UFC legends react to Anthony Joshua getting 'battered and dominated' in front of 96,000 fans in brutal four-knockdown KO
Yesterday at 11:20
In a result that no one outside of the Dubois camp saw coming, Anthony Joshua was beaten from pillar-to-post last night as he was knocked down on numerous occasions before suffering a dramatic fifth-round knockout at the hands of 'Dynamite'.
From almost as soon as the opening bell echoed around Wembley Stadium, Daniel Dubois was ready to put on a show for the 96,000 fans in attendance; and it didn't take long for the explosive 'Dynamite' to get going – dropping AJ four times before finding the finish in the fifth.
As the combat sports world digests an unbelievable night of boxing action in London, UFC fighters both past and present are sharing their reactions to Anthony Joshua's shock KO loss.
UFC legends react to Anthony Joshua's shock KO loss to Daniel Dubois
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping hosted a live watch party for the event and following the insanity at Wembley Stadium coming to an end, shared a fascinating breakdown of the fight to his YouTube channel.
"Anthony Joshua was soundly defeated, knocked down multiple times, dominated from start to finish and beat pillar-to-post by Daniel Dubois," stated the veteran UFC fighter turned commentator.
"Everybody was there for a massive night, but do you know who didn't show up? Prime Anthony Joshua: that sounds insulting to Daniel Dubois, who was the better man.
"He [Joshua] stood there, took more shots, took more damage and in round three, he hit the canvas not once but twice – it was a terrible night for Joshua. Yes, he showed heart, yes, he was willing to trade, he fought like a man… But he was also beaten soundly by the better man, it's as simple as that."
In an opinion echoed by many within the combat sports world, Joshua was ultimately a victim of his own success and paid the price in the fifth round; having rocked Dubois and as he entered to find the finish, walked onto a thunderous counter from 'Dynamite'.
"What cost him in the end though was that he was starting to have some success in round five, it looked like Dubois was starting to get a little tired, a little sluggish… But I tell you what, not only was the punching power impressive from Dubois, but the chin, the ability to take the best shots from Anthony Joshua and then immediately fire back.
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"Daniel Dubois right now, outside of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, is the next biggest name in heavyweight boxing," claimed Bisping, who later acknowledged that the consequences for the two couldn't be more different.
"He got picked apart, he got dropped, he got battered, he got dominated; simple as that… It's a crushing night for Anthony Joshua and for Daniel Dubois, the world is his oyster."
Aside from Michael Bisping, there were plenty of other UFC legends who were watching intently as the younger British juggernaut secured his spot as one of the best heavyweights in the world.
Alan Jouban wrote on X how "It didn't take much at the end," and that Joshua "seemed to be 'taking pictures' between shots, leaving himself open too much," to the power punches of Dubois.
Former champion Demetrious Johnson reacted by stating "And my dumb a** said he would beat Francis Ngannou in MMA" with a crying-laughing emoji," with Derek Brunson writing "SHESSSHHHH CRAZY."
Conor McGregor was also in attendance at Wembley Stadium, telling reporters after the viral finish how the knockout was the result of pressure, both for the moment and implementing the right gameplan.
"Daniel Dubois had no pressure on his shoulders coming in here – very calm, very composed and it showed; he came out to go after it at the first bell. [Whereas] Joshua showed him the same shots over and over again; step back, back hand; or step back, back uppercut – he didn't step to him and go forward."
McGregor also had some advice for Joshua on whether he should retire from the sport.
