France’s Duquesnoy retires at just 25 years old

One of the UFC’s best European prospects is calling it quits.

Tom Duquesnoy, just 25 years old, announced his retirement Sunday in an Instagram post to the surprise of most in the MMA world. Duquesnoy, a France native, had only lost once in the past six years and was 2-1 in the UFC.

Duquesnoy (16-2, 1 NC) wrote that due to “new activities” he could no longer devote himself to MMA training at a high level. He wrote that he respected MMA too much to do it “half-hearted.” Duquesnoy did not mention what his new ventures would entail.

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Dear friends, The MMA has been for me THE school of life with travels and encounters all over the world, and most importantly, the opportunity to discover myself as a person. Today I decide to go on a different path that attracts me a lot more and that takes me a big part of my energy. My new activities are such that I can not be fully devoted to high level training. I respect that sport too well to engage in « half-hearted » and that is why I am at a crossroads where it is essential for me to focus on what passionates me the most. It is also the result of a long introspection that was not simple since it was my childhood dream to fight in UFC, I who watched the UFC’s since the age of twelve and who did everything, these last ten years, in order this dream to materialize. This decision is good for me and comes from deep inside my heart. I announce my official retirement as a MMA fighter. I am already happy to feel your support in this new chapter of life dedicated as you know, to the teaching of the MMA technics but ABOVE ALL, the spiritual aspect of the martial arts and the inner quest. And that is on that path that you are all WELCOME and I invite you to follow the continuation of my journey. A continuation where we will be able to meet more than ever. I take this opportunity to THANK FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART all the people that have illuminate my path, to have made this journey so dense in understandings and human values. Thank you to everyone 💙

A post shared by Tom Duquesnoy (@tomfirekid) on May 12, 2019 at 8:57am PDT

“[My decision] is also the result of a long introspection that was not simple since it was my childhood dream to fight in UFC, I who watched the UFC’s since the age of [12] and who did everything, these last ten years, in order this dream to materialize,” Duquesnoy wrote. “This decision is good for me and comes from deep inside my heart.”

Duquesnoy last fought at UFC London in March 2018, a unanimous decision victory over Terrion Ware. “Fire Kid” is a former BAMMA featherweight and bantamweight champion. He had been competing at bantamweight in the UFC.

“I am already happy to feel your support in this new chapter of life dedicated as you know, to the teaching of the MMA [techniques] but ABOVE ALL, the spiritual aspect of the martial arts and the inner quest,” Duquesnoy wrote. “And that is on that path that you are all WELCOME and I invite you to follow the continuation of my journey. A continuation where we will be able to meet more than ever.”

Duquesnoy began training in mixed martial arts at the age of 12 under the tutelage of his father. He also spent time at Jackson Wink MMA in Albuquerque, N.M., training alongside the likes of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Duquesnoy’s decision to step away comes as his home country of France is on the verge of finally making MMA legal after a long regulatory battle.