Talangen går i pension – Efter brutala knockoutförlusten på UFC 229

Efter över tio år inom professionell MMA har nu welterviktaren Ryan LaFlare (14-3) valt att gå i pension. Detta meddelade han via Instagram och andra sociala medier nyligen.

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Saturday night didn’t go my way. This is a very unforgiving sport. You either win or lose. You have to be “ALL IN” to be successful. Mentally I wanted to be there but I have been plagued with injuries this camp as well as my whole career and tried to fight through them and keep a positive attitude but as I started making my final weight cut I started breaking down. I’ve always told myself the second I’m not there mentally and physically I will be hanging my gloves up. I’m too proud and passionate about this sport to not give it everything I have and my body is really starting to pay the toll. After 10+ years as a professional mixed martial artist and 5+ years with the @Ufc it hurts to say this but Saturday October 6th was most likely the last fight of my professional career. I want to thank the @ufc for allowing me to do what I love and give me the opportunity to travel around the world and showcase my skills. Thank you to my coaches @keith_trimble @greggdepasquale @henrihooft @kycerm @roblistrength @docmcamp @dr.amato_pt for putting in the extra time for me. This isn’t a very lucrative sport for coaches so I know all of their time wasn’t for financial reasons. Thank you to my manager @aliabdelaziz000 And @dominancemma_ for always looking out for me and having my best interest at mind. Thank you to all my friends, family and fans who have supported me over the years. You truly are my biggest motivation. Thank you to my parents George and @trishlaflare For molding me into the man I have become. Most importantly thank you to my wife @daniellelaflare and my children, they have to deal with all of the behind the scenes BS that no one gets to see and are always supportive no matter the outcome. I’ve made lifelong friends over the years and nothing can change that. You guys will be a part of me for the rest of my life. 🙌🙏 #teamlaflare #ryanlaflare

A post shared by Ryan LaFlare (@laflaremma) on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:12am PDT

Beskedet kommer efter att LaFlare blivit brutalt knockad av motståndaren Tony Martin på underkortet för UFC 229 i helgen. Avslutet kan ses nedan.

Head kick finish to start the night on @UFCFightPass!

Wow @TMartinMMA! #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/ubeMRUpR3Y

— UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2018

Höll sig obesegrad i sex år

LaFlare gjorde UFC-debut i Sverige mot australiensaren Benny Alloway på UFC on Fuel 9 i en match han vann på enhälligt domslut. Därefter radade LaFLare upp ytterligare tre vinster, bland annat över TUF-vinnaren Court McGee och numera topprankade Santiago Ponzinibbio.

Sedan var det dags för karriärens första förlust, något som skedde på poäng efter fem ronder med den tvåfaldige titelutmanaren Demian Maia. Därefter var LaFlare något ojämn, med förluster i två utav sina tre sista matcher – bägge på knockout. Det första nederlaget skedde mot Alex Oliveira, LaFlare återvände till vinstkolumnen med en poängvinst över Alex Garcia, men blev knockad av Martin Senast. LaFlare har i sin karriär inte avslutat en enda seger i UFC.

Vad är ditt bästa minne med LaFLare?