Gian Villante announces he will retire following fight at UFC 268
Heading into the 31st fight of his professional career, UFC heavyweight Gian Villante will be calling it an end to his career after UFC 268 this weekend. Coming in on a two-fight skid, Villante will have an opportunity to go out with a victory in his backyard of New York. Speaking to Mark LaMonica of Newsday, the 36-year old native New Yorker opened up on his decision to retire after a 10-year career in the UFC.
“Too much of this stuff, man, I’ve been in the UFC for almost 10 years now. So I mean, that’s long enough. And that’s more than most guys so I’m proud of myself. I lasted that long, but you know, it takes a toll.” (H/T Newsday)
A mainstay among heavyweights for his entire career, Villante has also been known for his entertaining personality outside of the cage and inside, which has led him to rack up three Fight of the Night bonuses throughout his tenure with the promotion. Villante would tell Newsday that he always made it a point to go out and put on a show for the fans.
“I’ve lasted a long time, been able to stay in their good graces by taking a lot of punches and being entertaining when I go in there, I could go and wrestle guys and lay on them and be a boring fighter, but that’s not who I am. I like to go out there and slug and have fun and that in turn has given me a 10-year career where I thrived, made a little bit of decent money here, enjoyed myself a lot and enjoyed the whole ride every second of the way. (H/T Newsday)”
