Quinn Mulhern announces retirement following UFC Fight Night 34 loss

UFC fighter, Strikeforce vet and former King of the Cage champion Quinn Mulhern has announced his retirement.

The 29-year-old, who fought 22 times since his pro debut in 2007, made the announcement following Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 34 loss to Katsunori Kikuno in Singapore. Mulhern, who dropped from welterweight to lightweight for the bout, suffered the decision loss (via 30-27 scores) on the event’s preliminary card.

Mulhern went 3-1 in Strikeforce, which included a split-decision victory over Yuri Villefort, before signing with the UFC in early 2013. However, he suffered a TKO loss to Rick Story in his promotional debut and then the decision defeat to Kikuno on Saturday.

According to Mulhern (18-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC), a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who unified KOTC’s world and Canadian welterweight titles in 2010, his camp went well for his latest fight, but he realized he just “won’t be competitive at this level.”

His announcement (via Facebook):

Hey guys. First, just let me express how grateful I am for the love and support of a whole community of people. Especially those folks who have been with me from the beginning of my MMA career. I love you all, thank you.

The dust hasn’t settled exactly so I wouldn’t normally do this now…but it feels like it’s the right time: I am retiring from MMA.

This camp was as perfect as they come. Everything fell into place, mentally, physically…my weight cut was a success. I got to a place of mental focus where I have never been before. But when I got in the cage I just didn’t have it. It wasn’t nerves, I didn’t freeze…I just didn’t have the physical gifts or skill the win. Bottom line is that I could put in years of continued work but I won’t be competitive at this level. Perhaps I’d get quite a bit better, but I think if rather spend that time on something new. I feel this in my bones.

So this is not a tantrum of self-pity. In fact, I feel very clear and good about this decision. I’m so grateful to have done what I’ve done. I’ve gotten to travel all over the world and to fight professionally over twenty times. But this is it.

Now what to do next is the question. I’ll leave that alone for a while. But I’m hopeful and excited for the next step.

The phrase that was the theme of my training camp was “All in due time.” I think that phrase is quite fitting, even now.

Love.

Quinn

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 34, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.