10 MMA Goodbyes That No Fan Was Ready For
Retirement in MMA doesn’t come with a warning bell. Fighters often push beyond their prime while risking their legacy and health for one last shot. Sometimes it ends in a standing ovation, but more often, it’s an empty arena, a one-sided beatdown, or a post-fight speech no one hears. These 15 moments were brutal reminders that the fight game rarely gives legends the exit they deserve.
Daniel Cormier
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Daniel Cormier ended his career at UFC 252 in August 2020 in a fight against Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title. To start with, there were no fans in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions. Cormier lost by unanimous decision in a close, hard-fought five-round bout. During the fight, he suffered a serious eye poke in the third round that impacted his vision for the remainder of the contest. After the final bell, Cormier admitted to Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that his “left eye was completely blind” and said, “I just can’t see.” The loss marked the end of his MMA career.
The Korean Zombie
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Chan Sung Jung, known as “The Korean Zombie,” retired after his fight against Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 225 in Singapore in 2023. Jung was knocked out by Holloway early in the third round after coming out aggressively to start the round. Following the fight, Jung removed his gloves, became visibly emotional, and delivered a heartfelt retirement speech. The Singapore crowd gave him a standing ovation as he thanked fans for supporting him throughout his career.
Anderson Silva
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The UFC Apex was the wrong stage for Silva’s final fight, with no fans in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions. He faced Uriah Hall and started strong but was knocked down and finished by TKO in the fourth round. After the fight, Silva stayed in the Octagon and gave an emotional interview, which signaled his retirement from the UFC in a quiet, empty venue.
Glover Teixeira
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After five hard rounds with Jamahal Hill, Glover’s face was swollen, and the title was gone. What made the moment tougher? As soon as the results were announced, fans left the arena in Brazil. Teixeira gave an emotional goodbye to a hometown crowd that never showed up. It should’ve been a proper hero sendoff.
Fedor Emelianenko
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Bellator booked the Bader rematch to give Fedor a final shot at redemption. However, just like their first meeting, Bader stopped Fedor in the first round, this time by TKO at 2:30. After the fight, several MMA legends—including Randy Couture, Royce Gracie, and Dan Henderson—entered the cage to honor him. The quick defeat marked a somber end to the legendary career of “The Last Emperor.”
Anthony Johnson
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Johnson shocked everyone at UFC 210 with his sudden retirement speech. Even his corner seemed caught off guard, having already left the Octagon. Johnson’s heartfelt apology to fans, especially for never fighting Jon Jones, stung more after his tragic passing in 2022.
Shogun Rua
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Ihor Potieria was younger, taller, and had everything to gain. At UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, fought his final bout, but didn’t stand a chance. Potieria stopped Rua by TKO in the first round after 4 minutes and 5 seconds while landing a flurry of strikes. Rua did not mount any late rally or memorable moment, and after the loss, he retired in front of his home crowd.
Chael Sonnen
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At Bellator 222, the trash talk stopped. Chael Sonnen was finished by Lyoto Machida via TKO in the second round at Madison Square Garden on June 14, 2019. In his post-fight interview, Sonnen announced his retirement and admitted regret about never winning a world title, saying he wished he could have fulfilled his late father’s dream of seeing him become a champion.
Brad Pickett
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London’s O2 Arena roared when Pickett walked out with his signature hat. Against Marlon Vera at UFC Fight Night 107, Pickett was ahead on the scorecards after two rounds. But in the third, Vera landed a brutal head kick followed by punches, knocking Pickett out with just over a minute left. The nickname “One Punch” turned cruelly ironic, and the hometown dream finale turned into heartbreak.
Pat Miletich
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There was no good reason for Miletich to return at age 55, but the feud with Mike Jackson pulled him back. The fight was awkward and ended with Miletich quitting on the stool. He blamed Jackson for ruining his reputation, but in the end, the loss was more about what he’d already left behind.
Rashad Evans
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By the time Evans faced Anthony Smith at UFC 225 in Chicago, the magic was gone. Smith caught him with a knee and finished the fight just 53 seconds into the first round—Evans never got a chance to get going. It was his fifth straight loss, and after the quick knockout, Rashad knew it was over. Watching Evans fall that fast felt like the sport had passed him by.
BJ Penn
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Penn kept returning long after the UFC stopped offering winnable fights. His final bout, a decision loss to Clay Guida at UFC 237, was just 15 minutes and three rounds of a former great unable to pull the trigger. There wasn’t even a retirement speech.
Carlos Condit
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Carlos Condit made his own call to retire, but the road there was rough. In his final stretch, he fought Max Griffin and lost a close, hard-fought decision—just one more example of Condit’s grit outlasting his power. He never stopped pushing forward, but the finishing touch was gone. Watching those last few fights, it was clear that time eventually catches up to even the most fearless fighters.
Frankie Edgar
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New York fans packed Madison Square Garden, hoping for one more Edgar moment. At UFC 281, Frankie Edgar faced Chris Gutiérrez in his retirement fight. Gutiérrez knocked Edgar out in the first round with a flying knee just two minutes in. The quick, brutal finish ended Edgar’s storied MMA career.
Donald Cerrone
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“Cowboy” Cerrone went into his fight with Jim Miller at UFC 276 looking like he’d already left the sport behind. The head kicks that once landed weren’t there, and by the second round, Miller caught him in a guillotine choke. After tapping out, Cerrone didn’t try to hide it—he told everyone listening he just didn’t love fighting anymore.