A third fighter has retired after losing at UFC Stockholm, as English light heavyweight Jimi Manuwa will hang up the gloves.
Jimi Manuwa announced his retirement on Instagram.
Manuwa was defeated in just 42 seconds at UFC Stockholm by head kick KO at the hands of Aleksandar Rakic. The defeat was his fourth in a row.
“Posterboy” explained his journey on his Instagram post, discovering the sport at 26, beginning training at 28, and fighting in the UFC at 32. Fighting for nearly seven years at the highest level, Manuwa was a feared knockout artist at his peak. The Englishman added that he plans on staying in combat sports in a non-fighting capacity, saying, “I feel it’s my obligation to give more to combat sports, which I love dearly outside of fighting.”
Manuwa started his career later than most, beginning training at 28 with no prior combat experience. It was his calling though, knocking out 10 of his first 11 opponents and submitting the other. During that run in England, he turned down two contract offers from the UFC.
He finally signed with the promotion in 2012 and had an odd start to his Octagon run. Manuwa’s first two opponents in the UFC were stopped on the stool between rounds, and the third lost due to a leg injury.
After losing two of his next three to top contenders Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson, Jimi Manuwa had the best run of his career. His knockout artist ways returned with big KO wins over Ovince Saint Preux and Corey Anderson.
It was assumed that he needed one more win for a title shot, but he was on the receiving end of one of the quick knockouts of Volkan Oezdemir. That, unfortunately, sent his career on a tailspin, losing his next three fights, two by knockout.
Overall, the 39-year-old retires with a 17-6 record that includes 16 stoppages, two Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses.
