Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin Officially Announces Retirement

It’s official!!! Today is the day. I’m retired. http://t.co/hc6sx2m7WN

— Rich Franklin (@RichFranklin) September 28, 2015

Ending nearly three years of speculation about his future as a mixed martial artist, former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion Rich Franklin officially announced his retirement Monday morning via Twitter.

The 40-year-old competed in 37 professional fights and one amateur bout, and stepped away from the sport with a record of 29-7 with one no-contest.

Franklin debuted on the sport's biggest platform at UFC 42 and later took part on its historic “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 Finale card on April 9, 2005, which was the stage of Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar’s epic three-round war. The Cincinnati native’s final bout took place on Nov. 10, 2012 in a losing effort against Cung Le.

The Team Extreme product captured the UFC middleweight title with a fourth-round finish of Evan Tanner at UFC 53. He followed with two successful title defenses against Nate Quarry and David Loiseau before running into a buzzsaw in Anderson Silva.

Franklin, who now holds an executive position with One Championship, compiled an 11-6 record with the UFC.

* Editor's note: This item was updated at 1:30 p.m. ET to correct a fact error. Franklin debuted at UFC 42, not the TUF 1 Finale.