Vinc “From Hell” Pichel is done fighting.
The 42-year-old Californian MMA vet confirmed this week that he’s leaving the sport, ending a UFC run which transcended eras for the promotion.
Pichel announced his retirement on social media, commenting that “I’m sad, I’m excited, I’m afraid. I’m grateful to everyone who was with me or part of my MMA career.”
Big opportunities emerged early in Pichel’s MMA career, just after he picked up seven wins on the U.S. regional scene. By 2012, three years after his debut, Pichel appeared on Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” After winning his first three fights in the house, he was eliminated by Al Iaquinta.
Pichel became one of the few “TUF” talents to get signed despite not winning the reality show’s tournament. After losing his promotional debut to Russia’s Rustam Khabilov, he would go on to win seven of his next eight, getting past names like Joaquim Silva, Anthony Njokuani, and Jim Miller.
Injuries became a major part of Pichel’s career, causing major time gaps in his fight record. Despite being in the UFC for over a decade, constant setbacks and numerous cancelled fights meant that he only appeared a total of 12 times. Nonetheless, he has a longevity in the promotion that outlasts the average fighter’s stint.
Pichel’s time with the promotion came to an end after a trio of decision losses, most recently dropping a decision to Rafa Garcia in March.
“As I walk away I’ll leave you with this,” he said on Instagram. “Do what feels right, don’t apologize for being you, learn what you can from who you can, no regret’s and most importantly, HAVE FUN!”
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