Sean O’Connell sends out touching retirement message after $1M PFL victory

On New Years Eve, Sean O’Connell won a million dollars. 

The 35-year-old UFC veteran earned this massive payday by bludgeoning an exhausted Vinny Magalhaes to a stoppage in the finals of the 2018 PFL light heavyweight season.

He’s chosen this victory as the final chapter of his career.

Shortly after he was handed his $1M check, Sean O’Connell announced his retirement from fighting in the cage. On the first day of the New Year, he took to Twitter to share a more formal retirement message.

Thank you. @SugarRaySefo @carlossilva @ProFightLeague pic.twitter.com/mZEYynB4xi

— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) January 2, 2019

“I am home again in Salt Lake City and feeling happy and grateful,” O’Connell wrote on Twitter. “I feel blessed to have enjoyed a fulfilling career as a pro fighter. Thank you to EVERYONE who has EVER been part of this with me. Friends, Family, coaches, training partners, promoters, opponents, fans, sponsors, and anybody else who gave even a tiny bit of themselves to my years of pretending I belong as a pro athlete. I cannot thank you all properly. I wish I could.”

“I hope to stay in the MMA world as a broadcaster, but my fighting days are done. Walking away on a high note is bittersweet. But I need to preserve what is left of my brain for my loved ones. God is great, the future is bright, and I am so grateful. Happy New Year everyone! Love you all.”

Sean O’Connell earned his place in the PFL 2018 light heavyweight finals with a decision win over Dan Spohn and a KO defeat of Smealinho Rama.

Prior to his run with the PFL, he went 2-5 in the UFC, engaging in Fight of the Night winning battles with Gian Villante, Matt Van Buren, and Steve Bosse in that stretch. Other highlights of his career, which has carried him across the US, to Canada, and as far away as New Zealand and Australia, include wins over names like Marvin Eastman, Anthony Perosh, and Ronny Markes. O’Connell retires with a 21-10 pro record.

Image: Professional Fighters League

As he implies in his retirement message, he moonlights as a PFL commentator, and has earned applause for occasionally commentating and fighting in the same night.

What was your favorite Sean O’Connell fight?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/2/2019.