A lightweight competition has announced that he is hanging the gloves at just 31 years old
It cannot be underestimated how big a performance it is to get to the UFC and stay there.
Stepping in the Achthoek to compete at the highest level is the ultimate goal for most competitors, let alone become a champion, who decide to become professional, but so few of them can realize their dreams.
For how difficult it is to get even on the Radar of the UFC, this is only where the hard work starts now that you regularly go to the top opposition.
In a recent post on social media, a member of the selection who has participated nine times under the UFC banner has announced that he is running away from the sport after he has spent himself in this pursuit in the past decade.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Joe Solecki announces his retirement from MMA via social media after his heavy run in the UFC
Joe Solecki wrote on Instagram that after making his pro-debut in 2016 he decided to retire, so that the Pro game left a general record of 13-6.
With a series of impressive versions in the regional scene, Solecki earned his chance to fight for a UFC contract on the Contender Series of Dana White in 2019, where he submitted James Wallace in the first round.
His submission skills could be seen again in his second UFC outing, where he built on a debut victory at Matt Wiman by stitching Austin Hubbard in 2020.
A best win over UFC legend Jim Miller followed that, but his winning series was brought to an end by Jared Gordon in October 2021, where he came on the wrong side of a split decision.
After bouncing back with successive victories over Alex da Silva and Carl Deaton III, Solecki suffered three consecutive losses to Drakkar Klose, Grant Dawson and Nurullo Aliev.
It now seems as if after participation in the UFC and 5-4 went into the lightweight division, his goals and ambitions have changed since 2016, which led him to an early retirement at the age of just 31.
“Today, after haunting this dream for 10 years, I am officially retired from the MMA sport. I started this endeavor as a child with a dream to reach the UFC. It then grew into so many more goals and dreams, some of which have reached and others where I fell short. In a sense, even though I sometimes fall short (especially this last year), “I lived my film.” Competing at the highest level in the UFC and the milling on the regional circuit to reach the top, have learned more life lessons and things about myself, hard work and determination than I could ever have imagined.
“This path in life has helped me in so many ways as a man, athlete, husband, father and, above all, helped me grow and develop deeper in my faith and relationship with God. I have made lifelong relationships that I will cherish forever, the amazing sense of victory, the adversity of the defeat and the joy of overcoming that adversity. I have been able to go to places and experience things that I have never even dreamed of because of this sport, all the memories that I will cherish. “
Solecki continued to say that he will still be involved in the sport as a coach at Gym-O in North Carolina, together with continuing to compete in submission and struggle.
He also thanks his wife, children, coaches, teammates and supporters for the fact that they are part of the journey with him while staying back with good memories.
Joe Solecki will always have his highlights of the career to look back on
Joe Solecki may be retired after nine fights in the UFC, but as his Instagram Post shows, he will always have his performance to look back on.
Not only did he compete at the highest level before he decided to leave on his own conditions, the Submission Arts registered two Finishes in the Octagon with his victory over Deaton III and earned him a performance of the night bonus at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas .
It is clear to see by the answers under the post of Solecki that he will be missed in the UFC, but as he said, he can now focus on helping the next generation of competitors trying their way to the top to work.
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