Joe Giannetti faces the truth: “Maybe I’m the Biggest Screw-Up” – Now he fights back

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 23, 2025, 16:35 IST

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Joe Giannetti, a former UFC hopeful, reflects on his turbulent MMA journey, admitting past mistakes and embracing setbacks as fuel for redemption. Despite winning multiple titles, he struggled to regain UFC attention. Now, with fresh motivation, Giannetti is preparing for LFA 204, determined to keep fighting for his career and legacy.

Joe Giannetti faces the truth: “Maybe I’m the Biggest Screw-Up” – Now he fights back

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

Joe Giannetti knows what it’s like to be one step away from a dream—only to watch it slip away. In July 2018, he fought for a UFC contract in The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale, co-main eventing alongside Israel Adesanya. A win would have solidified his place on the roster. Instead, a sluggish performance cost him the fight, the contract, and, as he admits, his hope. Since then, Giannetti has been on a turbulent road, winning some, losing others, struggling to make weight, and questioning his future in the sport. But ahead of LFA 204, he’s embracing his setbacks and turning them into fuel for one more shot at redemption.

“Maybe I’m the Biggest Screw-Up” – Joe Giannetti reflects on his MMA journey

For years, every fight felt like the one that would bring Joe Giannetti back to the UFC. But as opportunities passed him by, frustration set in. Even after winning multiple Cage Titans titles, he wasn’t on the UFC’s radar. The waiting game turned into self-doubt.

“I’ve been on a five-fight win streak, I’ve been the Cage Titans champ-champ multiple times now and wasn’t back in the UFC, wasn’t even talking to them,” Giannetti told MMA Fighting. “So it’s like, you kind of sit there and become a victim to yourself, like, what do I got to do?”
That frustration eventually gave way to brutal honesty. Giannetti stopped making excuses and started owning his mistakes.
“Maybe it is over, and I’ve kind of just embraced like maybe I am the biggest screw-up in MMA history, you know?” he said. “Biggest UFC International Fight Week, co-main eventing for Israel Adesanya, I come out and win the first round, my body shits the bed. I have a horrible performance… I just screwed up.”
Still, he isn’t done fighting—not for his career, not for his legacy.
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Giannetti’s 2024 campaign was a rollercoaster. He secured a 27-second ninja choke victory at Cage Titans 65, dropped a Fight of the Year split decision to UFC veteran Peter Barrett, and then delivered a highlight-reel knockout in his Karate Combat debut. Just weeks later, he got married. Now, he’s set to fight at LFA 204, taking it “one fight at a time.”
Maybe he was a screw-up before—but the story isn’t over yet.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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