Alessio Di Chirico Announces Retirement Following UFC Paris Defeat

Italian middleweight Alessio Di Chirico is calling it a career.

Di Chirico announced his retirement via social media on the heels of a third-round knockout loss to Roman Kopylov at UFC Fight Night 209 at Accor Arena in Paris this past Saturday. The 32-year-old known as “Manzo” has lost five of his last six appearances within the Las Vegas-based promotion.

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“I can't think of how much I have made all the people who love me suffer, and even all those who simply believe in me,” he wrote (text translated from Italian via Google Translate). “I feel that the time has come to hang up the gloves. I know it's a tipping point, I know I'll miss it like crazy in a few years. But now there are more reasons that tell me to stop than to continue. Thank you very much for being close to me in this last battle.”

Di Chirico added that he plans to remain involved in combat sports even as he exits MMA as an active competitor. The Gloria Fight Center representative compiled a 13-7 record over the course of a professional tenure that began in 2011. He started 9-0 on the regional circuit before going 4-7 in UFC competition, earning wins over Joaquin Buckley, Julian Marquez, Oluwale Bamgbose and Garreth McLellan.

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