-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
Welsh UFC star Jack Shore has announced his retirement from professional fighting after turning down a new deal from the UFC.
The 29-year-old from Abertillery is set to start a career in coaching, having decided to bow out from fighting on his own terms. He retires with a record of 17-3, with his final fight coming last month when he was defeated by Youssef Zalal in Canada.
In an emotional social media post, Shore wrote: “As what may come as a surprise to a few I’ve decided to hang up the gloves on my professional fighting career. After fighting out my contract and taking some time to think about what’s next it’s clear to me that my time with professional fighting is done.
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“Although I had the chance to re-sign with UFC, I’ve decided my time’s done. I want to thank the UFC for letting me live out my childhood dream of fighting for the worlds biggest organisation and against some of the best in the world, I’ve enjoyed every minute!
“From what started as a kid with a dream led me to amateur titles, world titles and living out my dream of fighting in the UFC,” he continued. “I can truly say for every single fight I gave the training and the fights my all, never said no, never asked questions just kept my head down, stayed true to myself and achieved more than I ever thought possible.
“For the entirety of my 20s fighting and training was my life and sole focus, however the last few weeks/months have showed this is no longer the case. I always promised myself when I was mentality [sic] checked out I would retire from the sport rather than the sport retire me.
“Injuries have caught up with me after a lifetime in the sport. I’m leaving with my mental health in check, good health, financially stable and am fully ready to move onto the future.”
In the post, Shore thanked his fiancée Kaydie, son Fraser, mother, sister and the Shore Mixed Martial Arts ‘family’, saying that he owes “every bit of success I’ve had inside the cage… to my incredible coaches”. He also praised his father Richard for helping to make “a chubby 12-year-old believe in himself and [convince] him to always chase his dreams, work hard and be proud of who I am.”
“The world-class coaching he has giving me for over 20 years has helped me reach things in this sport than people only dream of,” Shore wrote. “But, most importantly, he always remained my dad first and has always been there for and loved his son as well as his fighter. I would not be who I am or achieved a fraction of what I had if it wasn’t for this man.”
In response to his son’s announcement, Richard wrote on X: “It’s been a crazy journey, but my son has decided to retire on his own terms. I could not be prouder of him as a man and an athlete. He will join me full time with coaching the next generation of talent.”