Rich Franklin announces retirement

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          Cormier reflects on Franklin's retirement (0:55)

          • Brett OkamotoSep 28, 2015, 01:20 PM ET
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin announced his retirement Monday.

          Franklin, 40, hadn't fought since a knockout loss to Cung Le in November 2012, but he had spoken of his intention to fight one more time. Franklin said he had one fight remaining on his UFC contract.

          Now serving as the vice president of Asia-based promotion ONE Championship, Franklin wrote on The Players' Tribune that he had decided to forgo that last fight following a recent conversation with his mother. It brings to a close a professional career that began in 1999.

          "I decided I didn't want to announce 'retirement,' rather, I am announcing that I have closed one chapter of my life and begun another," Franklin wrote. "I am blessed to continue working in an industry I helped build. I will continue to do great things with ONE Championship."

          Fighting out of Cincinnati, Franklin (29-7) made 20 appearances in UFC, starting in 2003. He fought the majority of his career at middleweight and won the UFC title in June 2005 with a knockout victory against Evan Tanner. Franklin defended the 185-pound title twice before surrendering it to longtime middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva in October 2006.

          A former math teacher, Franklin became an ambassador for mixed martial arts during the early stages of the sport. Late in his career, he assumed a similar role for UFC, headlining events and promoting the brand in new global markets including Ireland, Germany, Brazil and China.

          Franklin holds notable wins over Tanner, Ken Shamrock, Nate Quarry, Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell. Other notable opponents include Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort and Forrest Griffin.

          He recorded finishes in 25 of his 29 career wins, including 17 knockouts.

          In his post on The Players' Tribune, a media platform founded by retired MLB player Derek Jeter, Franklin thanked his family, friends and coaches and acknowledged it was, from a physical standpoint, time to move on.

          "This comes at a time when I have to accept that I am no longer 25," he wrote. "The body has slowed down, and while ever so slightly, those fractions of a difference determine victory or defeat at the top level.

          "Many years ago, I was just a guy chasing his dream," Franklin added. "Today, I stand here humbled and appreciative of where that pursuit took me. God bless!"