Mike Pyle's final UFC fight didn't go his way, but he still got respect from Zak Ottow

It wasn’t exactly a storybook finish for Mike Pyle, but maybe a guy who’s been in this sport as long as he has ought to know not to expect that from the brutal reality of MMA.

A right hand from Zak Ottow put Pyle on his back early in the first frame of their UFC 222 fight Saturday night. Subsequent strikes on the mat put him away for a TKO finish halfway through the opening round at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (via Twitter).

Pyle (27-13-1 MMA, 10-8 UFC) could be seen pounding on the mat in frustration after the stoppage, and obviously it’s not how he would have liked to end what he said would be the final fight of his nearly 20-year career.

Then again, it is the kind of ending that reminds us why it’s probably a good thing he’s calling it quits now. The loss to Ottow (15-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is Pyle’s third consecutive TKO or KO defeat, stretching all the way back to 2016. At 42, continuing to get thumped in the head for a living probably isn’t a great idea, especially since few fighters get better at absorbing strikes as they age.

But even with the disappointing result, Pyle still got his respect from Ottow, who congratulated him on a “legendary career” and hailed him as a “pioneer” in his post-fight interview (via Twitter).

It was a nice tribute from an opponent who was 13 when Pyle made his pro debut against Quinton Jackson back in 1999. And that fact, perhaps, is yet another reason why Pyle is probably right to hang up the gloves now.

For complete coverage of UFC 222, check out the UFC Events section of the site.