UFC heavyweight Soa Palelei retires from MMA

Jason Silva-USA TODAY SportsUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight and longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Soa Palelei has called it a career, announcing on twitter that his technical knockout loss to Antonio Silva at UFC 190 last August in Brazil, would be his final appearance inside the Octagon.

His words:

I want to take an opportunity to officially announce my retirement from the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Thank you to the UFC, Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Joe Silva for giving me a second chance to fight for the organization. I've had a great time, but feel it's time to focus on my family and other career interests. After several months of thought and discussion with…