12-Time UFC Veteran Felipe Arantes Retires Following Loss in Singapore

Felipe Arantes has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts after 31-bout career.

The 30-year-old Brazilian recently announced his decision on Instagram. Arantes is coming off a second-round knockout loss to Yadong Song at UFC Fight Night 132 in Singapore this past Saturday, his third consecutive defeat within the Las Vegas-based promotion.

“Sertanejo”debuted in the Octagon in 2011 and compiled a 5-6-1 mark during his UFC tenure. The Sao Paulo native earned notable triumphs over the likes of Yves Edwards, Maximo Blanco and Godofredo Castro during that time. Arantes ends his career with an 18-10-1 mark, along with two no contests.

His full statement is as follows (translation via MMAFighting.com):

No sad story or blah blah blah. I came to do my job and I did. The result didn’t come as expected, but I feel like winner for being here and going through everything I’ve gone, things the public doesn’t see, but who’s by my side knows.

A win goes far beyond having your hand raised, a win is built through the path you’ve walked to get there. You win, you transform and get strong in that walk, not with the result.

Thanks to everyone who followed me in this journey. I’ve made many friends and built my life through martial arts. It made me be the man I am today and gave me everything I have. Even my family I built through that because it was through the UFC that I met my wife and had my biggest treasure.

I had two serious injuries in my career. One, a facial paralysis, and the other, a motorcycle accident with tore ligaments and broken bones. In both I was advised by doctors that I could not come back to fighting. God honored me and I came back.

In this fight, I had an LCL and femur injury a week before going to Singapore, and once again my doctors alerted me about not being able to fight. But I didn’t want to quit and went there to fight.

You understand that an athlete’s life isn’t easy? I’m not giving excuses here, I’m here showing that I never gave up no matter what people told me. Isn’t that being a winner? Yes, I feel like a champion.

I believe my career was built and made because of my coach. He has always backed me up, always showed the right path and always gave me confidence to get where I got. I guarantee you, I would never be here without him.

Honestly? I consider myself 100 percent fulfilled and wouldn’t do anything differently. My desire to fight isn’t the same anymore, therefore I decided to stop. I’ve always made clear that I don’t depend on fighting financially, because through that I’ve built things that allow me to have a good life. I’m grateful for hanging my gloves at 30 years of age and knowing that, one way or the other, my name will remain in UFC history.

I could give you a thousand advices throughout my beautiful journey, but I’d spend days here writing. I’m more of a champion that many that held the belt, I can guarantee you.

New paths are being built in my life, and I know that I will be a champion just like inside the Octagon.

I tried to represent my country the best way possible and I feel peace in my heart and feeling that I’ve accomplished that.

Once again, thank you all. You were great! God bless you.

Sem história triste e sem mimimi. Vim fazer o meu trabalho e fiz. O resultado não veio como o esperado, mas me sinto vencedor por estar aqui e por ter passado tudo que passei, coisas que o público de fora não vê, mas quem está do meu lado sabe! A Vitória vai muito além de levantar o braço, a Vitória é construída através do caminho que vc percorreu pra chegar lá. Vc vence, se transforma e se fortalece na caminhada, e não com o resultado. Obrigado a TODOS que me acompanharam nessa jornada! Fiz muitos amigos e construí minha vida através das artes marciais. Ela me fez ser o homem que sou e me deu tudo que tenho. Até minha família construí através dela, afinal foi pelo ufc que conheci minha esposa e consequentemente tive meu maior tesouro. Em minha carreira tive 2 momentos de lesões graves, um foi a paralisia facial e outro, um acidente de moto com ligamentos e ossos quebrados. Ambos fui alertado em não poder mais voltar a lutar. DEUS me honrou e voltei! Nessa luta tive uma lesão no colateral e no fêmur, faltando 1 semana pra vir pra Singapura, mais uma vez meus médicos me alertaram sobre a possibilidade de não conseguir lutar. Mas não quis desistir e fui lutar! Entende que a vida de Atleta não é fácil? Não estou aqui dando desculpas, estou aqui mostrando que nunca desisti, independente do que me disseram. Isso não é ser vencedor? Sim, me sinto um campeão! Acredito que minha carreira foi consolidada e realizada por causa do meu treinador. Sempre me levantou, sempre me mostrou o caminho certo e sempre me deu confiança pra chegar onde cheguei. Garanto pra vcs, sem ele, eu NUNCA estaria aqui. De verdade? Me considero 100% realizado e não faria nada de diferente. Hj minha vontade de lutar não é mais a mesma, portanto decidi parar. Sempre deixei claro que não dependo da luta financeiramente, pois através dela, construí coisas que me deixam ter uma vida boa. Sou grato por poder pendurar as luvas com 30 anos e saber que de uma forma ou de outra, o meu nome ficará na história do ufc. (Continuação comentários)

A post shared by Felipe "Sertanejo" UFC (@sertanejoufc) on Jun 26, 2018 at 3:53pm PDT