Story sets sights on firefighting career in wake of free agency

Rick Story is making the best of an undesirable situation.

"The Horror" is one of several notable talents to have recently been removed from the UFC roster, and has since revealed to FOX Sports' Damon Martin not only how he came to be unemployed, but how he aims to spend the time now at his disposal. As per the promotion's standard procedure, Story had been offered a new deal prior to the last fight on his contract, but turned it down hoping a convincing win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 202 would net him more favorable terms.

Instead, he became the unwilling recipient of a Kickboxing 101 class, courtesy of Professor Cerrone, and exited the Octagon without a proverbial leg to stand on.

Now six months removed from the loss, the veteran is relishing the opportunity to recover from the bumps and bruises he's sustained over his 19-fight UFC career and bring his designs on becoming a firefighter to fruition.

"I was on a three-fight win streak and I let my contract run out so if I beat (Donald) Cerrone I would have more power to negotiate a better contract and that obviously backfired," Story said. "Even letting that happen, it opened the door in between contracts or in between negotiations to allow me to go to school and to pursue firefighting in the mean time.

"It’s been on my mind for probably the last three or four years. I’ve just been training for fights and I got injured, and then I had to recover from the injury. Then I had to buckle down and get as in good shape as possible for another fight because finances were low. Taking the time to do it just hit the back burner."

Having paid dues and faced top-tier talent over his seven-year stint in the world's preeminent promotion, Story can't help but take a slight case of sour grapes into the next phase of his life.

"I can understand it. It’s frustrating because you put time and you put your health on the line and you end up helping them progress their company. It’s just frustrating."

The Washington native will spend the next 13 months training to become a firefighter, and while his desire to compete has yet to loosen its grip, his long-term future remains an uncertain proposition.

"I haven’t really made a decision on it yet. I’m not counting it out. Every time I see fights on television, I get more and more motivated. As everything is settling, the motivation comes back.

"I’m not counting it out but I’m just going to plug away and keep doing what I’m doing and when an opportunity arises, we’ll see what happens."