Efter en 13 år lång karriär, en The Ultimate Fighter-säsong, ett antal matcher på Bellator och en match mot Reza ”Mad dog” Madadi på Superior Challenge 7 i Stockholm går nu den 35 år gamla Rich Clement i pension. Han meddelade sitt val alldeles nyligen via sin Facebook-sida.
”Well. I guess this day had to come some time,” skriver Clementi i ett officiellt uttalande. ”Just wish it could have been on my terms but then again we all know that wouldn’t have happened because I would have always wanted just one more time under those lights. I am so grateful for the things this sport has taught me. The friends, experiences and most of all learning who I am. I am so lucky I have a platform to share these experiences and help others try to reach there dreams. I want to thank everyone that has helped me in this experience. Now it’s time to turn the page. That’s life and now the same drive will be passed off towards my guys and now I will be able to give more of me to them. I am very excited to see what the future has in store for me. I will update my condition when my MRI comes back. Surgery a must just not sure about some of the other issues. Doc said my body has been around the block a few times. I can only smile.”
Senast tog sig Clementi till semifinalen i Bellators sjunde säsongs lättviktsturnering. Kvartsfinalmatchen besegrade han den då obesegrade Alexander Sarnavskiy via ett delat domslut för att avancera till semifinalen. Väl där stötte han dock på patrull och förlorade via en submission i mitten av den andra ronden. Totalt sett har Clementi en karriär på hela 68 matcher uppdelat på 45 vinster, 22 förluster och en oavgjord match.
