Dubbo-born UFC fighter Kyle Noke has decided to retire following his loss at UFC Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
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The defeat, via a unanimous decision, was 36-year-old Noke’s third straight loss in the octagon.
His career comes to an end with a record of 10 wins from 23 fights.
“Thank you to the @ufc and all the fans,” he tweeted on Sunday afternoon.
“It's time to hang up the gloves. I’ve had a blessed life doing what I love. I wouldn't change a thing.”
Noke was defeated by the powerful Omari Akhmedov at in a weltereight contest at UFC Melbourne, with the judges handing the Russian a 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 victory.
Akhmedov had the ascendancy for much of the bout but Noke had his moments, namely at the start of the second round where he landed a body kick before just grazing his opponent with a head kick that would surely have done damage if it had connected.
Noke had to chase the fight in the final round but Akhmedov wouldn’t let him have it and the Russian produced a takedown late on and controlled the final moments.
With his career now at an end, Noke will be able to look back on some standout achievements.
Noke made his MMA debut in Australia in November 2002 and fought around Australia on his way to making his record 13-3-1.
He then debuted in America in 2007 before participating in the UFC reality show The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), where he was chosen on Team Ortiz in 2010.
He made his UFC debut that year and scored a second round win via TKO over TUF teammate Josh Bryant.
Also early in his career, he scored an impressive win over Chris Camozzi, when he executed a rear-naked choke hold in the opening round to record victory and also be awarded submission of the night at UFC 127.
In 2013 Noke coached for The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia, opposite Patrick Cote. The reality show featured welterweights and middleweights and the coaches faced each other in 2014 at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale. Noke lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In November of last year he fought at UFC 193 at Melbourne and defeated Peter Sobotta via TKO courtesy of a brutal body kick to the ribs.
This year, Noke lost, somewhat controversially, in January to Alex Morono and then he was defeated again in July in a fight against Keita Nakamura.
During a rare trip home to Dubbo last year, Noke told the Daily Liberal his passion for competing came from his time at home growing up.
“I always did a little bit, I did a little bit of boxing with Graham Wallace down at the PCYC and Taekwondo but my main influence when I was growing up was my older brother, Nelson, I guess he was my first coach,” he said at the time.
“We used to watch a lot of movies and then go in the front yard and practice the moves and he’d put the gloves on and make us box so he was my biggest influence and the reason I started fighting.”