Siyar Bahadurzada, 36, an Afghan MMA fighter, in a Facebook post on Tuesday said he has taken a job coaching at a training camp in Singapore and will not be fighting in the near future.

“I would like to announce that I’ve been appointed as Evolve MMA head coach in Singapore,” Bahadurzada said, adding: “At this time my fighting career takes a back seat and I’m fully focused on my new challenge at hand."

“Evolve MMA is considered to be the best MMA gym in all of Asia with most world champions training in various disciplines. It is an honor to coach and evolve together with these great athletes and help them reach even higher heights in their fighting career,” he said.

“My first and foremost goal will be to create champions and inspire and touch their people through their champions,” he added.

Bahadurzada was the first Afghan to fight in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2001, he has also competed for World Victory Road, Shooto, and RINGS.

He is the former Shooto middleweight Champion.

In his last match, Bahadurzada faced Ismail Naurdiev on September 28, 2019 at UFC and lost the fight via unanimous decision.