Charles Byrd Announces Retirement Following UFC 250 Defeat

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UFC middleweight Charles Byrd is hanging up his four-ounce gloves.

The Fortis MMA product announced his decision following a second-round technical knockout loss to Maki Pitolo at UFC 250, his third consecutive defeat within the Las Vegas-based promotion.

“I’ve never been afraid to fail or try,”Byrd wrote on Facebook. “Never thought I’d say this at this moment but I’m ok and accepting that sometimes things in life don’t go as expected. Mentally and physically prepared for this bout. But the outcome didn’t go my way.

“I’m ready to explore that next chapter and path God has for me. I appreciate the love and support from everyone friends and family through this journey I call my fight career. Achieved many great things for myself and developed a lot of memories. But time waits for no man. So with that said I’m officially done with fighting.”

After posting a pair of victories on Dana White’s Contender Series, Byrd began his Octagon tenure with a submission of John Phillips in his debut at UFC Fight Night 127 in March 2018. However, “Kid Dynamite” would drop successive bouts against Darren Stewart, Edmen Shahbazyan and Pitolo — all via technical knockout.

The 36-year-old Plano, Texas, native finishes his career with a 10-7 mark.