At the age of 40, James
McSweeney has hung up one set of gloves and is already lacing
up another.
McSweeney announced on social media on
Wednesday evening that he has signed with Glory
Kickboxing. With his last MMA appearance in June 2019, and on a
five-fight skid, “The Hammer” has also decided to stop competing in
MMA. career was finished. Although McSweeney began his MMA in 2007
and made his way to the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” a few
years later, he began kickboxing a few years before that.
As McSweeney started training with Rashad
Evans, he switched gears from K-1 competition to full-time MMA.
The 33-fight MMA vet, who may have retired with a record below
.500, faced a litany of tough names including Travis
Browne, Tai
Tuivasa, Thiago
Silva and more as he toured the Ultimate Fighting Championship, One Championship and KSW.
On his social media, McSweeney wrote:
“Ok guys here it is…..I have signed with the biggest
Organization in Kickboxing (k1) [Glory Kickboxing]. I am very proud
to be apart [sic] of the Glory promotion. I am the only fighter in
the World to fight the highest level of Muaythai (lumpinee) [sic].
Highest level of MMA [in the UFC]. highest level of MMA in Asia [in
One Championship]. Highest level of MMA in Europe [in KSW]. And now
the Highest level of Kickboxing [in Glory Kickboxing]. I fight
October 23rd in Holland. This has been in the making over the past
few years now finally finalized I am beyond excited. The biggest
event in Glory History [and the] Largest. My camp started 8 weeks
ago Now 4 weeks left……..Thank you all for supporting me over
the past 20+ years. As I told you all I am not done. I’m not coming
to Glory to get along, I’m coming to take over…….I’m not
playing. Osu.”
As he stated, the British heavyweight will be fighting on Glory
Collision 3 at the GelreDome in Arnhem, Netherlands, on Oct. 23. No
opponent had been named yet for the event a month away, which will
be capped off by a heavyweight thriller between champ Rico
Verhoeven and Alistair
Overeem.