Former Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme wins debut MMA fight after retiring from football following cancer battle
WOLVES legend Carl Ikeme was victorious on his debut in the Raw Grappling Championship.
The former goalkeeper was forced to retire from football in 2018 aged just 32 after a year-long battle with cancer.
But now four years later the 36-year-old is back in sporting competition – though something very different from the Beautiful Game.
Ikeme fought fellow Brit Fuad Ahmed in the first Raw Grappling World Championship at the IndigoO2 Arena in London.
The action was streamed on the .
The sport is loosely based around Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Ikeme utilising his skills on ground fighting and submissions.
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The ex-keeper won the bout 4-0.
Ikeme made 274 domestic career appearances in all competitions, with over 200 of them coming for Wolves, the club he joined in 2000 aged just 14.
The stopper went on to win two promotions, and ten international caps for Nigeria.
Of the decision to retire from football, Ikeme said at the time: “Speaking to the doctor, he said I should retire, just because the treatment and the toll it’s taken on my body.
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“I can’t really risk trying to come back, I just want to be here for my children and family and friends.
“It’s difficult when you look back at the things you’ve gone through in your football career but in the grand scheme of things with your life in danger, it’s the minimum price to pay to have a life with my family.”
Ikeme is now registered with the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s Federation and fights in the super heavy category.