Mark Munoz will retire after his upcoming fight in the Philippines
UFC middleweight Mark Munoz will officially retire from mixed martial arts competition after his next fight on May 16 in the Philippines against Luke Barnatt.
Munoz -- who is known as "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" -- has long dreamed of fighting in his native country, and now he'll get the chance to do it in the UFC's inaugural show in the country.
The matchup with Barnatt comes less than three months after suffering his third straight defeat inside the Octagon, which accounts for the worst run in Munoz's MMA career.
With obligations as a coach, motivational speaker and family man starting to compound his days, Munoz believes this is the best time to call it a career and focus on other parts of his life away from fighting.
"This will be my last fight," Munoz said this week in Manila. "My kids came up to me, and my son especially, and he said, 'Dad, I really want to be a champion in wrestling,' and just like all Filipinos, I want to be with my family.
"I really want to be there for my family, so this will be my last fight."
Munoz was long considered one of the top 10 fighters in the world at 185 pounds, but he was never able to reach the peak of the sport and actually compete for a title in either the WEC or the UFC, where he spent most of his career.
Recent struggles put Munoz on a 1-4 skid over five fights, and with a knockout and two submission finishes in his last three losses, it appeared the writing was on the wall for the former NCAA wrestling champion.
Still, Munoz wanted to go out on his own terms, and there was no better way than to fight in the Philippines, which has long been a dream of his.
"I'm going to go out and fight for my people," Munoz said. "This is what I've been waiting for. This is a chance of a lifetime, and I'm not going to miss it."
Munoz faces Barnatt as part of the UFC's upcoming debut card in Manila headlined by former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar taking on Urijah Faber in a featured bout at 145 pounds.