Cyrille Diabate Retires from UFC and Combat Sports Following Loss at UFC London
Cyrille Diabate retired from the UFC and mixed martial arts following his loss to Ilir Latifi at UFC Fight Night 37 on Saturday evening.
Diabate, who said he has competed in combat sports for more than two decades, hung up his gloves and expressed his happiness with how his career has played out.
“I was at the top in kickboxing in Muay Thai,” Diabate said. “I switched to MMA at one point in my career and I reached the top. I fought in PRIDE and I fought in UFC. Who can do better?”
The 40-year-old fighter said that his decision to retire stemmed from having put off a number of things over the last 22 years, all in an effort to put the entirety of his focus on fighting.
With his fight career now in the rear-view mirror, Diabate said he plans on starting a fight team in Paris, in addition to doing some acting. Being a fighter didn't allow for Diabate to put as much focus on those things, but now circumstances have changed.
“When you want to be a professional fighter and compete at this kind of level, you have got to be 100-percent focused,” he said
Despite the loss in his last fight, Diabate reflected on his career and said he was happy with how it unfolded. Twenty-two years after his professional career began, a new chapter begins for the now-former UFC fighter.
“I’ve had a fantastic career. I’ve enjoyed myself,” he said. “Time to move on.”
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