Akira Corassani announces MMA retirement following UFC on FOX 14 loss

Akira Corassani

After 18 pro fights, including six in the UFC, it appears featherweight Akira Corassani has announced his retirement from MMA.

Although the Swedish fighter didn’t use the word “retire,” and the end of his message implied things could change down the road, a post on his Facebook page said he’s shutting things down.

“I am full and content and I would never want to change a single thing,” Corassani said in his post. “My brain has filed for a divorce and doesn’t want to cooperate anymore. The passion and the technique is there but every car has a date (except for the Swedish Volvo 740). … THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WONDERFUL 12 YEARS AND I TRULY LOVE AND APPRECIATE THAT YOU TUNED IN. It was all my pleasure folks. I salute you, THE END!?”

Corassani (12-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC) this past Saturday lost his third straight fight – a first-round TKO at the hands of Sam Sicilia (14-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) to open up the main card of UFC on FOX 14 in Corassani’s native Sweden.

Corassani got his start in the UFC on Season 14 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” He reached the show’s semifinals, but lost to Dennis Bermudez. Still, his performance on the show got him a deal with the UFC.

Twice, he had to pull out of his expected official debut with the promotion due to injuries, but he finally made his debut and picked up a split-decision win over Andy Ogle in September 2012 in England. He would pick up two more wins to start his UFC career 3-0. He took a decision from Robbie Peralta, then topped Maximo Blanco thanks to an illegal knee disqualification.

But soon after his TUF 18 Finale win over Blanco, his troubles began. At the TUF Nations Finale this past April, he picked up a “Fight of the Night” bonus, but it came at a cost – a second-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier. Then he was shut down by Max Holloway with a first-round knockout in October. His loss to Sicilia was his third straight, all by knockout or TKO.

The 32-year-old Swede, who trains with the Renzo Gracie team in New York, said on Facebook he accomplished what he hoped for.

“I got into to this to challenge myself, get kicks and thrills and live life as close to (Jean Claude) Van Damme in ‘Bloodsport’ as possible,” Corassani stated. “I was 22 years old working at a factory confused and bored when I made a bet with my co-workers to become a fighter. They laughed and I said WATCH! I did it all and holy smoke what an adventure it has been.”

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 14, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

view original article >>