Two UFC losses 'hard to swallow' - O'Neill

Casey O'Neill (in blue) was submitted by Ariane Lipski at UFC 296

Scotland's Casey O'Neill insisted she is still "one of the best in the world" after suffering successive UFC losses.

Lipski won via armbar submission in the third round and O'Neill said losing "sucks".

"Two losses is a hard swallow," she said on Instagram. "I am one of the best in the world and I did not prove that."

O'Neill has seen her perfect record wiped out in the space of nine months.

The Scot, who relocated to Australia as a kid, was 9-0 at the start of the year before defeats to Jennifer Maia and Lipski.

O'Neill released a statement addressing the loss and said she was stunned early in the fight and struggled to recover.

She insisted she will continue moving forward despite the losing streak.

"I gave everything to this camp," O'Neill said in her statement.

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"I looked amazing in the gym, I was sparring so well. Then in the fight, I get caught early in the first and had to fight on autopilot the whole fight.

"I don't know why I couldn't do what I have been doing everyday.

"So where do I go from here? I can't quit. I'm not a coward. So we have to move forward.

"Thank you for all the support. I will figure it out and be back soon."

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