The financial strain of being a professional mixed martial artist has become too much for Darren Stewart.
The 33-year-old Brit announced his retirement from MMA on Tuesday in a post on his Instagram account. According to Stewart, continuing to pursue a fighting career has become a burden on his family.
“It hurts me to write this, but I think it’s time to call it a day,” Stewart wrote. “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. When 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 gotten even worse. I’ve got family, and it’s not fair on them stressing just to keep food on the table.
“I love fighting, and I don’t want to call it as I’m only 33, but I’m not getting any help financially. Spoke about it a few times, so not going to go into it. Maybe I’ll get into boxing if it ever arises, but MMA? …..yeah I’m done. Brings tears writing this seriously, but it is what it is. I’ll still teach 1-2-1 or seminars and still do Jiu Jitsu here and there because I feel I can still pass knowledge on. But other than that, I need to go find the second job. 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.”
Stewart debuted in the UFC in 2016 and compiled a 5-7 mark with two no contests before parting ways with the Las Vegas-based organization following a loss to Dustin Jacoby in August 2021. “The Dentist” has fought six times under the Cage Warriors banner since then, most recently losing to Carlos Alexandre Pereira via second-round TKO this past March. Stewart went 16-10 over the course of a pro career that began in 2014.
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