Muñoz retires with a bang
Mark Muñoz ended his mixed martial arts career the way he started it – with a smashing victory.
Living up to his monicker “The Filipino Wrecking Machine,” Muñoz recalled his fierce form and overpowered a bigger, younger Luke Barnatt to score a unanimous decision in the UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber that served as his farewell fight before an appreciative and adoring fans that packed the MOA Arena Saturday night.
Muñoz won in all three scorecards, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28, after bashing the Englishman with solid combinations, leaping ground punches and wrestling in the first-ever UFC card staged in the country and watched by 13,000-plus paying patrons.
When Muñoz’s name was announced as winner, the Californian fighter pounded his heart, pointed upwards and got a lift from Barnatt, who is 10 years younger and six inches taller.
He then took off his gloves for the last time, put it on the octagon’s mat, thanked UFC’s big bosses Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White and the organization and, with a 14-6 (win-loss) record, retired for good.
“We all have a story,” said the misty-eyed Muñoz. “And mixed martial arts has been a story of my career. You might get hit by unforeseen things. You might have cancer, you might have diabetes, but life doesn’t stop there.
“You get back up and you keep competing to the best of your ability. And that’s what my career is all about,” he added.
Muñoz, who also sold his gym in California, said he wants to give all his time to his family.
“I feel so good, to love what you do and do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work, and that’s fighting for me,” said Muñoz.
“But family is always the priority. I’m going out on my own terms. I don’t want to miss any more special moments with them. I’ve had an amazing career. The UFC has given me so much and I’m very fortunate,” he added.
Another Fil-Am Philipe Nover also won his match, pulling off a split decision over Korean Yui Chul Nam.
The pair of wins made up for defeats of local bets Mark Eddiva and Roldan Sangcha-an, who succumbed to Levan Makashvili and Guam’s Jon delos Reyes, respectively.