Matt Wiman is deciding to call it a career after suffering one of the more brutal knockouts in recent memory at UFC on ESPN 19.
Wiman’s career comeback hit what appeared to be its final snag last week when he was on the receiving end of a devastating slam knockout courtesy of Jordan Leavitt at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It was a scary scene, but fortunately Wiman (16-10 MMA, 10-8 UFC) left the octagon under his own power.
The outcome dropped Wiman to 0-3 since he returned from a nearly five-year hiatus in June 2019. Although he managed to go the distance in his previous fights, he apparently has taken the 22-second knockout as a sign he should be done.
His most recent bout marked the final fight on his UFC contract, and with that, Wiman, 37, has decided to retire from the sport, he confirmed to MMA Junkie on Thursday following an initial report from MMA Fighting.
“The decision was oddly easy,” Wiman told MMA Junkie. “I could have retired happily after my 10th win in the big show but hadn’t stored enough nuts for winter, to be honest. Coming back was a love story to my family – a bloody, sweaty, teary one. I’m grateful to have gotten to play the role.”
After spending his first eight career bouts on regional scene, Wiman made his octagon debut at UFC 60 in May 2006. He would go on to fight 18 times for the promotion, earning notable victories over Thiago Tavares, Mac Danzig, Cole Miller, and more along the way.
After picking up a unanimous decision win over Isaac Vallie-Flagg at UFC Fight Night 157 in November 2014, Wiman disappeared from the MMA scene for years.
It was a challenge to get back, and although things didn’t go his way at the end, Wiman said he relishes his time in the sport.
“My fondest memory has to be beating Tavares a week before getting married,” Wiman said. “I really wanted to make it at the highest level of fighting and not put limits on our capabilities but proving it is hard, mentally, spiritually and everything. It was all a gift, one I’ll be forever grateful to have played a apart of.”
UFC vet Matt Wiman makes ‘oddly easy’ decision to retire after slam KO loss
