After back-to-back lopsided losses, UFC veteran Alan Belcher has announced he’s taking a hiatus from the sport.

“The Talent” stated that the UFC has known his intentions to take some time off for months now, but finally made the news public in an interview with Sherdog.

“As of right now I am finished with MMA, you can take me out of the middleweight picture because if I do decide to return - which I can definitely see a possibility of that - I am going to come back at light-heavyweight,” Belcher said.

“As of right now I am enjoying coaching and consulting other UFC fighters and helping them get ready… I have got a lot of projects going on. I am just taking time off and enjoying my family right now.”

Belcher, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who is better known for his dynamic striking game, also said he will consider returning to the cage this summer.

In the meantime, he is focusing on BJJ tournaments and working on the grappling aspect of his game.

Between December 2009 and May 2012, Belcher had worked his way into a dark horse contender at 185 pounds, racking up four straight wins – all finishes.

However, the Roufusport standout could not get anything done against perennial contenders Yushin Okami and Michael Bisping, the latter of which he lost to at UFC 159 in April of last year.

Earlier this month, Belcher tested himself at the highly regarded Copo Podio tournament in Brazil, a gi jiu-jitsu tournament typically reserved for the sports best competitors.

Belcher lost all four of his bouts, getting submitted three. In fairness, he faced some of the best submission specialists in the world in Rodolfo Viera, Leandro Lo and Alexandre Souza.