MMA fighter Stevie Ray announces his retirement for the second time in his 13-year career, following a recent TKO loss to Clay Collard.
Stevie Ray has decided to retire from fighting for the second time in his 13-year career. The announcement comes shortly after his TKO loss to Clay Collard at PFL 6 this past Friday, marking his third consecutive loss. Ray has competed professionally since 2010 and shared his decision to retire on Instagram, stating, “Fourteen years of service done. Time to pass on my knowledge and experience.”
Ray’s loss to Collard was his third straight, making him go 0-2 in the 2023 PFL regular season and failing to qualify for the playoffs. The 33-year-old Scotsman had a 2-4 record inside the PFL cage, with his two wins coming over former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. Ray reached the finals of the 2022 lightweight tournament but lost via second-round knockout to Olivier Aubin-Mercier. Before his time at PFL, Ray competed for the UFC, where he compiled a 7-4 record, including notable wins over Michael Johnson, Joe Lauzon, and Ross Pearson.
After his win over Johnson in October 2019, Ray announced his retirement due to knee issues and took a step away from competition. He eventually returned to compete for the PFL in 2022. His bout with Collard took place on June 23, 2023, almost 13 years after his pro debut on June 27, 2010. He gained prominence as a two-time lightweight champion in Cage Warriors, with the English promotion paying tribute to Ray following his retirement announcement. Ray finishes his career with a 25-13 record.