PFL boss Ray Sefo officially retires from combat sports

Ray Sefo appeared recently on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour and announced his retirement from combat sports. The president of fight operations for the Professional Fighters League is a veteran of over 100 bouts, between kickboxing, boxing, and MMA. Sefo, 47, holds wins under K-1 rules vs. Peter Aerts, Mark Hunt, Jerome Le Banner, and Mike Bernardo across a career that ran from 1995 to 2012.

He holds a 2-2 record in MMA, most recently losing to Dave Huckaba via TKO at WSOF 4, on August 10, 2013. He was president of SWOF at the time; the promotion later rebranded as the PFL, with massive financial backing.

If I didn’t fight again by May of this year, especially when the season starts, there’s just no time to put in a camp, said Sefo, as transcribed by MMA Fighting. I thought come May, if nothing happens, then I’m done.

I thank God every day that I get to do what I love to do and what I’m passionate about. …. Back then I never really saw myself sitting here. But I can tell you that I thank the good lord every day that I do what I do.

When asked about his favorite fight, Hunt replied, Every single one. He did reference a legendary bout, however.

The one that sticks out is Mark Hunt, said Sefo. Everybody talks about that fight.

You can see why in seconds:

In addition to running the PFL, Sefo also coaches at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, and will doubtless continue to move from success to success.