Video: Former UFC contender Jon Fitch retires after loss to Gracie at Bellator 246

After 43 fights and 18 years as a professional, Jon Fitch has decided to officially retire from mixed martial arts competition.

The 42-year-old former UFC title contender faced off against Neiman Gracie at Bellator 246 on Saturday night, where he lost by heel hook to the second degree BJJ black belt. Shortly after the fight, Fitch decided to leave his gloves in the cage.

“It’s been a long journey, my body’s been through a lot. I’ve got a lot of things I’m looking forward to, a future outside of the cage. It’s just, it’s time to go,” Fitch said on his post-fight interview.

“I said to myself years ago, before I fought Jake Shields, that if he won that night I was going to be done. Then I told myself the same thing after every fight, until the last fight was a draw - I had to come back. I had the opportunity, Neiman’s the perfect guy to either beat or hand the crown off to. Hopefully I come out to New York and help him train a little bit, help him polish up and he’ll beat Lima.”

Saturday’s loss marked Fitch’s first defeat in almost six years. Prior to Saturday night, Fitch fought to a draw with Rory MacDonald, which was for the Bellator welterweight title.

Fitch has had an excellent career, from his time in the UFC where he went 14-3-1 and fought for the welterweight title against Georges St-Pierre, to his days as the WSOF/PFL champ, and his final three bouts with Bellator.

He has fought the best of the best in his time, and has a long resume filled with a lot of elite level fighters. He has losses to former UFC champions in GSP and Johny Hendricks, draws to champions like B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald, and quality wins over fellow former UFC title contenders like Jake Shields, Thiago Alves (twice), Diego Sanchez and Yushin Okami.

Fitch will retire with an overall record of 32-8-2, with 1 no contest.