Following Bellator 229 KO loss, Joe Schilling says he was unable to use right arm, broke left arm in first round

Known for his kill or be killed standup style, Joe Schilling was in a reflective mood following his latest loss.

The kickboxing specialist suffered a tough loss on Friday at Bellator 229, getting floored in the third-round of his middleweight bout with Tony Johnson.

It was the second time Schilling has been knocked out in six appearances for Bellator MMA – he also suffered a knockout loss in his Bellator Kickboxing debut in July 2016 – and the setback snapped a career-best two-fight winning streak.

Afterwards, Schilling posted a somber video statement on social media. While reluctant to make excuses, he said he entered Friday’s bout with a partially functioning right arm and then injured his left arm in round one.

“For the last two weeks I haven’t been able to use my right arm,” Schilling said. “I’ve been at OC Fight Doctor getting therapy to try to straighten out my right arm and getting anti-inflammatory injections in my right hand, and my right arm won’t extend all the way.

“I thought that I was going to be able to find a way to just get the job done, and then I’m also really sick. Anybody that was in my locker room – and probably even Tony Johnson’s locker room – could hear me hacking up and throwing up in the trash can before my warm-up. I just kept telling myself I was going to find a way to win, and I felt like I came close, but Tony Johnson did a great job tonight. Congratulations to him.

“On top of only fighting with one arm, I broke (my left) arm in the first round. I just left the hospital, this is a splint, I broke my left arm with that spinning backfist in the first round, and yeah, I’m embarrassed. I just wanted to apologize to my fans and management and sponsors.

“I didn’t look like myself out there, and I got caught and that’s part of the game. I just explained that to my son. That’s what makes this sport so f*cking gangster and I’m one of the most gangster motherf*ckers you’ll ever meet. But looking back I probably should have pulled out of the fight. ... Congratulations Tony Johnson – (he) hit me with a great shot and put me out. I would like an immediate rematch as soon as possible, and again I’m sorry to anybody that I let down.”