Another legend of mixed martial arts has decided to hang up the gloves. On Friday, former PRIDE, UFC and Bellator heavyweight star Mirko Cro Cop announced that he’s ending his fighting career. Cro Cop explained that he is ending his fighting career because he suffered a stroke shortly after his last fight, a decision defeat of Roy Nelson, and that he can no longer withstand damage to the head.

Mirko Cro Cop made this announcement on Dnevnik Nove TV in his native Croatia.

“It’s over, I hope I’m not going to cry, but that’s the inevitable retirement,” an emotional Cro Cop explained (via Google Translate).

“I had a stroke, bleeding in the brain, and I came out of the hospital today and that’s why I wanted to come here to see people feel good, I had an unbelievable luck in the accident…

“Now I have to fight for life.”

While some MMA retirements tend to be short-lived, Mirko Cro Cop assured his retirement will be permanent, because he simply has no choice.

“I will never enter the ring again, I can not let someone hit me, I have to have a control magnet to do in three months, after that I will train again, boxing bags, and there is no such thing as a fight.

“I will never go to fight again.”

What was your favorite moment from the legendary career of Mirko Cro Cop?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 3/1/2019.