Following a unanimous decision loss to Vitor Petrino in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 87, Tyson Pedro – the light heavyweight contender from Australia – has decided to hang up his gloves.
The 32-year-old fighter took the opportunity to announce his retirement in an emotional speech to fans after the fight:
Thank you to all the fans, I want to say thank you very much to the UFC for everything they’ve done on this journey.
Especially thanks to my team, anyone that’s helped me get to this stage of my martial arts career.It’s been amazing but it’s always been my intention to show my daughter that as long as you work your ass off and grind towards what you love, you can do anything you can dream of.
And I think my dream has just changed at this point, so that’s it for me.
Pedro jokingly elaborated further on his decision in a backstage interview:
You put in all the costs, you put in the cost to my family – I probably just can’t do it anymore.
With the deductions and the loss of the fight, tonight I’m probably going to have to rob someone in the car park.If anyone’s got any money on them… Who’s got the most on them?
It’s more a family thing.
I’ve just got a change of the dreams, so if I’m going to do that I might as well spend it with my daughter.Who knows? You might see me on the Australian circuit, but that’s it for me for MMA.
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