France’s Tom Duquesnoy is widely considered one of the UFC’s top 135-pound rising stars.

On Sunday morning, the French bantamweight took to Instagram to announce his retirement from mixed martial arts.

His statement read as follows:

” The MMA has been for me THE school of life with travels and encounters all over the world, and most importantly, the opportunity to discover myself as a person. Today I decide to go on a different path that attracts me a lot more and that takes me a big part of my energy. My new activities are such that I can not be fully devoted to high level training. I respect that sport too well to engage in « half-hearted » and that is why I am at a crossroads where it is essential for me to focus on what passionates me the most. It is also the result of a long introspection that was not simple since it was my childhood dream to fight in UFC, I who watched the UFC’s since the age of twelve and who did everything, these last ten years, in order this dream to materialize. This decision is good for me and comes from deep inside my heart.

I announce my official retirement as a MMA fighter.
I am already happy to feel your support in this new chapter of life dedicated as you know, to the teaching of the MMA technics but ABOVE ALL, the spiritual aspect of the martial arts and the inner quest. And that is on that path that you are all WELCOME and I invite you to follow the continuation of my journey. A continuation where we will be able to meet more than ever.
I take this opportunity to THANK FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART all the people that have illuminate my path, to have made this journey so dense in understandings and human values.

Thank you to everyone 💙”

Duquesnoy, 25, compiled a 2-1 in the UFC over three fights dating back to April of 2017. In his UFC debut, Duquesnoy TKO’d Patrick Williams with an elbow-punch combination. His sophomore outing saw him lose a closely contested split decision to now-ranked UFC bantamweight Cody Stamann.

The Frenchman last competed in March of 2018, defeating Terrion Ware via unanimous decision.

Prior to signing with the UFC, “The Fire Kid” won multiple belts for esteemed United Kingdom promotion BAMMA–holding the 135-pound and 145-pound straps.

See this surprising announcement from Tom Duquesnoy below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxXktOeHr4u/

Congratulations to Tom Duquesnoy on an incredible career!

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 5/12/2019.