Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jimi Manuwa is 40 years old and coming off four consecutive losses, including a knockout finish at the hands (and feet) of Aleksandar Rakic last June. But the power-punching light heavyweight quickly realized that his 2019 retirement was done in haste.
And that he still has so much to give back to combat sports.
“The retirement wasn’t planned for me, it was only because I took a loss badly. I have lost four fights in a row and I kind of fell out of love with the sport,” Manuwa told BJPenn.com. “The time that I had off, made me realize I truly am a fighter and it is what I do. It is what I was made to do, it is what I was born to do. I don’t want my talents and skills to go to waste. I even thought about going into boxing as I have so many skills to give to the world.”
Manuwa (17-6) was ranked as high as No. 2 at 205 pounds and used his position in the division rankings to call out then-champion Daniel Cormier. Unfortunately for “Poster Boy,” their light heavyweight grudge match never came to fruition.
But there are plenty of other fish in the sea.
“I would like to get some of my losses back, that would be a good starting point,” Manuwa continued. “The rematch with Rakic would be great or the trilogy with Jan Blachowicz would be something I would train for. Maybe I give Corey Anderson a second fight like he has been asking for. There are many options that I would like.”
Your move, UFC.