JIMI MANUWA has announced his retirement from his 11-year MMA career just three days after a knockout defeat.
The Londoner was beaten in two minutes at UFC Stockholm after Austrian Aleksandar Rakic landed a perfectly timed left high kick that left Manuwa out cold.
It was the fourth defeat on the spin for the 39-year-old, who announced his retirement on Instagram with a record of 19-6, spending seven years in the UFC.
Manuwa wrote: “Ive had a great martial arts career and the last 4 fights have been tough losses to take not only for myself but for my family who is always first, ive given out mostly knockouts and taken a few myself.
“That’s my fan loving style but it takes a toll on the body especially concussions which are not visible to the eye.
“I’ve met a lot of great people along the way and travelled the world but it’s time to leave this chapter and on to the next one because there’s a life after fighting and I feel it’s my obligation to give more to combat sports which I love dearly outside of fighting.
“Thank you @danawhite and the @ufc for letting me showcase my skills and thank you to all my coaches and training partners who have helped and taught me along the way.
“Much love to the fans and last but not least much love to my dear family who together we made this dream a reality.”
Manuwa explained he only began training at age 28, and after two weeks of martial arts training he made a successful debut in 2008 with a KO win against Tom King.
After finding “structure and discipline” in his life Manuwa worked his way into the UFC by 2012.
The striker went on to fight the likes of Alexander Gustafsson, Anthony Johnson, Ovince Saint Preux and Volkan Oezdemir.
Manuwa told SunSport last year UFC president Dana White wanted him to fight for the belt in 2017 but champion Daniel Cormier declined, wanting a rematch with Jon Jones.
The British star’s retirement comes after former opponent and now close friend and training partner Gustafsson also hung up his gloves after defeat in Sweden.
Gustafsson was submitted by Anthony Smith, and the three-time UFC title challenger left the sport after two great fights with Jones and an epic battle against Cormier.
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