And it seemed like just yesterday we were talking about Nick Thompson and his quirky Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley picks. Actually, it was the day before yesterday but unfortunately there isn’t a term for it. ‘Beforerday’ seems to be appropriate, but it will just be laughed out of the English language by all the other words.
Last night Nick Thompson fought Ben Askren at Bellator 40 and was unanimously defeated by MiddleEasy Frate Trane member, Ben Askren. This morning, Nick Thompson signed on to The UG to announce his retirement — and here it is.
I have fought many great fighters, even beating a few along the way. In all those fights, I have never felt as frustrated as I felt tonight. Ben Askren is truly a great wrestler/grappler and I look forward to seeing him develop in the sport. I have been a fan of Ben’s since I knew him in high school and am appreciative that Bellator provided me an opportunity for my last fight to be against a fighter for whom I have such tremendous respect.
I love this sport and all that it has given to me and it is with a mix of joy and sadness that I realize that I am no longer willing to pay the price necessary to compete at the level I expect from myself – the level of guys like Ben, Weedman and Heiron. I have reached a point where it is more important to me to spend time at home with my daughter and wife, who have been great about me competing, and focus on developing my law career at O’Flaherty Heim Egan & Birnbaum LTD, which has also been great about me competing. I am grateful for the many wonderful people who supported me and those I met in mixed martial arts, fans and fighters, and am hopeful that I can give something back to the sport I love by coaching and/or representing the next crop of mixed martial arts superstars.
Thank you!
If you want to continue to see Nick Thompson inside the cage, just pop in your local copy of EA Sports MMA. He’s in there along with some guy named named ‘Massimo Money’. Strange. [Source]
