You’ll have a hard time finding an MMA fighter who will admit ring rust is real, though many of them think it’s a lot more prevalent among other fighters.

We recently talked to some of MMA’s biggest names about ring rust (or, as veteran combat-sports broadcaster Mauro Ranallo calls it, “cage corrosion”), and though they believe their injured opponents may deal with it, it’s a different story when they’re talking about themselves.

Is it real?

“For guys who get rusty,” recent UFC title challenger Urijah Faber said. “I wouldn’t know.”

Or as Ben Askren: “No. It’s a figment of people’s imagination and an excuse. People need a reason to lose. I don’t have a reason to lose. I just win, baby.”

Check out what they and other current and past fighters, including Kenny Florian, Nick Newell and Brian Stann, had to say above.