Tommy speaking with a cage side interviewer after his loss to Aleksandr Baranov
Earlier Tonight
The crowd is wild here in Japan. The fight between Aleksandr Baranov and Tommy Ward has just ended, and we witnessed the T.W Combat Sports rep lay down his gloves in the center of the cage.
A sign of retirement.
Tommy raises his arms, to 8,000 plus screaming 'Thank you, Tommy!' in unison over and over again. An unnamed MMA reporter stands cageside as Tommy exits the octagon.
Reporter
"Tommy, May I have a moment?
Tommy replies with a nod, as he gives the thumbs up to his family cageside.
Reporter:
Tommy, we all witnessed you lay your gloves down. Does this mean that you're done?
Tommy:
Yeah. You know I've had a long run. I've competed in combat sports since I've been a kid, and MMA since 2015. I fought 16 times on the regional circuit up in New York and the New Jersey regions, and I fought 10 times both here and at another internationally known organization.
I've fought a total of 26 times and hold a record of 19-7. I have no idea what my amateur boxing record is, nor do I know my grappling record, but I know I began as a kid in September of 2000, and after 20 years I think it's time I finally retire.
Reporter:
Tommy. You were truly one of the best, who's never captured a title. Do you feel that dampens your MMA career?
Tommy:
No. I would have liked to have won a title, but it was never meant to be. I'll look back on my career fondly, and know that I fought the best of the best. I've beaten former world champions, and I took the greatest heavyweight champion in GCC history, Alejandro Rivera, to the limit.
Reporter:
You certainly had a great career, and you definitely deserve a happy retirement. What's next for you?
Tommy hesitates and bites his lip.
Tommy:
I'll be going back to Staten Island, and training young fighters like Mitchell Kirkwood, Juanita, Rob, Paul Rossi...
I'm looking forward to the next step in my life, now that I'm (long breath) Now that I'm done fighting.
Reporter:
Thank you again Tommy. Ladies and gentlemen give it up one last time for Tommy 'Thunder' Ward.
The capacity crowd stands up with a loud ovation, as Tommy hugs his mother and heads back to the locker room.