Former UFC fighter Felice Herrig, 39, has formally retired from fight sports activities competitors. “Lil’ Bulldog’s” announcement got here Friday afternoon and simply seven months after her final struggle, when she defeated Nekah Dmitriyeva in a boxing bout in July 2023.
Herrig retired from MMA in 2022 after dropping to Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Vegas 56, however then it was introduced that she had signed to Naked Knuckle Preventing Championship. Though she by no means competed for BKFC, Herrig continued to coach after which had the boxing competitors final summer season.
She was a pioneer in ladies’s MMA, competing in a number of fight sports activities for varied promotions earlier than changing into a star on the Final Fighter Season 20.
“Man what an honor,” Herrig wrote on Instagram.“After 20 years of competing in fight sports activities. Competing professionally In boxing , kickboxing , Muay Thai and mma. I’ve formally determined to retire.
“I’ve so many fond recollections of this sport. From competing on the primary All feminine combating actuality present , Combat Women to the primary all feminine season of #theultimatefighter
I’ve fought in Thailand and Japan. Competed in Chuck Norris’s World fight league.
“Racked up varied kickboxing and Muay Thai titles. Hosted my very own television present and was part of the primary online game to function feminine mma fighters.
“I used to be fortunate sufficient to be part of the primary set of feminine strawweights to ever compete within the UFC
“I’ve met so many superb individuals alongside the way in which and it’s been a wonderful factor watching this sport develop a lot for ladies. Particularly since after I first began individuals all the time advised me I had no future on this sport. Promotors by no means even needed to place ladies on their struggle playing cards as a result of they thought it was some sort of freak present.
“This choice didn’t come flippantly. After deciding to retire from mma I had hopes of ending off my profession with my first real love of boxing
“Nevertheless, My physique simply retains saying “ No” as a lot as I really like coaching exhausting and am in a position to get by means of practices , my physique simply doesn’t get well from it. I used to be continually sick and spending any and all of my further time simply recovering for the subsequent coaching session.“Probably not dwelling my life. I’ve paid my dues on this sport and I don’t need to proceed to be depressing from it any longer.
“Earlier than deciding to name it quits I took just a few months off of coaching to see how my physique would react and it really feels superb. I’ve not been sick and I’m not in ache and drained each day.I’ve determined to take heed to my physique and benefit from the life I’ve labored so exhausting to get.
“I’m formally retiring at Combat # 55”
