Tag: and now he’s retired

And Now He’s Officially Retired: Sean Sherk Faces Reality After Years of Injury Struggles

The last time we saw Sean Sherk on the Octagon, he was getting his hand raised following a questionable decision victory against Evan Dunham at UFC 119. In the three years since then, Sherk has been busy rehabbing old injuries and waiting for his next move. That next move never came, and the former lightweight champion steadily faded out of relevance while the lightweight division he helped revive continued to grow deeper and more prominent.

It’s possible that you assumed Sean Sherk — who turned 40 last month — was already retired, but “The Muscle Shark” (man, that nickname) didn’t make it official until yesterday, when he announced his departure from the sport on The MMA Hour. A press release on TrainingMask.com adds that “Sherk plans to maintain his involvement at Training Mask while coaching MMA, and teaching seminars. Sherk is also continuing a successful career in real estate investment.”

Sherk leaves behind a career-record of 36-4-1 dating back to 1999, including wins over Nick Diaz, Kenny Florian, Tyson Griffin, Hermes Franca, and Karo Parisyan, and a UFC lightweight title reign that lasted from October 2006 to December 2007. His only losses came against long-reigning UFC champions: Matt Hughes, Georges St. Pierre, BJ Penn, and Frankie Edgar.

But despite his accomplishments, Sean Sherk was never a fan favorite. Much of that could be blamed on his methodical, slow-grind wrestling approach to fighting — a style that crowds can’t help booing, and which Sherk never really evolved beyond. And unfortunately, his stint as a UFC champion was also the most controversial period of his career.

The last time we saw Sean Sherk on the Octagon, he was getting his hand raised following a questionable decision victory against Evan Dunham at UFC 119. In the three years since then, Sherk has been busy rehabbing old injuries and waiting for his next move. That next move never came, and the former lightweight champion steadily faded out of relevance while the lightweight division he helped revive continued to grow deeper and more prominent.

It’s possible that you assumed Sean Sherk — who turned 40 last month — was already retired, but “The Muscle Shark” (man, that nickname) didn’t make it official until yesterday, when he announced his departure from the sport on The MMA Hour. A press release on TrainingMask.com adds that “Sherk plans to maintain his involvement at Training Mask while coaching MMA, and teaching seminars. Sherk is also continuing a successful career in real estate investment.”

Sherk leaves behind a career-record of 36-4-1 dating back to 1999, including wins over Nick Diaz, Kenny Florian, Tyson Griffin, Hermes Franca, and Karo Parisyan, and a UFC lightweight title reign that lasted from October 2006 to December 2007. His only losses came against long-reigning UFC champions: Matt Hughes, Georges St. Pierre, BJ Penn, and Frankie Edgar.

But despite his accomplishments, Sean Sherk was never a fan favorite. Much of that could be blamed on his methodical, slow-grind wrestling approach to fighting — a style that crowds can’t help booing, and which Sherk never really evolved beyond. And unfortunately, his stint as a UFC champion was also the most controversial period of his career.

After going 4-2 in the UFC as a welterweight — and losing a decision to Matt Hughes in a 170-pound title challenge at UFC 42 — Sherk dropped to 155 pounds to compete for the UFC’s re-launched lightweight title, which had laid dormant for over four years. Sherk met Kenny Florian for the vacant belt at UFC 64, and over-powered Ken-Flo to a bloody decision victory.

Then, things got weird. Sherk out-pointed Hermes Franca in his first title defense at UFC 73, but both Sherk and Franca tested positive for steroids following the fight. Though Franca admitted to using the anabolic steroid Drostanolone — explaining that he had suffered an ankle injury in training but didn’t want to withdraw from the fight due to financial desperation — Sherk fought the accusations, suggested that his supplements may have been to blame, took polygraph tests to support his innocence, and appealed the ruling based on a possible mishandling of his urine sample. Eventually, the California State Athletic Commission reduced his suspension from one year to six months.

Despite Sherk maintaining he was 100% innocent, the perception of PED use haunted him. As Ben Fowlkes wrote on this site back in May 2008:

Let’s imagine, for the sake of argument, that you’re Sean Sherk and you know for certain that you’ve never used an illegal substance in your life. Let’s say that the lab somehow tainted your sample, and it came up positive. Imagining that to be true, what could you possibly do to clear your name now? You know you’re innocent, but here you are walking around with a chiseled physique, a positive steroid test, with a nickname like “The Muscle Shark” and trying to tell people that it’s not what it looks like.

While Sherk rode out his suspension, the UFC stripped him of his title, and let BJ Penn and Joe Stevenson fight for the lightweight belt, which was now vacant once again. Penn tore through Stevenson, and when it was time for Sherk to return at UFC 84, Penn wasted him too. The startling difference in talent-level between Sherk and Penn displayed in that fight made it seem as if Sherk had just been keeping the belt warm for Penn the entire time.

Sherk never came close to title contention again. He won a decision against Tyson Griffin in his next fight at UFC 90, in October 2008, but then lost to Frankie Edgar the following year, and pulled out of three consecutive fights due to injuries. Sherk successfully made it to the cage against Evan Dunham in September 2010, and despite scoring a decision victory, the fight was only memorable for how unpopular the result was. (Fightmetric scored it 29-28 for Dunham, and UFC president Dana White publicly echoed that sentiment.)

Since 2011, Sherk has popped up here and there to discuss his hopes for a comeback, but wasn’t interested in fighting “some chump who needs some fame.” Time passed, and Sherk’s interests never matched up with the UFC’s. By 2013, the Muscle Shark had become a forgotten man. And at some point, he realized that his chances of becoming a champion — or even a top contender — had permanently passed him by.

And so, Sean Sherk’s career ends anti-climatically. There was no “farewell fight,” no dramatic speech in the Octagon thanking the fans for whatever support they spared him. He didn’t go out on top, but he didn’t go out on the bottom either. He was a transitional champion who helped excavate a gold belt from the ruins, then passed it to the next guy. Maybe you didn’t love him, but hopefully you respected him.

(BG)

And Now He’s Retired: Aaron Riley, MMA’s Salty Sea Captain, Retires Following UFC on FOX 8 Loss to Justin Salas

(The first of Riley’s epic pair of HOOKnSHOOT bouts with Yves Edwards. The second is after the jump.)

16 years, 44 (sanctioned) fights and at least three broken jaws. Ladies and gentlemen of the Potato Nation, Aaron Riley has seen it all.

A nine-fight UFC veteran, Riley announced his retirement from the sport via Twitter yesterday after coming up short against Justin Salas on the Facebook portion of the UFC on FOX 8 undercard.

Riley’s loss to Salas was the first time the seasoned veteran had made a UFC appearance since UFC 135 in September of 2011, where he suffered a broken jaw in the first round of his fight with TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson.

Beginning his MMA career in 1997, Riley built his name under the HOOKnSHOOT banner, fighting alongside (and often with) such future UFC staples as Chris Lytle and Yves Edwards. And not unlike Lytle, Riley would quickly earn a reputation as one of the sports toughest and oft underappreciated brawlers.


(The first of Riley’s epic pair of HOOKnSHOOT bouts with Yves Edwards. The second is after the jump.)

16 years, 44 (sanctioned) fights and at least three broken jaws. Ladies and gentlemen of the Potato Nation, Aaron Riley has seen it all.

A nine-fight UFC veteran, Riley announced his retirement from the sport via Twitter yesterday after coming up short against Justin Salas on the Facebook portion of the UFC on FOX 8 undercard.

Riley’s loss to Salas was the first time the seasoned veteran had made a UFC appearance since UFC 135 in September of 2011, where he suffered a broken jaw in the first round of his fight with TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson.

Beginning his MMA career in 1997, Riley built his name under the HOOKnSHOOT banner, fighting alongside (and often with) such future UFC staples as Chris Lytle and Yves Edwards. And not unlike Lytle, Riley would quickly earn a reputation as one of the sports toughest and oft underappreciated brawlers.

Riley’s first and second stints in the UFC would be short ones, however. In his promotional debut, Riley would be outgunned by fellow slugger Robbie Lawler en route to a unanimous decision loss at UFC 37. After scoring an impressive head kick KO of Michihiro Omigawa at PRIDE – Bushido 7, Riley would earn a trip back to the octagon…where he would have his jaw broken by Spencer Fisher at Fight Night 3.

It would be two years before we would see Aaron Riley in the UFC again. When he did return at UFC 91, however, he would partake in one of the greatest fights of the decade against Jorge Gurgel. It was a fight featuring such a ridiculous volume of strikes that at one point in the second round, the Fightmetric staff allegedly threw their hands in the air and said, “Fuck it, who wants a beer?”

Riley would emerge victorious from that Fight-of-the-Night earning bout and would compete six more times under the UFC banner, scoring wins over Shane Nelson and Joe Brammer.

Again, the comparison to Chris Lytle is inevitable. Both were highly entertaining brawlers who, while never coming within eyesight of a title shot, put the fans entertainment before their records, their careers and more importantly, themselves. Pay your respects to a true pioneer in the comments section, then do yourself a favor and watch his pair of fights with Yves Edwards. Then find us a video of his fight with Lytle, because we heard that shit was insane.

–J. Jones

BREAKING: Brian Stann Retires From MMA, Cites Potential Health Risks and New Daughter Among Reasons for Departure


(*Another* new castmember? This show has officially jumped the shark.) 

Wow.

When it was announced earlier today that Ariel Helwani would be hosting a special edition of The MMA Hour in which “a former champion, and one of the most popular names in the sport, will make a special announcement,” speculation began to light up the interwebs like it was a Simi Valley fireworks show. Was Brock Lesnar announcing his return to the sport? Was Bellator dumb enough to actually buy into Tito Ortiz’s “almost healthy” bait-n-switch? WAS ANDERSON SILVA ABOUT TO RETIRE?!

Simply put; no (thank God), not yet, and are you fucking kidding me? It turns out that the “former champion” is question was actually former WEC light heavyweight champ Brian Stann, who shockingly announced his retirement from the sport following his second round KO loss to Wanderlei Silva at UFC on FUEL 8 last March. Citing a new daughter on the way (his third) as well as a concern for long term injuries related to not only his MMA career but his military career and previous football experience among his reasons for calling it quits, Stann was typically composed and grateful, ensuring Helwani that “I leave fighting having taken more from mixed martial arts than I ever gave.”


(*Another* new castmember? This show has officially jumped the shark.) 

Wow.

When it was announced earlier today that Ariel Helwani would be hosting a special edition of The MMA Hour in which “a former champion, and one of the most popular names in the sport, will make a special announcement,” speculation began to light up the interwebs like it was a Simi Valley fireworks show. Was Brock Lesnar announcing his return to the sport? Was Bellator dumb enough to actually buy into Tito Ortiz’s “almost healthy” bait-n-switch? WAS ANDERSON SILVA ABOUT TO RETIRE?!

Simply put; no (thank God), not yet, and are you fucking kidding me? It turns out that the “former champion” is question was actually former WEC light heavyweight champ Brian Stann, who shockingly announced his retirement from the sport following his second round KO loss to Wanderlei Silva at UFC on FUEL 8 last March. Citing a new daughter on the way (his third) as well as a concern for long term injuries related to not only his MMA career but his military career and previous football experience among his reasons for calling it quits, Stann was typically composed and grateful, ensuring Helwani that “I leave fighting having taken more from mixed martial arts than I ever gave.”

When asked if his loss to Silva played any role in his decision, Stann was unapologetic and incredibly straightforward. “Yes, it did….when I lost that fight and I looked at all the time I invested in it, I knew it was time.”

Although his final clash ended in defeat, it’s hard to imagine a better fight for “all-American” to go out on then his epic slugfest with “The Axe Murderer.” The fight encapsulated everything we’ve come to know and love about both Stann and Silva, and was the first highlight that Stann listed when prompted by Helwani.

Fighting in Japan in a main event against Wanderlei Silva, who I remember looking up on the internet when I was in the Marines, was pretty cool. When I look back now I’m like ‘Man. Never in a million years did I think I was gonna fight that guy in a main event in Japan. Never.’

In addition to his future role providing analysis for ACC college football on Fox Sports South, Stann assured Helwani that he would continue to work with the UFC, both behind-the-scenes and at his regular pundit gigs on FOX and FUEL TV.

A true ambassador of the sport, Stann retires with an overall MMA record of 12-6 to his credit, including notable victories over Alessio Sakara, Chris Leben, Jorge Santiago, and Doug Marshall.

Share your favorite Stann moments or just wish him the best of luck in the comments section, Nation.

–J. Jones

And Now He’s Retired: Gilbert Yvel ‘Pretty Much Done’ After 16 Years of Terrorizing Opponents and Referees


(Yvel hammers down on a lifeless Pedro Rizzo at ‘Ultimate Chaos’ in June 2009, as one of Steve Mazzagatti‘s star pupils looks on. / Photo via Sherdog)

Gilbert Yvel could have been a beloved figure in MMA. A devastating striker with a kill-or-be-killed approach to fighting, the Dutch kickboxer was able to produce 32 wins by KO/TKO in his 16-year, 56-match career, with all 38 of his victories coming by some form of stoppage. Over the years Yvel has knocked out Semmy Schilt, Gary Goodridge, Cheick Kongo, and Houston Alexander, and won multiple fights against Bob Schrijber, Valentijn Overeem, and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.

That’s a hell of a resume for a fighter who came up in the late ’90s; he’s the kind of guy you’d expect to find on a list like this. And yet, those wins probably aren’t the first things you think of when you hear the name “Gilbert Yvel.” No, you probably think of the time he punched a referee and kicked him while he was down. Or the time he tried to claw Don Frye’s eyes out and got DQ’d for it. Or the time he bit a guy. Or any of the times he had to be restrained by refs well after the fight had been stopped.

Yvel mellowed out, eventually. Since the referee-hitting incident in 2004, the 37-year-old has managed to avoid dirty fighting, disqualifications, and controversy, and settled into a role as a veteran banger, showing up to squash cans in international promotions, or act as fodder for a larger name. A three-fight stint in the UFC in 2010 was a total bust, and seemed to signal the end of Yvel’s time as a relevant force in MMA. But it wasn’t over yet. Yvel attempted to rescue his career with a weight-drop to 205 pounds, going from pleasantly plump to startlingly skinny.

The crazy thing is, it actually worked. Yvel signed with RFA in 2011, and went 2-0 as a light-heavyweight, stopping Damian Dantibo and Houston Alexander, both in the first round — which makes it somewhat surprising that Yvel has now decided to call it a day.


(Yvel hammers down on a lifeless Pedro Rizzo at ‘Ultimate Chaos’ in June 2009, as one of Steve Mazzagatti‘s star pupils looks on. / Photo via Sherdog)

Gilbert Yvel could have been a beloved figure in MMA. A devastating striker with a kill-or-be-killed approach to fighting, the Dutch kickboxer was able to produce 32 wins by KO/TKO in his 16-year, 56-match career, with all 38 of his victories coming by some form of stoppage. Over the years Yvel has knocked out Semmy Schilt, Gary Goodridge, Cheick Kongo, and Houston Alexander, and won multiple fights against Bob Schrijber, Valentijn Overeem, and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.

That’s a hell of a resume for a fighter who came up in the late ’90s; he’s the kind of guy you’d expect to find on a list like this. And yet, those wins probably aren’t the first things you think of when you hear the name “Gilbert Yvel.” No, you probably think of the time he punched a referee and kicked him while he was down. Or the time he tried to claw Don Frye’s eyes out and got DQ’d for it. Or the time he bit a guy. Or any of the times he had to be restrained by refs well after the fight had been stopped.

Yvel mellowed out, eventually. Since the referee-hitting incident in 2004, the 37-year-old has managed to avoid dirty fighting, disqualifications, and controversy, and settled into a role as a veteran banger, showing up to squash cans in international promotions, or act as fodder for a larger name. A three-fight stint in the UFC in 2010 was a total bust, and seemed to signal the end of Yvel’s time as a relevant force in MMA. But it wasn’t over yet. Yvel attempted to rescue his career with a weight-drop to 205 pounds, going from pleasantly plump to startlingly skinny.

The crazy thing is, it actually worked. Yvel signed with RFA in 2011, and went 2-0 as a light-heavyweight, stopping Damian Dantibo and Houston Alexander, both in the first round — which makes it somewhat surprising that Yvel has now decided to call it a day.

In a new interview with Germany’s GnP TV, Yvel claimed that he’s “pretty much done” competing, citing a “kidney issue” — perhaps the result of his drastic weight-cuts to light-heavyweight — and the accumulated fatigue from 16 years of professional combat.

“I’m done, I’m tired, I’m over it,” Yvel said. “I don’t wanna punch nobody anymore…I’ve been fighting for 16 years, that’s a long time. Look at me, I’m still pretty, I’m not slurring my words. I had a good run, so this is it.”

For the time being, Yvel says he’ll be content to be a trainer instead of a competitor, and has taken a job teaching MMA at Agoge MMA in Dusseldorf, Germany.

So how do we remember a guy like Gilbert Yvel? Much like Mike Kyle, Yvel used to be an asshole, then straightened out — but his late-career accomplishments weren’t enough to completely change his legacy. Can we forgive him for a few ugly nights, considering how long ago those nights were, and how many entertaining moments he’s given us along the way? Check out a few of Yvel’s greatest hits below, and tell us what you think…


(Gilbert Yvel vs. Semmy Schilt, Rings Holland: The Kings of the Magic Ring, 6/20/99)


(Gilbert Yvel vs. Gary Goodridge, PRIDE 10, 8/27/00)


(Gilbert Yvel vs. Ibragim Magomedov, M-1 MFC: Russia vs the World 2, 11/11/01)


(Gilbert Yvel vs. Cheick Kongo, It’s Showtime 2004 Amsterdam, 5/20/04)


(Gilbert Yvel vs. Fabiano Scherner, Cage Rage 17, 7/1/06)


(Gilbert Yvel vs. Pedro Rizzo, Ultimate Chaos: Lashley vs. Sapp, 6/27/09)


(Gilbert Yvel vs. Houston Alexander, RFA 2, 3/30/13)

And Now He’s Retired: Heart Condition Forces K1 Legend Semmy Schilt to Call it Quits

(While there may be other, better Semmy Schilt highlights out there, we guaran-damn-tee you that not a one of them contains more shouting.) 

Well, this is a shame.

According to Liverkick.com, K1 legend and two-time UFC veteran Semmy “Hightower” Schilt has been forced to hang up his gloves after being made aware that he is suffering from a serious heart condition, the specifics of which have not yet been made available.

While rumors of Schilt’s impending retirement have been circulating ever since the near 7 foot kickboxer announced that the Glory 4 Tokyo: Special 2012 ~ New Year’s Eve tournament — which he successfully claimed by defeating Daniel Ghita via first round TKO in the finals — would be his last, fight fans were still holding out hope that Schilt would make a quick turnaround on his decision as fighters are wont to do.

Unfortunately, the recent diagnosis has officially closed the door for one of the greatest (if not the greatest) heavyweight kickboxers of all time. Schilt retires with a 42-6-1 kickboxing record and a 26-14 MMA record to his credit, as well as 5 K1 Grand Prix titles and the claim of being the final K1 Super-Heavyweight Champion.

We here at CagePotato would like to wish Semmy the best of luck in his future endeavors and hope that he is able to overcome whatever ailment is currently afflicting him in the safest, most timely manner possible.

Pay tribute to a true legend and/or share your favorite Schilt moments with us in the comments section. 

–J. Jones


(While there may be other, better Semmy Schilt highlights out there, we guaran-damn-tee you that not a one of them contains more shouting.) 

Well, this is a shame.

According to Liverkick.com, K1 legend and two-time UFC veteran Semmy “Hightower” Schilt has been forced to hang up his gloves after being made aware that he is suffering from a serious heart condition, the specifics of which have not yet been made available.

While rumors of Schilt’s impending retirement have been circulating ever since the near 7 foot kickboxer announced that the Glory 4 Tokyo: Special 2012 ~ New Year’s Eve tournament — which he successfully claimed by defeating Daniel Ghita via first round TKO in the finals — would be his last, fight fans were still holding out hope that Schilt would make a quick turnaround on his decision as fighters are wont to do.

Unfortunately, the recent diagnosis has officially closed the door for one of the greatest (if not the greatest) heavyweight kickboxers of all time. Schilt retires with a 42-6-1 kickboxing record and a 26-14 MMA record to his credit, as well as 5 K1 Grand Prix titles and the claim of being the final K1 Super-Heavyweight Champion.

We here at CagePotato would like to wish Semmy the best of luck in his future endeavors and hope that he is able to overcome whatever ailment is currently afflicting him in the safest, most timely manner possible.

Pay tribute to a true legend and/or share your favorite Schilt moments with us in the comments section. 

–J. Jones

And Now He’s Retired: Seth Petruzelli Hangs Up the Gloves After Vicious KO Loss to King Mo at Bellator 96


(“You’re lucky enough to be different, never change.” – Taylor Swift.)

We can’t remember the last time a card produced such brutal outcomes that it resulted in two longtime veterans of the sport calling it quits, but such appears to be the case with Bellator 96. After Babalu Sobral announced his retirement from the sport following a third round TKO loss to Jacob Noe on Wednesday, fellow UFC veteran and one-half of MMA’s Ambiguously Gay Duo, Seth Petruzelli, has decided to hang up the gloves as well. He took to his Facebook page to make the announcement:

I want to thank my family, friends, fiancée and fans for being by my side these past 13 years plus of my MMA career. Every time I fought it was to please and excite you but most of all make you proud of me. Up until a couple years ago it pleased and excited me as well. That is where I went wrong, for the past couple years I have been fighting for the wrong reasons, I don’t have the desire or drive to fight like I used to and the past couple fights have shown it. So at this point in my life I would like to officially announce my retirement from the sport of MMA. Competing has been a part of my life since I was 6 years old, now I would like to put more of an effort into seeing my students/fighters do the same and making my gym grow and flourish. MMA has taken me around the world, let me meet the best and worst of people and made me feel like the brightest star but also like a black hole at times … and I have no regrets because I did it all my way. 

Petruzelli retires with an overall record of 14-8 and one of the greatest upset victories of all time. Farewell, good soldier. We won’t ask, you won’t tell.

After the jump: We take a look back at “The Silverback’s” aforementioned upset of Kimbo Slice (ROCKY! ROCKY IS HERE!) as well as another personal favorite of ours.


(“You’re lucky enough to be different, never change.” – Taylor Swift.)

We can’t remember the last time a card produced such brutal outcomes that it resulted in two longtime veterans of the sport calling it quits, but such appears to be the case with Bellator 96. After Babalu Sobral announced his retirement from the sport following a third round TKO loss to Jacob Noe on Wednesday, fellow UFC veteran and one-half of MMA’s Ambiguously Gay Duo, Seth Petruzelli, has decided to hang up the gloves as well. He took to his Facebook page to make the announcement:

I want to thank my family, friends, fiancée and fans for being by my side these past 13 years plus of my MMA career. Every time I fought it was to please and excite you but most of all make you proud of me. Up until a couple years ago it pleased and excited me as well. That is where I went wrong, for the past couple years I have been fighting for the wrong reasons, I don’t have the desire or drive to fight like I used to and the past couple fights have shown it. So at this point in my life I would like to officially announce my retirement from the sport of MMA. Competing has been a part of my life since I was 6 years old, now I would like to put more of an effort into seeing my students/fighters do the same and making my gym grow and flourish. MMA has taken me around the world, let me meet the best and worst of people and made me feel like the brightest star but also like a black hole at times … and I have no regrets because I did it all my way. 

Petruzelli retires with an overall record of 14-8 and one of the greatest upset victories of all time. Farewell, good soldier. We won’t ask, you won’t tell.

After the jump: We take a look back at “The Silverback’s” aforementioned upset of Kimbo Slice (ROCKY! ROCKY IS HERE!) as well as another personal favorite of ours.

–J. Jones