Kevin Lee releases lengthy statement officially announcing retirement (Video)

Kevin Lee was hoping to make a triumphant return to the UFC when he returned to the Octagon in July. Unfortunately, he'd lose via submission in just seconds when Rinat Fakhretdinov sunk a perfect guillotine in the first round.

Now, instead of making a run for the title, he's hanging up the gloves for good.

"To make a long story short, decided to retire from MMA and the UFC. It's been 12 years, 12 long years of me being the best fighter that I can be, and a lot of hard work a lot of dedication for me to try to be the best fighter in the world," he said in a video posted to Instagram. "When I look back on it, I had a hell of a career. I fought a lot of tough guys some of the toughest guys in the world. Always put up a great fight. I never back down and always challenged myself to do things that I didn't think that I was capable of doing."

Kevin Lee is officially retired: 'When I look back on it, I had a hell of a career'

This retirement doesn't come as a total surprise as he alluded to it on Threads a few days before posting the video, but this is the first time he's made it clear.

"The last three years have been rough," he said. "Especially on my body. It's been a lot of injuries. And honestly, that's one of the main factors of me making this decision. I'm in need of another surgery after that last fight. I'm proud that I went out on my shield. I'm proud that I stood up in there and went out on my own terms."

Over the last few years Lee won 1 fight, an Eagle FC event where he faced off with MMA legend Diego Sanchez. Before that he dropped two in the UFC versus Daniel Rodriguez and former champion Charles Oliveira.

"I gotta think about more than just myself. And I think that my skills and the time and the energy that I've put into the sport I can put into something else," he said. "I think if I dedicate myself just as much hard work to doing something else. The sky's the limit."

Lee retires with a 19-8 professional record.