Jorgen Kruth
Swedish fighter Jörgen ‘The Last Viking’ Kruth (6-0) has announced his retirement from combat sports in advance of his expected Octagon debut later this month.
Kruth revealed the news to Swedish magazine Expressen on Friday. Studiomma.com translated part of the interview, revealing ‘The Last Viking’s’ reasons for retiring at this time.
I have been thinking for a long time. However I feel it’s time now. I neither have the motivation or focus and my body doesn’t respond anymore. I’m not getting the results that I want. I’m not in the top level to compete anymore and feel it doesn’t work anymore. If I don’t reach my best then I don’t want to compete anymore, I will retire now while I’m up there.
I have had an incredible career. I have been crowned the world champion in Muay Thai and competed for K1 in Japan and Thailand. Yet I still have enjoyed fighting in Sweden in front of my fans, the support has been unbelievable.
Kruth was an accomplished kickboxer, sporting a 71-14-2 record with a number of K-1 regional championships to his name.
His retirement left a temporary void in the upcoming UFC on FUEL TV 5 leaving light heavyweight Fábio Maldonado (18-5) without an opponent.
UFC matchmakers were quick to remedy that situation by pitting Maldonado against ‘The Snake’ Cyrille Diabaté (18-8-1).
UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic (aka UFC on FUEL TV 5) is expected to take place on September 29, 2012 at Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. The main card will air on FUEL TV while the prelim card will stream live on Facebook.
Maldonado has dropped two straight and is just 1-2 since joining the UFC in 2010. The Brazilian suffered decision losses to Igor Pokrajac at UFC on FUEL TV 3 and to Kyle Kingsbury at the TUF 13 Finale. Maldonado debuted at UFC 120, finishing James McSweeney at the London event via TKO. That victory extended his win streak to eleven until the Kingsbury loss.
Diabaté takes the fight on three weeks notice and will look to win two straight in the Octagon for the first time when he faces Maldonado. ‘The Snake’ is 3-2 overall, picking up a majority victory versus Tom DeBlass at UFC on FUEL TV 2 in Sweden. Diabaté was to have faced Kruth at the television event but withdrew do to injury.