Bellator Welterweight Brent Weedman Retires at 29

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Bellator welterweight talent Brent Weedman has retired from active competition.

SuckerPunch Entertainment, the fighter’s management company, announced the 29-year-old’s decision on Thursday in a statement released through Facebook:

“We are sad to announce that Bellator MMA standout Brent Weedman is retiring from MMA. Brent called us over the holidays to let us know this was a hard decision for him and he is very grateful for all the opportunities he has had along the way. With the latest addition to his family, Brent wants to simply focus on being a dad [and] husband, [as well as] his post-fight career. It has been a pleasure working with Brent and watching him climb the ranks in Bellator. We look forward to what the future holds for Brent and his family and wish them all the best! You will always have a home at [SuckerPunch] if you decide to come back, Brent!”

Weedman began his career on the local circuit and signed with Bellator in 2010, falling to Jay Hieron in the promotion’s Season 4 welterweight tournament. Following a loss in the Season 5 quarterfinals, Weedman then cut to 155 pounds and entered the Season 6 lightweight draw, fighting his way to the final before dropping a unanimous decision to Rick Hawn. Weedman returned to welterweight this year for his final tourney run, advancing to the Season 9 semifinals before once again coming up short against Hawn this past October.

Weedman exits the cage after eight years of competition that saw him compile a 22-9-1 pro record. The Kentucky native earned 19 of his victories by either knockout or submission and was stopped just twice in 32 career outings.