With a long career in the UFC, Brazilian announces retirement after defeat in bare-knuckle boxing; look

Former fighter UFC, Thiago Pitbull was knocked out by Mike Perry last Saturday (27), in the main fight of BKFC: Knucklemania IV, a form of boxing without gloves, and announced his retirement as a combat sports athlete. At 40 years old, the Ceará native had a long career in MMA with 38 fights (23w-15l) and three more appearances in bare-knuckle boxing (2w-1d).

Pitbull revealed, in a press conference after the event, the death of his mother at the beginning of the month and that he will now dedicate his efforts to coaching the American Top Team: “I’m going back to retire. I was already basically retired, but I didn’t make any announcements or anything, because I wanted to fight one more time, and that was it. Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way I expected, but I’ve been fighting professionally since I was 15 years old. I accepted this fight eight weeks in advance and lost my mother on April 5th”, said the Brazilian, who added:

“So I’ve been through a lot and I’ve put my family through a lot. I’m happy being a coach and living the life I live, I have no regrets. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to say goodbye at the top when competing at the highest level, but I’m happy with the man I see in the mirror. And let’s move on to the next one, shall we? I’m very grateful for everything”, declared the former UFC fighter.

Pitull, who has lived in the United States for many years and is one of the main coaches of ATT, one of the biggest teams in the world, recalled when he arrived in the country: “I am very grateful. I came to the US when I was 19 years old, with $40 to my name, didn’t speak English and was just a Brazilian kid with the dream of becoming one of the best fighters in the world. I think I was able to do that. I became world champion in one of the wildest and toughest sports there is, bare-knuckle boxing, and I am very grateful to be able to provide a good life for my family”, he concluded.

Thiago Pitbull’s career in combat sports

Thiago made his professional MMA debut in 2001, being defeated by Gleison Tibau, who would also fight for Ultimate years later. Alves moved to the United States in 2003, with a record of three wins and two losses, where he fought for two years in smaller events until reaching the UFC in 2005.

For the largest MMA organization in the world, the Ceará native spent 14 years and had 27 fights. Pitbull enjoyed his best moment in the UFC – and in his career – between 2006 and 2009, when he accumulated seven consecutive victories and challenged Georges St-Pierre for the Ultimate welterweight belt, at the historic UFC 100, but ended up defeated by the Canadian.

In addition to St-Pierre, the Brazilian faced big names in the sport such as Jim Miller, Carlos Condit, Matt Hughes, Jon Fitch, among others. Thiago left the UFC in 2019, after being submitted by Tim Means. The following year, the Ceará native made his boxing debut without gloves, beating Julian Lane by split decision. In 2021, Pitbull became the inaugural BKFC middleweight champion by knocking out Ulysses Diaz, but did not defend the title.