Guram Kutateladze entered UFC London with great expectations and an all-star team that included Khamzat Chimaev, Ilia Topuria, and Aleksandre Topuria. The Georgian lightweight, known for his tenacity and technical prowess, aimed to make a statement against Kaue Fernandes. Instead, he faced one of his most punishing fights. Fernandes kicked his legs mercilessly from the start, knocking him down many times and leaving him bloodied. Though Kutateladze showed his signature toughness by surviving all three rounds, the bout was one-sided. In fact, such was the impact of the fight that it even forced him to make a public apology to his teammates while praising their efforts.
Rather than remain silent on the situation, Kutateladze went to social media to convey a heartfelt message to his team and fans. In a tweet on X (previously Twitter), he wrote that despite being overwhelmed by Fernandes, he acknowledged his teammates’ support and assured everyone that the setback had not broken him. “Thanks God for everything. Thanks to my brothers for being there for me. Thanks to my family, team, friends, and supporters. My apologies for making you nervous. I’m doing fine. This is life. This is sport. I never give up.”
The 33-year-old managed to fight until the final bell, avoiding a stoppage but still suffering a terrible, one-sided defeat. The judges scored the bout 30-27. For Kutateladze, this was yet another setback in a UFC career that has failed to meet expectations. Despite being regarded as a dark horse in the lightweight division—particularly following his victory over Mateusz Gamrot—his UFC career has been anything but smooth. With only two wins in five fights, his status in the organization is more doubtful than ever.
Thanks God for everything.
Thanks to my brothers for being there for me.
Thanks to my family, team, friends and supporters.
My apologies for making you nervous.
I’m doing fine.
This is life. This is sport. I never give up. pic.twitter.com/dDKu0FPZAC
— Guram Kutateladze (@guram_dze) March 24, 2025
At 2-3 in the UFC, ‘The Georgian Viking’ is very close to getting cut. The company has been known to cut ties with fighters who fail to gain traction, and after this latest setback, Ilia Topuria‘s buddy may be in that position. While his resilience is obvious, the UFC is a results-driven organization, and time may be running out for him to establish his worth. It’s unclear whether he’ll get another chance inside the Octagon, but if he does, it might be a make-or-break fight for his career. But what about Kaue Fernandes? What’s next for this exciting fighter?
Kaue Fernandes eyes multiple fights in the near future
While Khamzat Chimaev and Ilia Topuria’s teammate Guram Kutateladze is at a professional crossroads, Kaue Fernandes is charging ahead. The Brazilian lightweight made a statement at UFC London, demolishing his opponent with precision punching and several knockdowns. Though he did not finish, his dominance left no doubt about the outcome, as he won by an overwhelming unanimous decision. Fernandes, now 10-2, is looking to gain momentum inside the Octagon. But, rather than rushing into a high-profile callout, he’s taking a more cautious approach, preferring to become completely acquainted with the UFC before focusing on specific names.
Despite entering the fight as the underdog against Guram Kutateladze, Fernandes never carried himself as such. His confidence was immediately apparent both in his striking and in his demeanor. He ignored the idea that he had been overlooked, claiming that every bout is a 50-50 split regardless of the odds. That warrior mentality extends beyond a single fight; he sees his UFC career as a series of battles, each one a step closer to his ultimate goal: championship gold. For the time being, however, the focus is on staying active. He would like to fight again soon, rather than sitting back and waiting for the right moment.
Fernandes is looking for experiences, not just fights. After participating in England, he hopes to enter the Octagon in other areas of the world, including Canada and Australia. “I’ve always wanted to fight in Canada and Australia, a few places like that. Obviously fighting in Brazil would be great some day, but I want to see the world, so I would love to fight on the Canada card.” With UFC 315 scheduled for Montreal in May, a short turnaround is not out of the question if a spot on the card becomes available. What do you think? Will we get to see a Kaue Fernandes fight in Montreal? Let us know in the comments.
The post “My Apologies”- Teammate Sends Khamzat Chimaev & Ilia Topuria Special Message for UFC London Gesture appeared first on EssentiallySports.
