BREAKING: UFC Veteran Announces Shocking Retirement: "MMA Is A Demanding Sport"

Happy trails to this UFC veteran.

Fans didn't see this UFC fighter hanging up the gloves quite yet, but that's exactly what has happened.

In the sport of MMA, we're used to seeing fighters not knowing when enough is enough. Legendary competitors such as Chuck Liddell have been brutally knocked out well past their primes. Some fighters such as Andre Arlovski fight beyond their best years, but at least remain competitive in spots.

In this case, it appears one UFC athlete knew when the time was right.

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Mark Madsen, who once had an unbeaten record of 12-0 with half of those victories ending in a finish, has announced his decision to walk away from pro MMA competition. Madsen suffered his first pro MMA loss to Grant Dawson via submission and was then stopped by Jared Gordon via TKO.

Mark Madsen has his hand raised following a UFC win / (via Zuffa LLC)

Here's what Madsen told Ekstra Bladet on his decision to retire.

"The time is right," Madsen said. "I am full and look back on a career in an elite sport that I am very proud of. The sport has shaped me as a person and I am grateful for everything it has given me and my family."

Madsen also issued a statement on his Instagram account saying, "MMA is a demanding sport," and he'd like to save his body.

Most times, a fighter doesn't just walk away after suffering the first two losses of their career, but this situation is different. Madsen, an Olympic silver medalist, is 39 years old. With the sport of MMA getting younger and faster by the minute, Madsen is ready to move on.

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