Former UFC Lightweight Holst to Retire
Mike Whitman Jan 15, 2011
Former UFC lightweight Mark Holst
announced on Saturday that his fight on Jan. 28 at a Wreck MMA
event in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, will be his last.
“Boots” informed his fans on his Web site that he would be retiring from professional MMA in order to “take a step back and work on my weaknesses.” The Ontario native has plans to compete in four Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments in 2011 and also has a trip to Thailand in mind in order to fight professional muay Thai.
His long-term strategy, however, does not involve fighting in a ring or a cage.
“Another big announcement is that I will be opening a martial arts academy. I think this is a smart move that will allow me to improve and expand my knowledge in martial arts,” he wrote. “Ever since I started martial arts at 15 years old, I always had a plan: train, fight, go as far as I can in the fight game and open a gym.”
After winning three straight contests, including a submission victory over UFC veteran Corey Hill, Holst made his Octagon debut at “The Ultimate Fighter 11” Finale in June. Stepping in for Paul Taylor, who was not medically cleared to fight due to complications with his weight cut, Holst was controlled for the majority of the contest and lost a clear-cut unanimous decision to John Gunderson. His sophomore UFC effort proved even more disappointing, as he succumbed to a Paul Sass triangle choke at UFC 120 in London. Holst’s final fight will go down at the Casino de Lac-Leamy against King of the Cage veteran Markhaile Wedderburn.
“Boots” informed his fans on his Web site that he would be retiring from professional MMA in order to “take a step back and work on my weaknesses.” The Ontario native has plans to compete in four Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments in 2011 and also has a trip to Thailand in mind in order to fight professional muay Thai.
His long-term strategy, however, does not involve fighting in a ring or a cage.
“Another big announcement is that I will be opening a martial arts academy. I think this is a smart move that will allow me to improve and expand my knowledge in martial arts,” he wrote. “Ever since I started martial arts at 15 years old, I always had a plan: train, fight, go as far as I can in the fight game and open a gym.”
After winning three straight contests, including a submission victory over UFC veteran Corey Hill, Holst made his Octagon debut at “The Ultimate Fighter 11” Finale in June. Stepping in for Paul Taylor, who was not medically cleared to fight due to complications with his weight cut, Holst was controlled for the majority of the contest and lost a clear-cut unanimous decision to John Gunderson. His sophomore UFC effort proved even more disappointing, as he succumbed to a Paul Sass triangle choke at UFC 120 in London. Holst’s final fight will go down at the Casino de Lac-Leamy against King of the Cage veteran Markhaile Wedderburn.
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