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          Chris Holdsworth to re-evaluate future in year out of Octagon

          • Brett OkamotoFeb 11, 2016, 02:52 PM
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          UFC bantamweight Chris Holdsworth will not fight in 2016.

          Holdsworth (6-0) continues to deal with concussion-related symptoms that have kept him out of the Octagon since May 2014. He recently accepted a role as head jiu-jitsu coach at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California, which will command his focus this year.

          A former winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and one of the top prospects at 135 pounds, Holdsworth, 28, said he is not retiring from mixed martial arts but notes his future is uncertain.

          "I've got to be honest with myself," Holdsworth told ESPN.com. "I think a year is a good time to not only get involved in coaching but to look at things from an outside perspective. The last two years, I've still been training like an active fighter. Of course, I've been hindered from doing certain things, but I've been at the gym.

          "It became one of those things: Do I want to keep waiting on the sideline and not get anything going for my life or my future and just hope I start feeling better, or do I want to be proactive and do things I enjoy and help others? It was an easy decision."

          Holdsworth had already started to appear in TAM corners prior to accepting an official title. He said he spoke to UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby about a month ago, and the promotion supports his decision to take a full year off.

          "It's a question mark, to tell you the truth," said Holdsworth, when asked if he would fight again. "I never thought I would have been out this long due to head trauma. It's frustrating because I love MMA so much, but I'm trying to be smart.

          "I talked to Sean, and he said, 'Man, why aren't you teaching jiu-jitsu right now?' His biggest thing is just like mine. There's no rush, and my health is No. 1.

          "It's like what happened to [UFC bantamweight champion] Dominick Cruz. He was out for three years with injuries, so he started focusing on commentating. I read an interview where he said the time he healed the most was when he didn't focus on fighting, and I think that hit hard with me. Like, man, that's right. I knew I had to change my mindset and focus on coaching."

          A professional fighter since 2010, Holdsworth finished his first five fights via submission. He is 2-0 in UFC and will celebrate his 29th birthday in October.

          "We'll see how 2016 goes," Holdsworth said. "Don't count me out yet. I'm still hanging with the guys in the room, and that fire is still lit."