B.C.-based mixed martial artist Bibiano Fernandes to retire
Fernandes, who lives and trains in Langley, B.C., will fight his last fight in Qatar on Thursday
After devoting decades of his life to jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts (MMA), Bibiano Fernandes will finish his career with one last MMA fight against long-time rival Kevin Belingon on Feb. 20.
Fernandes has won multiple Pan American and world jiu-jitsu championships throughout the last three decades. He's opened his own martial arts school, Flash Academy Martial Arts, and says he's got a lot of students he needs to focus on.
"I travel a lot and I think it's the time for me to pass the knowledge," he told CBC's On The Coast host Gloria Macarenko.
He sat down for an interview with CBC Radio before he boarded the plane to Qatar for his final fight.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
You've been a professional competitor since 2004. Why do you want to retire now?
I've always done Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I'm a five-time world champion for jiu-jitsu and I changed it for MMA, mixed martial arts. The thing is, right now I have my own school and I have a lot of students right now, and the time required to look after my students.
Jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts is the mindset. You know what I mean? A lot of times, people give up easily. For me, I always choose to never give up, always keep moving. You don't know what's next. I mean, that's the way MMA changed my life.
So you're saying it's almost less physical and more psychological, just getting yourself into the mindset?
One-hundred per cent. Mixed martial arts is a mindset. Any kind of athlete, for sure you have prepared your body, you will need to understand the technique, you have to perform your best. Your mind has to be very sharp and the technique has to be sharp. But 99.9 per cent is your mind.
On Thursday you're going to be facing an old rival, Kevin Belingon. What do you expect from that fight?
He's pretty good. He's a tough opponent. He's very quick, he's strong. The last time I was in the Philippines … the last fight I had with Kevin Belingon, we reached 29 million views. I stopped in the Philippines only for three hours. Everybody came to say hi to me in the airport.
You're a recognizable star.
I'm very humble because the way is the way I am. But in the, in the fight world, I'm the top in there, like in the top in the planet. I'm in the Guinness Book of World Records. That's so much talent God gave me. I was using my talent to motivate myself and help the people out there.
Last year you won gold at the Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship. That was 18 years after the last time you competed there. So what was it like being back on the map with the juiu-jitsu?
Jiu-Jitsu is my love, you know what I mean? It is something I like because I like challenging myself to see who I am. People want to see how I'm doing, if I'm still sharp, still good. I'm still there in the game.
Is your body OK? Is your body ready for this fight?
My body is always good, you know, because I'm very professional. I really take care myself. I don't smoke, I don't drink. I try to give you my best to take care my body, take care my mind, really take care [of] my body, like strength conditioning, swimming, sauna.
Are you ready to push professional mixed martial arts into the past or is it going to be concentrating on coaching?
Jiu-jitsu, I'll keep it going. I can go until 80, no problem. But mixed martial arts I'm sure I have to push away a little bit. I'm 45 and at this point of my life right now, I have to look at [what's] best for my mind health and my physical health.
With files from On The Coast