Briton Darren Stewart has retired from MMA after a career spanning 10 years in the sport.
The Englishman was a regular in the UFC between 2016-2021, fighting 14 times in the MMA promotion.
Stewart, 33, says retiring “hurts” but that after three years fighting in UK-based promotion Cage Warriors, he has been “forced” to hang up his gloves.
“It’s time to call it a day. Not by choice, but I’m forced to because I’ve lost a lot to this game trying to survive, and I can’t do it no more,” Stewart said on social media.
“When [the] UFC let me go I should have invested something, but instead I put all my eggs in one basket again to get back to the top and life has got even worse.
“I’ve got family, and it’s not fair on them stressing just to keep food on the table.”
Stewart retires with 16 wins from 28 fights, 10 of those stoppages.
He won three $50,000 fight night bonuses while competing in the UFC and last fought in March, a stoppage defeat by Carlos Pereira in Cage Warriors.
Nicknamed ‘The Dentist’, Stewart made his professional debut in 2014 and says he intends to keep teaching to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of fighters.
“I love fighting, and I don’t want to call it as I’m only 33, but I’m not getting any help financially,” he said.
“[It] brings tears writing this, but it is what it is.
“Thanks for always supporting me those who have. Means a lot. I hope the next generation has learned a lot from me and my career.”