Evan Dunham Plans to Retire Following UFC Fight Night Sao Paulo on Sept. 22

After he faces Francisco Trinaldo at UFC Fight Night 137, Evan Dunham plans to retire from mixed martial arts “with my head held high.”

The veteran UFC lightweight revealed his plans in an Instagram post on Monday. The 36-year-old Xtreme Couture product has compiled an 11-7-1 mark since beginning his tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion in 2009. Dunham currently owns an 18-7-1 professional record overall.

“Sept. 22 will be my last fight. I can retire from the sport that I love with my head held high,” Dunham wrote. “I know that I never held anything back while in the cage and Sept. 22 will be no different. My goals and priorities have shifted throughout the years and I am ready to concentrate on building my gym, as well as any new opportunities that come my way. I have gone toe-to-toe with many of the world’s best competitors and I am truly grateful for this.”

While Dunham will be leaving MMA, he plans to stay involved in combat sports as a coach and competitor in jiu-jitsu.

My passion for jiu-jitsu will continue to be a driving force in my gym and at select jiu-jitsu competitions,” he wrote. “I want to thank my family, friends and fans for all of your support throughout the years.”

UFC Fight Night 137 takes place at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 22 and is headlined by a clash between Jimi Manuwa and Thiago Santos. The card will be televised on Fox Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

September 22 will be my last fight. I can retire from the sport that I love with my head held high. I know that I never held anything back while in the cage and September 22 will be no different. My goals and priorities have shifted throughout the years and I am ready to concentrate on building my gym, as well as any new opportunities that come my way. I have gone toe 2 toe with many of the worlds best competitors and I am truly grateful for this. My passion for Jiu Jitsu will continue to be a driving force in my gym and at select Jiu Jitsu competitions. I want to thank my family, friends and fans for all of your support throughout the years.

A post shared by DunhamJiuJitsu (@dunhamjiujitsu) on Aug 20, 2018 at 2:25pm PDT