Peter Aerts Officially Retires

[K1power]

Originally slated to have at least one more fight at the upcoming BLADE 2 event, it looks like Aerts isn't recovering as quickly from injuries as expected and he has decided to announce his retirement.

Here's the Japanese Article (Perhaps Rictor can give us some details)
efight.jp/news-20150608_173986

Props to Karaev fan from Sherdog for sharing this news

While we all knew this was coming - and honestly should have already happened a few years ago - it's still sad to see Aerts leave, especially without giving him a proper send off.

It's such a shame that Aerts - along some other greats - couldn't retire in K-1. I just hope we'll see him remaining active in the sport as a trainer/coach and he hasn't taken too many blows to the head.

One of the greatest kickboxers of all time.

[fartsmeller]

It feels wrong to say this, but I hope it's for real this time. He's been fighting since before I was born, I hope he kicks back and does whatever he wants for the rest of his life.

As for the discussion of who's the greatest, there's a difference between being the best and being the greatest. And Aerts is easily the greatest.

[BOOSE]

It's the end of an era, K1 was a fascinating time for Kickboxing and its always sad to see one of its superstars retire.
Aerts retired
Hoost retired
Le Banner retires this year
Sefo retired
Hug RIP
Bernardo RIP
Bonjasky retired
Schilt retired
Hunt in the UFC
Crocop in the UFC

Does anyone know if Filho, Greco, Feitosa, Karaev, Ignashov etc are still fighting?

[dvewlsh]

Karaev was supposed to, but hasn't surfaced yet.

Ignasho is [sadly] still fighting. The rest don't.

[K1power]

Does anyone know if Filho, Greco, Feitosa, Karaev, Ignashov etc are still fighting?

Filho and Feitosa are "unofficially" retired. Through the years there have been talks of them returning for a fight here and there, but they haven't fought for such a long time and are both well passed 40 now so it's safe to assume they won't be returning. Both still seem to have ties to Kyokushin and I believe Feitosa is one of the striking coaches/sparring partners for Junior Dos Santos.

Last year there have been talks of Sam Greco returning to the ring at 48 years of age, but I don't think it's happening anymore. It sort of could've made sense if he had a rematch with Hoost who had his own comeback.

Karaev was supposed to make his comeback in KOK last year and even announced it in a video, but that never happened. At this point I don't really expect him to be back either.

Ignashov still pops up on random cards here and there, but he's been past it for about 10 years now. There's been fights where he showed flashes of brilliance and I will always root for him, but he should've retired already.

Unfortunately, Leko is still fighting (and mainly losing) as well.

If you count Manhoef as one of the vets, he is retiring this year as well.

It's the end of an era really.

[dvewlsh]

We are in the NEW ERA with Rico Verhoeven and Benny Adegbuyi, though.

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

[themagi]

Reading that list of retirees or soon to be's and weighing them up with the "Current Crop" really smacks it home hard. Like a mallet, from a heavyweight perspective.

"The Door To The Next Generation Is Open" was a phrase which opened just about every K-1 broadcast circa 2001-2004(?). Shame very few 210+lb-ers walked through it at that time. And the ones that did were not as....battle proud as the those that went before. Now, those that are left of that original Golden Age of Heroes have finally squeezed the last drop of combat from their bones even going as far as beginning to drip their blood all over a third generation, The New Era, as The Next Generation, where either unwilling or unable to do so.

If that's not right as such, I thought that last bit at the very least, read well.