Although he won’t use the word “retirement,” former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra is walking away from the sport of mixed martial arts.
In an interview with Newsday, Serra said that a recent health scare – the discovery of two blood clots in his arm and one in his lungs that led to the surgical removal of one of his ribs — has led to him believing he’s done competing.
Serra, who is still listed as an active fighter on the UFC’s website, hinted that the only way he’d compete again would be if MMA was legalized in his home state of New York.
Despite the unlikelihood of the 38-year-old making a comeback, Serra won’t officially say he’s retired.
“It’s hard to say it. It’s like you can’t say it, even though it probably is true,” Serra said. “I would love to put closure on my career with one last fight at (Madison Square) Garden, but at the same time, if that doesn’t happen, I definitely consider myself done. It’s hard to say the ‘R word.’ I might never say the ‘R word.'”
Serra’s announcement doesn’t come as a huge surprise since the last time The Ultimate Fighter Season 4 winner fought was in September 2010 when he lost a unanimous decision to Chris Lytle at UFC 119.
“I really think I’m walking away,” Serra said. “I’m going to be 39, I just had my rib taken out. I’m having my third kid. My (jiu-jitsu) schools are doing well. What am I doing, looking for another pay day? It’s not really for that. I mean, it doesn’t stink, but it’s not really for that. Am I still trying to hold on for the glory? Glory is a drug, dude. I’m telling you, that’s the problem. It really is. I know why guys can’t walk away. I absolutely get it.”
Serra has an MMA record of 11-7 with all but his first four professional fights taking place in the UFC. His biggest claim to fame is winning the UFC welterweight title at UFC 69 after becoming the first and only man to stop Georges St-Pierre with strikes – the win is considered the biggest upset in UFC history.
CONDIT INTERESTED IN DIAZ REMATCH
Former World Extreme Cagefighting and interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit says he would be interested in a rematch with Nick Diaz if Diaz decides to compete in MMA ever again.
“I want to be in good fights with a lot of hype and a lot of buzz, and a rematch with Diaz and myself would interest a lot of folks,” Condit told MMAJunkie.com.
Condit won a split decision over Diaz at UFC 143 in February 2012 to become the interim UFC welterweight champion as Georges St-Pierre was still recovering from a knee injury. The win earned Condit a shot at GSP; St-Pierre won a unanimous decision over Condit when the two fought at UFC 154 in Montreal last November.
In March at UFC 158, also in Montreal, Condit lost a competitive decision to Johny Hendricks in which he believes wrestling was the main difference. Condit says he plans to take the summer to improve his wrestling and would like his next fight to take place in Las Vegas.
BELLATOR SIGNS SUBMISSION SPECIALIST SASS
Bellator signed submission specialist Paul Sass to a multi-fight contract several months after the lightweight was released from the UFC following a second consecutive loss.
Sass (13-2) is coming off back-to-back losses to Danny Castillo and Matt Wiman after the Brit started his career 13-0 with 12 submission wins.
Bellator also signed Rob Sinclair and TUF veteran Martin Stapleton.
