Dhiego
Lima is calling it a career after 24 professional fights.

The 33-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of American Top Team
Atlanta, announced his decision via Instagram. Lima had been
scheduled to face Miguel
Baeza at UFC Fight Night on April 16.

“Hey guys I am making this post to announce that I will be retiring
from fighting,” Lima wrote. “My timing and God’s timing is
completely different. I feel like I’m in my prime, but he has
bigger and better plans for my life. I know when God speaks to me,
and he was clear that my fighting days are over.

“Thank you for everyone that has supported me through this journey.
One thing I do is obey God even when I don’t want to and that’s the
a lesson I hope you take from this: his plans are always better.
Thank you [UFC] for my career and always taking care of me. I will
be around as a coach there because I have plenty of young guns that
will make it ,and I will be there for them!!”

Lima was a finalist on Season 19 and Season 25 of “The Ultimate
Fighter,” and he went 4-7 across two stints in the UFC. The younger
brother of former Bellator welterweight champ Douglas
Lima enjoyed his greatest success in the Octagon from December
2018 to October 2019, when he earned successive triumphs over
Chad
Laprise, Court McGee
and Luke
Jumeau.

Lima fought twice in 2021, dropping a unanimous decision to
Belal
Muhammad at UFC 258 and falling to Matt Brown
via second-round KO at UFC on ESPN 25. Lima compiled a 15-9 career
mark over the course of a professional tenure that began in
2010.