A light-weight contender has announced that he’s hanging up the gloves for good at just 31-years-old
It can’t be underestimated how big of an achievement it’s to get to the UFC and stay there.
Stepping contained in the Octagon to compete at the very best level is the final word goal for many competitors, let alone becoming a champion, that determine to show skilled but so few of them are capable of make their dreams a reality.
For the way difficult it’s to even get on the UFC’s radar, this is barely where the labor begins now that you simply’re going up against top opposition frequently.
In a recent social media post, a member of the roster who competed nine times under the UFC banner has announced that he’s walking away from the game after dedicating himself to this pursuit throughout the past decade.
Joe Solecki pronounces his retirement from MMA via social media following his tough run within the UFC
Joe Solecki wrote on Instagram that after making his pro debut in 2016, he has decided to retire, leaving the professional game with an overall record of 13-6.
With a run of impressive performances on the regional scene, Solecki earned his opportunity to fight for a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019 where he submitted James Wallace in the primary round.
His submission skills were once more on show in his second UFC outing where he built on a debut win over Matt Wiman by choking out Austin Hubbard in 2020.
A profession best win over UFC legend Jim Miller followed that but his winning streak was dropped at an end by Jared Gordon in October of 2021 where he got here out on the improper side of a split decision.
After bouncing back with consecutive wins over Alex da Silva and Carl Deaton III, Solecki suffered three consecutive losses to Drakkar Klose, Grant Dawson and Nurullo Aliev.
It now looks as if after competing within the UFC and going 5-4 within the lightweight division, his goals and ambitions have modified since 2016 which led him to an early retirement at just 31-years-old.
“Today, after chasing this dream for 10 years, I’m officially retiring from the game of MMA. I began this endeavor as a child with a dream of constructing it to the UFC. It then grew into so many more goals and dreams, a few of which I achieved and others where I fell short. In a way, despite falling short at times (especially this past yr), I ‘lived my movie’. Competing at the very best level within the UFC and grinding it out on the regional circuit to make it to the highest have taught me more life lessons and things about myself, labor, and determination than I ever could’ve imagined.
“This avenue in life has helped me grow in so some ways as a person, athlete, husband, father, and most of all has helped me grow and develop deeper in my faith and relationship with God. I actually have made lifelong relationships that I’ll cherish without end, have experienced the amazing feeling of victory, the adversity of defeat and the enjoyment of overcoming that adversity. I actually have been capable of go places and experience things I never even dreamed of for this reason sport, all memories that I’ll also cherish.”
Solecki went on to say that he’ll still be involved in the game as a coach at Gym-O in North Carolina together with continuing to compete in submission grappling.
He also thanks his wife, kids, coaches, teammates and supporters for being a component of the journey with him as he looks back with fond memories.
Joe Solecki will at all times have his profession highlights to look back on
Joe Solecki could have retired after nine fights within the UFC but as his Instagram post shows, he’ll at all times have his accomplishments to look back on.
Not only did he compete at the very best level before deciding to depart on his own terms, the submission artist recorded two finishes contained in the Octagon together with his win over Deaton III earning him a performance of the night bonus on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
It’s clear to see from the replies underneath Solecki’s post that he will probably be missed within the UFC but as he said himself, he can now turn his attention to helping the subsequent generation of competitors who are attempting to work their technique to the highest.
