Veteran UFC lightweight competitor Aaron Riley has announced his retirement from the sport after succumbing to another defeat at UFC On FOX 8 on Saturday night against Justin Salas.
“(Fought) my last MMA fight tonight. It’s been fun, but after 16 years I’m calling it good. Thanks to everyone who ever supported my career,” Riley wrote on Twitter.
Riley’s MMA career began in the HOOKnSHOOT promotion back in 1997. He remained attached to that promotion for a number of years as well as other promotion’s like Pride, Shooto and the IFL, but is best known for a number of stints in the UFC.
He first fought in the Octagon at UFC 37 in 2002, losing out to another fighter on this past weekend’s card, Robbie Lawler. It’d be four years until he next competed for the UFC, and again he came up empty-handed in a memorable battle with Spencer Fisher.
After those two short spells in the promotion, Riley finally settled in as a UFC regular from 2008 until the present day, going on a 3-4 run during that period.
Toughness was one of Riley’s best qualities, and that was probably just as well as he had a number of bloody battles throughout his career and had his jaw broken twice amongst other injuries.
While his UFC record wasn’t particularly impressive he does bow out of his sporting career with a respectable 30-14-1 tally overall.
