family, and moments I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. 'The chapter has closed, but the gratitude never will'. After retiring, Tatjana Smith revealed that she planned to enjoy quality time with her husband, family, and friends, and discover her new interests. She's also been vocal about her mental health challenges, particularly how swimming on a world stage amplified the pressure, and her anxiety, and how she now plans to slow down. In a new interview with SwimSwam magazine, Tatjana hinted that she was concerned about the sport's lack of money. She shared: 'In South Africa, we don't get paid by our federation, so athletes rely on sponsorships. But sponsorships are often based on performance; if you don't place at the top, there's little financial support. 'Winning bronze, for example, barely covers expenses. I realized that if I continued swimming, it would be purely for financial reasons, and that's not why I started. I swam because I loved it and wanted to leave on my terms.' She added, 'I never swam for fame or pressure. I swam because I loved it. And now, as I figure out what comes next, I carry that same passion with me.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
'We have to win the MTN8': Orlando Pirates coach declares
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his team needs to win another MTN8 title. The Buccaneers have been victorious in the competition for the past three editions and are three wins away from winning the MTN8 for the fourth time in a row. On Saturday, the Soweto giants edged out Polokwane City 2-0 to reach the semi-finals. 'I think it's a big victory for us, but it's not finished; we have to go through [the semi-final]. The target is to win the MTN8 cup,' Ouaddou told SuperSport TV . 'Orlando Pirates are winning every cup in the MTN8 [for three years]. Definitely, we have to win it. It will not be easy, but we will give our best to win it. 'Very happy for the points (win), I'm very proud of them because we had a very technical plan; we wanted to play with a high intensity since the beginning to put pressure on the team. It's what we did.' 'I think it was a good game for our fans as well; we wanted to give them a good game. We have been training in Spain for a long time, but now they can see a little bit of the team,' Quaddou stated. 'But it's still something to improve; not everything was perfect, but at least I'm happy with the first game.' Orlando Pirates will now face rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-finals. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
