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In a poignant moment at UFC Fight Night 238, light heavyweight contender Tyson Pedro announced his retirement from MMA following his defeat against Vitor Petrino in the co-main event.
Pedro, 32, faced Petrino in a hard-fought battle at the UFC APEX Facility in Enterprise, Nevada. Despite his best efforts, the Australian athlete was outmatched by Petrino, who secured a unanimous decision victory with judges scoring the contest 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 in his favor.
In a heartfelt post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier, Pedro revealed his decision to retire, stating,
"It's been amazing but it's all been my intention to show my daughter that as long as you work your a** off and grind towards what you love, you can do anything you can dream of. I think my dreams have just changed at this point."
Acknowledging the support of his fans, Pedro expressed gratitude and left the door open for a potential return, saying,
"So, that's it for me with UFC. Thank you to all the fans from the bottom of my heart. I don't think it's goodbye. Just see you later."
Pedro's retirement marked another significant departure from the MMA world on March 2, as UFC middleweight Jamie Pickett also chose to hang up his gloves after his bout against Eryk Anders. Pickett cited his desire to prioritize his well-being and be a positive role model for his children as reasons for his decision.
With Pedro and Pickett bidding farewell to their MMA careers, the UFC community reflects on their contributions to the sport and wishes them well in their future endeavors.