Matt Serra walking away from MMA after health scare

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not surprising at all really. Get better Matt.

One of my all-time favorite fighters.  I hope he makes a quick recovery.  I also think he's making the right decision to walk away now.  I'll never forget the week I had training with him out in Long Island.  He got me hooked on BJJ.  Great guy, awesome personality. 

Not really surprising he walked away as he hasn't fought in years.

Sherk should do the same Carwin and Serra have done.

Although I'm not sure if he's injured or not, but with such a long layoff, it's probably best for him to retire.

He was holding out for New York, but realized it wouldn't happen. He is a great coach and will continue to excel with team Serra-Longo.

Matt Serra is one of those fighters that many love him or hate him. There is no in between. Personally, I always liked him as a person, and enjoyed watching his fights. A good majority of his fights made for some great highlight reels either for Serra (finishing GSP and knocking down Karo Paryisian are a couple of examples) or against him (spinning backfist KO at the hands of Shonie Carter and his 2nd epic fight with Chris Lytle).

Though he doesn't usually get the credit for it, he was actually one of the first mixed martial artists that brought more than just one style to the cage. Known best for being a BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie and his tenacity, Matt Serra was not noted for his stand-up skills until the upset heard around the world against GSP. Fact is, Matt Serra was one of the first fighters to stand and trade with BJ Penn and actually rocked BJ Penn in a fight that many people feel that Matt Serra won the fight, and is also one of my favorite fights.

Though Serra may not leave behind a dominant legacy, or be known as one of the greatest fighters of all time, he is responsible for one of the greatest, if not thee greatest upsets of all time, and he has trained and worked with some of the greatest fighters of all time, and some future stars (Chris Weidman and Costa Phillipou are a couple that come to mind) that I'm sure we'll hear of very soon (if we haven't already) and/or one day see them as a UFC Champion and/or in the UFC Hall Of Fame.

Along with BJ Penn, Matt Hughes, Caol Uno, Jens Pulver, Pat Miletich, Carlos Newton, and Mikey Burnett, Serra is one of the pioneers who helped propel the UFC Welterweight and Lightweight divisions into the limelight.

I hope that Matt Serra makes a quick and full recovery. I would always love to see him in the cage fighting, but if that doesn't happen again, I'd still love to see him cageside, screaming out tactics at whichever fighter he is cornering. Get well soon Matt!!!!!

"Matt Serra is one of those fighters that many love him or hate him. There is no in between. Personally, I always liked him.."



......................

@ jaffacakehero - Everybody that I've ever heard talk about Matt Serra, they're either a fan of his or a hater. I've never heard anybody say that Serra is ok, or decent, or anything like that. I don't know how else to explain it, other than that they love him or hate him. Personally, I'm a fan of Matt Serra and enjoyed watching him fight.

* Edited at 05.22.2013, 3:19 PM ET *

Matt Serra is one of those fighters you have to like after seeing just one interview with the guy.


War Serra, all the best...

@ dielegende23 - Love that picture!!!! Thumbs up!!!! That's how I became a fan of Serra. Listening to his first interview in the UFC, I was like........."Dude this guy is ******* awesome!!!!!"

I always liked Serra, at some point (probably when he KO´d GSP) he was one of my favortie fighters, but I walyas felt he could´ve accomplished more than what he did not to minimize his achievments but I think he still had untapped potential. I hope he gets better soon and  he keeps doing good with his schools, the world needs more grapplers

* Edited at 05.22.2013, 3:30 PM ET *

I've always been a big Matt Serra fan. IT became quite obvious that he was done with MMA after being out for a year. But as a fan, I've had hope he would return. But if he had a health scare and he feels like leaving MMA is the best choice, I wish him the best of luck. Matt Serra, you sir are the ****.  

Jesus.

Blood clot in his lung?

Poor bastard.

He's in my Top 3 all time favorites. He will definitely be missed seeing in the cage. I was holding out hope myself seeing him again, but I don't blame him for leaving.

i never really liked or disliked serra until he started talkin **** about matt hughes...that made me love him

Figured he was retired anyway, but big props to Mr. Serra. The man who loves pizza, made GSP tap to strikes, and the guy who told Marc Laimon he's like the swimmer that never got in the pool. He seems like such an awesome dude haha.

All the best to Matt in his retirement.

been waiting to hear him announce his retirement .. sucks about his health  he will always be one of my all time favorites !