UFC Veteran Rick Story Announces Retirement Following 31-Bout Pro Career

“To all my fans, friends and supporters, thank you.” pic.twitter.com/mAumWDNB8q

— Rick (@Rick_Story) November 8, 2018

Ultimate Fighting Championship and Professional Fighters League veteran Rick Story has closed the book on a lengthy career at the age of 34.

“The Horror” posted his decision on social media Thursday, opting to call it a career following his injury loss at PFL 10 on Oct. 20.

“I am writing this to announce my retirement from professional mixed martial arts,” Story wrote. “It’s been a career with significant highs and lows, through the good and bad times, my goals were what drove me and the fans were always my inspiration, for this I thank all of you.”

During his time with the UFC, he maintained a solid record of 12-7. Winner of three of his last four bouts with the promotion, he topped fighters including Gunnar Nelson and Tarec Saffiedine in that stretch. One of only eight welterweights to ever achieve this feat, Story earned rare double bonuses when he tapped out Brian Foster at UFC 103 in 2009, picking up both “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” honors for his work. The 19-fight UFC veteran left the organization despite them offering him an extension, choosing to sign with PFL to pursue the million dollar prize in their inaugural welterweight tournament.

Story participated in the PFL’s 2018 Welterweight Tournament, where the MMA Lab standout qualified for the tournament with victories over Yuri Villefort and Carlton Minus to earn the No. 4 seed. However, he lost in the quarterfinals to Handesson Ferreira due to an arm injury.

The durable Story was only stopped with strikes once, by Donald Cerrone, and was only submitted once, by Demian Maia, in his near-11 year career.

“To my friends, family and other who have supported me along this journey, I thank you for always being there, and for showing me that there is more to life after fighting. It’s time for me to turn my own page. I look forward to what the future holds, and I cannot wait,” explained Story.

Story ends a career that began in 2007 with a record of 21-10. After making his UFC debut in 2009 with a decision loss to John Hathaway, Story rattled off six straight wins and went undefeated at 4-0 in 2010, dispatching the likes of Johny Hendricks, Thiago Alves and Dustin Hazelett. Story also holds wins over Jake Ellenberger and Ryan Healy prior to joining the UFC.