Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos Announces Retirement From MMA

MMA

Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos has announced his retirement as a professional MMA fighter, he retires with a record of 21-18-0.

Cyborg decides that after suffering a fractured skull at the hands of Michael Page this past July, it wasn’t worth risking his health to compete anymore

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“I'm feeling really well, never felt anything (after the surgery), but I don’t think I will fight again,” Santos told MMA Fighting. “I don’t want to risk getting an aftereffect for the rest of my life and don’t be able to pass on my knowledge, and give work to my family.”

Cyborg accomplished many great things during his near forty fight MMA career, but he wants to be remembered for his dedication to the sport.

“The championship fights, my fights with Diaz and Melvin,” he states, "the knockouts over Gabriel Gladiador, my seven-second knockout over Silvio Urutum at Meca 7, the IVC 14 tournament with 16 heavyweights in Venezuela, and the 8-man tournaments I’ve fought were fights that marked my career. I want to be remembered as someone who dedicated his life to the sport he loves and always gave his best, and never picked opponents.”

Cyborg last competed at Bellator 158 this past July, where he was on the receiving end of a flying knee strike knockout from Michael Page. He is also the ex-husband of current Invicta Fighting Championships Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.

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