Bellator tourney finalist Brent Weedman retires

Brent Weedman, who competed in five Bellator MMA tournaments, has retired from the sport, his management team today announced.

The 29-year-old Kentucky native concludes his eight-year pro career with a 22-9-1 record, including an 8-4 mark in Bellator, where he’s fought exclusively since early 2010. Nineteen of his 22 career wins came via stoppage.

According to representatives from Sucker Punch Entertainment, which reps Weedman, the fighter plans to focus on his family and post-fighting career.

Today’s statement:

We are sad to announce that @BellatorMMA standout @brent_weedman is retiring from MMA. Brent called us over the holidays to let us know this was a hard decision for him and he is very grateful for all the opportunities he has had along the way. With the latest addition to his family, Brent wants to simply focus on being a dad, husband and his post fight career. It has been a pleasure working with Brent and watching him climb the ranks in Bellator. We look forward to what the future holds for Brent and his family and wish them all the best! You will always have a home at SP if you decide to come back Brent! Cheers!

Weedman faced many of Bellator’s top lightweights and welterweights during his run in the organization. Notable wins came over the likes of Marius Zaromskis, Dan Hornbuckle and J.J. Ambrose (as well as Douglas Lima in 2008 prior to the start of his Bellator career).

The fighter, a lifelong martial artist, competed in five Bellator tourneys, but a title proved elusive. The closest he came to winning one was in 2012, when he suffered a decision loss to Rick Hawn in the Season 6 lightweight final. In his most recent and final pro bout, which was part of the Season 9 welterweight tournament, he suffered a decision loss while trying to avenge the first Hawn defeat.

Back in October, Weedman talked to MMA about being an “armchair science fan” and devoted father, and how the latter was his primary focus in life.

“I’m not a fighter, I’m a father,” he said. “I know it’s cliche, but that’s all that really matters. The mark I make on the world will be as a father.”