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Carlos Condit Leaning Towards Retirement Following Loss at UFC on FOX 21

Carlos Condit Leaning Towards Retirement Following Loss at UFC on FOX 21

Carlos Condit might be at the end of his MMA rope.

The former WEC and interim UFC welterweight champion, a fighter who many feel is still at the top of his game, said following his loss to Demian Maia at UFC on FOX 21 that he’s leaning towards being done with his career as a professional fighter.

It’s a matter of questioning whether or not he belongs in the Octagon, according to Condit.

“I don’t know if I have any business fighting at this level anymore,” he said during the UFC on FOX 21 post-fight press conference. “I’ve been at this for a really long time. The pressure of being one of the top guys for almost a decade … I don’t know, man. I don’t know if I belong here anymore. We’ll see.”

RELATED > UFC on FOX 21 Fight Highlights: Demian Maia Puts Out the Lights on Carlos Condit

Condit lost via first-round submission to Maia in Saturday’s main event in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The loss stands as his second in a row, and he’s gone a dismal 2-5 since late 2012.

The chance Condit will hang up his gloves and embrace retirement has been a topic of conversation since he lost to Robbie Lawler at UFC 195 in January. Following that fight, an emotional Condit explained that he wasn’t certain he would return to the Octagon to fight again. With Saturday’s fight resulting in a loss, the conversation has come up again and now he has to have some discussions with those close to him.

“It’s definitely been in the back of my mind for a while now,” he said. “It’s been a long career. I think there comes a point in every fighter’s career that they have to question how long they’re going to continue, and I’ve been doing that for a little while. It wasn’t my night tonight. I don’t know if that’s going to be the swan song for me, hopefully not. I would hate to go out on a loss like this. I would’ve liked to at least put on an exciting show like I usually do. I don’t know what’s in the cards. I’m leaning towards possibly being done.”

If this is truly the end, Condit would have a 30-10 record with 15 KOs/TKOs, 13 submissions, and only two wins coming via decision. In 40 total fights, Condit has gained a reputation of entertaining through a mix of class, precision, and well-executed violence that few others in the industry possess. And while the hardcore fans have embraced the fighter known as the “Natural Born Killer,” racking up the bodycount has taken a toll on him over the past 14 years.

“I’ve taken a lot of punishment,” he said. “I don’t know if I can continue to take shots, honestly.”

Follow Erik Fontanez on Twitter: @Nahmles

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