Peter Sobotta Announces Retirement After Loss To Alex Oliveira

Peter Sobotta has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 33 following a unanimous decision loss to Alex Oliveira at UFC On ESPN 14 this past Saturday night on Fight Island.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to win tonight,” Sobotta stated on Instagram in the aftermath of the fight. “I’m also not particularly well. I broke my right arm early in the fight, my face had to be sewn in four places. I’m not looking for excuses. I was the worse fighter tonight. Not ready to grit your teeth and go forward. Too little pressure, too little courage, too few hits. I could not play my greatest strength because several takedown attempts failed. Oliveira deservedly won. I have to recognize that my path as an active MMA fighter ends after 17 years. I felt that in the ring today. I really love this sport with all my heart and this decision hurts more than any broken bones and ligaments.

“But I just don’t have the toughness, robustness and willingness to take risks to fight at the top. It was a damn wild ride and I am infinitely grateful for the emotions and experiences that I was able to experience. Thanks to EVERYONE who accompanied and supported me.”

Sobotta had to spells in the UFC during his 25-fight career, with the first being somewhat of a disaster, as he went 0-3 in the Octagon between 2009-2010.

However, Sobotta didn’t give up after being released and instead went on to compile five wins and a draw on the regional circuit in order to earn a second stint in the UFC a few years later.

This time around things went much better for Sobotta, who won four of his next five fights, defeating the likes of Ben Saunders, Nicolas Dalby and Pawel Pawlak along the way.

However, he then suffered a TKO loss to Leon Edwards in 2018 and then took the best part of the next two years off as he focused on his family and recovered from a neck injury.

Sobotta had hoped to return to winning ways against Oliveira, but it wasn’t to be and so he now hangs up his gloves with an overall 17-7-1 career record.

Ross launched MMA Insight (previously FightOfTheNight.com) in 2009 as a way to channel his passion for the sport of mixed martial arts. He's since penned countless news stories and live fight reports along with dozens of feature articles as the lead writer for the site, reaching millions of fans in the process.