Former UFC fighter announces sudden retirement at 39

Chris Camozzi, a former UFC fighter, announced his immediate retirement from MMA competition in a heartfelt Instagram post April 20.

MORE: Breakout UFC star Josh Hokit added to White House card after Trump request

Camozzi wrote on Instagram that he targeted his cruiserweight fight against Esteban Rodriguez at BKFC 88 on April 17 as his last. The fight was stopped in the fourth round with Rodriguez on top, literally and figuratively.

Camozzi wrote on Instagram that he “couldn’t see anymore” to continue the fight.

“I told my team going into this last one ‘if I can’t knock him out right away. I want a war so I can feel it one more time,’ and that’s what I got, and it feels good,” Camozzi wrote. “Unfortunately I couldn’t see anymore to continue. I knew @teammohawkmma was the perfect opponent to have a last fight with, he’s never boring and always brings it.

“Nothing but respect to him.”

MORE: Dana White tells critics to ‘shut up’ after UFC AI promo backlash

Camozzi said after the fight that he would retire, citing other business interests and the upcoming birth of his daughter.

On April 20, he made it official.

“The fight game has given me everything in my life and I’m forever grateful,” Camozzi wrote. “I don’t know where I’d be, if I didn’t happen to walk in the gym that first day. I’ll forever have love for the game and I still plan on being a part of it in other ways.”

Camozzi is a veteran of 19 fights inside the UFC octagon. He entered the UFC initially through the Ultimate Fighter: Season 11, but suffered a broken jaw in his qualifier fight to get onto the show.