Fighter Who Slapped Coach & Husband After UFC Vegas 101 Loss Apologizes: ‘I Couldn’t Control My Emotions’

The first UFC event of the year had its fair share of talking points and one of them came in the second bout to take place inside the Octagon in 2025. Victoria Dudakova suffered her second consecutive loss after being stopped in the second round by Fatima Kline at strawweight. Rather than Kline delivering the […]

The first UFC event of the year had its fair share of talking points and one of them came in the second bout to take place inside the Octagon in 2025. Victoria Dudakova suffered her second consecutive loss after being stopped in the second round by Fatima Kline at strawweight.

Rather than Kline delivering the first finish of the new year, it was what happened after the bout that grabbed the headlines. After Dudakova’s corner entered the Octagon to console her in defeat, she appeared to turn around and slap one of her coaches, who is also her husband, as seen below.

The 25-year old Russian has since posted a message on social media to explain the situation from her point of view. She publicly apologized for her actions, stating that her emotions got the better of her in that moment having been finished for the first time in her 10-fight pro career.

She posted the following message on Instagram to provide more context and thank her supporters.

“Emotions have subsided a bit…..First of all, I would like to apologize to my husband and coach. I was hurt that in such a difficult moment, he turned his back on me and didn’t want to come into the cage. That’s no excuse and I’m not looking for an excuse for myself. I did the wrong thing, I couldn’t control my emotions. I set a bad example for the athletes and the younger generation. I also want to apologize to the sports fans. Thank you to everyone who stays with me in such a difficult situation”

UFC Fighter Victoria Dudakova Reflects on Emotional Outburst Following TKO Loss: ‘I Couldn’t Cope’

UFC Fighter Victoria Dudakova Reflects on Emotional Outburst Following TKO Loss: 'I Couldn't Cope'Russian standout Victoria Dudakova admits her emotions got the best of her following a second-straight loss inside the Octagon….

UFC Fighter Victoria Dudakova Reflects on Emotional Outburst Following TKO Loss: 'I Couldn't Cope'

Russian standout Victoria Dudakova admits her emotions got the best of her following a second-straight loss inside the Octagon.

Returning to the Octagon for the UFC’s first fight card of 2025, Dudukova found herself quickly outmatched against former CFFC titleholder Fatima Kline as part of the evening’s preliminary portion.

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Losing via a second-round TKO after being bloodied and batter on the mat, Dudukova’s frustration reached a boiling point. As one of her coaches entered the frame and placed his arm around the fighter to console her, Dudukova promptly stepped back and slapped the individual.

Later, the Russian’s comments during the incident were translated.

Victoria Dudakova apologizes for her actions

Now that the dust has settled, Dudukova took to social media and offered an apology for her unsportsmanlike actions.

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“Emotions are a little off…

First and foremost, I would like to apologize to my husband and my coach,” Dudakova wrote on Instagram. “I was sorry that in such a difficult moment, he turned his back on me and didn’t want to enter the cage. This is not an excuse and I am not looking for excuses for myself. I did wrong, I couldn’t cope with my emotions. I set a bad example for athletes and the younger generation. I also want to apologize to sports fans. Thanks to everyone who stays with me in this difficult situation”

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Dudukova stormed into the UFC with a 6-0 record, including a solid showing against Maria Silva on an August 2022 episode of Dana White’s Contender Series.

She followed that up with back-to-back wins against Istela Nunes and Jinh Yu Frey, but since then, she came up short against Sam Hughes, surrendering a closely contested split decision, and was stopped for the first time in her career against Kline to kick off the new year.

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VIDEO: Victoria Dudakova Slaps Coach After Falling To The First Finish Of 2025 At UFC Vegas 101

The first finish of the UFC’s 2025 calendar has been delivered, and it came in some brutal fashion, as Fatima Kline scored a win over Victoria Dudakova during the UFC Vegas 101 prelims. And it’s safe to say that the Russian didn’t take the result well… Both women delivered powerful shots during the opening frame, […]

The first finish of the UFC’s 2025 calendar has been delivered, and it came in some brutal fashion, as Fatima Kline scored a win over Victoria Dudakova during the UFC Vegas 101 prelims.

And it’s safe to say that the Russian didn’t take the result well…

Both women delivered powerful shots during the opening frame, but Kline appeared to gain control as time went on.

Then, with Dudakova grounded late in the second, Kline landed some hard ground-and-pound to force the referee to step in and wave off the contest.

Kline Scores First Octagon Win With Ground & Pound At UFC Vegas 101, Dudakova Slaps Cornerman

What else is noteworthy occurred in the losing corner following the fight. It appeared that Dudakova slapped one of her cornermen after he attempted to console her.

This marks the first UFC win for “The Archangel” after dropping her debut last year to Jasmine Jasudavicius.

Dudakova, meanwhile, has now lost back-to-back outings after starting her UFC run 2-0 in 2023.