British MMA legend Steven Ray is planning to retire on his own terms at the end of this PFL season after a storied MMA career.
The Scottish grappler is a former BAMMA and Cage Warriors champion, and has competed in the UFC as well as PFL where he has defeated former world title holder Anthony Pettis and major names such as Michael Johnson. But after coming within inches of lightweight gold in last year's season, he feels he has one more run in him this year.
In order to stretch his run from one fight to three and win the million dollars, he will need to blast out boxer Clay Collard later this month in his second regular season fight. Ray lost to Nathan Schulte in the season opener after being stunned by Olivier Aubin-Mercier in last year's final, and would have to land a stoppage to guarantee progression to this year's play-offs.
"This is probably my last year of fighting," he revealed during an exclusive chat with Mirror Fighting. "My last year in the cage, with everything that I've been through recently and it's being taken out on Clay Collard. Regardless of how the fight goes, I am f***ing right hyped up for this and I'm going in there to try and take him out.
"After this fight that will be six fights in a year-and-a-half. It's a lot and it is tough. I don't think I would do another tournament again, I went from the biggest win of my career to getting a bit f***ed over, I wasn't sure what was happening, semi-retired and I feel like I'm at a point where I'll see what happens.
"I just need to go out there and give it absolutely everything. Try to get the finish, if I don't make it an exciting fight and get the win - just give it everything."
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Ray has already flirted with retirement once, feeling that he was forced into hanging up the gloves after what was then a career-best win over Michael Johnson in the UFC. But after two years of torment, he returned in the PFL last year, where he defeated the legendary Pettis not once but twice to earn a spot in the finals.
And after years of struggle, with the potential for his next fight to be his last, he is throwing caution to the wind. He has begun to open up with his trash-talking and is plotting a big win over Collard. "I'm just f***ing buzzing," he joked. "You know what? I've just realised I'm too humble.
"I think this stuff in my head a lot, I just don't like saying it. I don't like speaking too much but it depends on who I've got as well. Sometimes you need them to speak up a bit and s*** as well. Not that I have anything against Clay, I'm just in that time of my career - my last year of fighting.
"I'm a veteran, on the way out, if you like! I'm f***ing sick of this sport a bit, as much as I've been loving this camp and I'm in good spirits and my body's healthy, I know it's probably my last year. That's what makes it exciting for the last few fights I can give it absolutely f***ing everything and finish on a high."
You can watch Steven Ray fight Clay Collard in his PFL return live on DAZN Friday June 23 in the second round of the lightweight regular season
