Sam Stout, who has appeared in the UFC 20 times since debuting with the promotion in 2006, has decided to hang up the gloves.

UFC Tonight reported on Wednesday that the 31-year old Stout (20-12-1) is walking away from the game on the heels of his latest loss against Frankie Perez at UFC Fight Night 74 in Saskatoon. Stout was technically knocked out by Perez just 54 seconds into the fight, marking the third time in a row that he'd been finished via TKO or KO.

In his previous 30 professional bouts, Stout had never been knocked out.

In a statement obtained by UFC Tonight, Stout — through his manager Rob Roveta — said the fight game had passed him by.

"It has become clear to me that I am no longer able to compete at the highest level of mixed martial arts," the statement said. "Competing, as a UFC fighter for the last 10 years has been something I will always look back on with great pride. I want thank everyone at Zuffa for giving me the opportunity to do what I love for so many years.

"That being said, I think my best days as a fighter are behind me and it would be a risk to my legacy and my health to continue competing. Therefore I would like to announce my retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts. This is a very difficult decision for me to make, but I am excited about the road ahead, and look forward to the beginning of a new chapter."

The Canadian Stout, who went by the nickname "Hands of Stone," finishes with a record of 9-11 in the UFC. Among his most notable victories were the back-to-back decisions he scored over Matt Wiman and Joe Lauzon in 2009-2010, as well as his knockout of Yves Edwards at UFC 131 in Vancouver, which earned him Knockout of the Night honors. He also took home Fight of the Night bonus money six times in his career, most recently against James Krause at UFC 161.