Report: UFC Heavyweight Christian Morecraft Retires from Fighting at Age 26

“Competing in the UFC is a tough job on many different levels -- getting better, staying focused and all the other s--- that life brings to you, and not to mention I still have to work a full-time job to support [myself] in the meantime,” Morecraft stated in a Facebook post, according to the Boston Herald. “There [are] plenty of ‘ex professional athletes’ out there who are lost, broke and jobless when competing is over, so with that being said, [I am] trying to find an easier way to make a living and most importantly be happy ... I’m saying GOODBYE TO THE FIGHT BUSINESS for right now. Nothing’s set in stone, because we all know that nothing in life is, but for now I’ve got some other matters to take care of. Thank you all for your support over the years. Thank you, and god bless everyone.”

Morecraft, 26, won his first six pro fights before suffering a second-round knockout at the hands of Stefan Struve in his Octagon debut at UFC 117. The Hyannis, Mass., native rebounded from the defeat to submit Sean McCorkle with a guillotine choke the following year but was then turned away in each of his next two bouts, sustaining knockouts courtesy of Matt Mitrione and Pat Barry.

Morecraft has not competed since his defeat to Barry, which came roughly 14 months ago at UFC on FX 1, though the Team Bombsquad rep made headlines last September after being arrested in his hometown on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Morecraft now walks away from MMA with a 7-3 ledger, finishing all of his victims by either knockout or submission.