S. Palelei (photo) was in his second stint in the UFC. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
It's a tense moment in the UFC, with a long list of athletes fired and more names still expected to leave the organization soon. Included in one of the relationships between cut fighters, Australian Soa Palelei took the opportunity, at the age of 38, to announce the end of his professional career in MMA.
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Coming off a defeat against the Brazilian Antonio Pezão at UFC 190, in Rio, Palelei released a text on social media saying goodbye to the sport. “I want to take this opportunity and officially announce my retirement from MMA. Thank you to the UFC, Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Joe Silva for giving me a second chance in the organization. I had a great time, but it looks like it's time to focus on family and other career interests. After several months of discussion with my family and team, we discovered that our future includes several things in MMA, but actively competing is not one of them. This is not goodbye, as I will be very involved in the sport not just as an athlete. I want to help MMA around the world and make my contribution to the sport. I know I have to do this and I will continue to contribute a lot to the growth of the sport outside the Octagon. Stay tuned because there is still a lot to come for the 'Hulk'”, wrote the fighter.
At 38 years old, Soa Palelei hung up his gloves with a record of 22 wins and five losses. After a brief stint in Ultimate in 2007, the “Hulk”, as he is known, returned to the biggest event on the planet in 2013 and won four victories in six fights. In his last three fights, however, Palelei ended up defeated twice, including the setback to Antonio Pezão at UFC 190, in August this year.
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