At 31 years old, Sam Stout revealed that he is ready to hang the gloves.
During the recent UFC Fight Night 74 event, Stout got knocked out for the third time, completing a first time ever three-fight losing streak in his mma career. When asked about why he was getting knocked out in the last few fights considering that it has never happened to him during his entire career, he simply said that he just cannot take the punches like used to.
In a recent interview, Stout admitted that he is already looking into retiring once and for all if he still gets knocked out on his fight in Saskatchewan.
“It wasn’t something I was really dwelling on, it wasn’t something I was spending too much time thinking about and letting it get into my head. But I had told myself…if I get knocked out by Frankie Perez, who’s a tough kid but he’s not really a stand-up guy, not known for being a knockout artist, he’s more of a submission guy — I was like, if I lose this one, that’s three in a row and I’m going to hang them up. So, by the time came back to the back room I already knew that my career was over,” he said.
Stout has ended his career with a final mma record of 20-12-1. In the UFC, he had a final record of 9-11. Stout’s career had several great moments like one of his favorite, winning over Joe Lauzon by unanimous decision back in UFC 108. He also won two out of three big fights with Spencer Fisher.
The UFC veteran also had seven different big bonuses during his career in the UFC for nine years. Stout admitted that he wished he didn’t spend the money he got, but not like the other fighters, Stout decided to use the money and invest on something. He also said that he wished there was some kind of program that will help fighters adjust when they decide to leave the sport.
“Well, of course I wish that, you know it’s a difficult path and luckily I was smart enough not to just blow through all those fight of the night checks and all that. I got hooked up with some of the right people to take care of my finances and help me out with that stuff. But, yeah it would be nice if there was a little more help. And you know, they do the UFC, the fighter summit and they talk to us all about that. But for a lot of guys that goes in one ear and out the other. I think as more guys start retiring, you’re going to see a lot of them that are in the Allen Iverson type of situation, where they’re flat broke. You’re going to see former athletes, guys that people used to look up to, working at diners, you know, barely able to make ends meet,” he said.
“But, I don’t know. It’s a hard thing to talk about, and I’m not going to complain after the fact that I didn’t make enough money, that I didn’t get this or I didn’t get that. I’m not that type of person. But yeah, it would definitely be nice if there was something for after. Because I’m 31 years old, and I kind of stopped my education and stopped what could have been, I could have been 10 years as a paramedic with a pension and benefits and medical benefits and dental benefits for my daughter here. And now I have none of those things. I don’t regret my time in the UFC at all, it’s the opposite in fact. But yeah, it would be nice if there was something to kind help you transition out,” Stout added.