Time strikes quick within the action-packed world of combined martial arts. As we enter a brand new yr contained in the Octagon, let’s check out a number of the names who known as time on their careers over the previous twelve months.
MMA Fighters Who Retired In 2024
Stipe Miocic
Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (20-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) returned to the Octagon for the primary time in three-and-a-half years in November to face Jon Jones at UFC 309. Nearly all of the discourse surrounding that combat centered on Jones and whether or not he ought to have been dealing with interim champion Tom Aspinall as a substitute, which allowed Miocic to quietly slip away into retirement afterwards.
Miocic constructed up some of the spectacular heavyweight championship resumes over his tenure contained in the Octagon. He knocked out Fabricio Werdum to win the title again in 2016 earlier than happening to efficiently defend it in opposition to Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem and Francis Ngannou.
Miocic surrendered his belt to Daniel Cormier within the opening spherical of their conflict at UFC 226 earlier than returning a yr later to precise revenge on “DC” and develop into champion as soon as once more.
Demetrious Johnson
When the dialogue of MMA’s Mount Rushmore arises, the title of Demetrious Johnson (25-4-1 MMA, 15-2-1 UFC) is at all times one of many first to crop up. “Mighty Mouse” gained twelve consecutive title fights within the UFC’s flyweight division between 2012 and 2018 earlier than being traded for Ben Askren in considered one of MMA’s most weird historic moments.
“DJ” final competed in September of 2023 when he settled his trilogy with Adriano Moraes to retain his ONE bantamweight title and introduced his retirement formally in September 2024. “I’m not going to combat anymore,” Johnson informed UFC contender Merab Dvalishvili on his podcast, which was recorded previous to his announcement at ONE 168. “The rationale why — I don’t discover combined martial arts enjoyable anymore. The rationale why, I discover extra achievement in doing jiu-jitsu as a result of I really feel it’s more durable. I discover extra achievement in serving to and coaching with completely different individuals.”
Additionally Learn: “Conor McGregor: I’m not retired!”
Carla Esparza
A trailblazer in girls’s combined martial arts, Carla Esparza (19-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) retired after a loss to Tecia Pennington at UFC 307 in October. “The Cookie Monster” walks away as some of the embellished fighters within the historical past of the game.
Esparza gained the Invicta strawweight title again in 2013 earlier than profitable season 20 of The Final Fighter the next yr to develop into the inaugural UFC girls’s strawweight champion. She misplaced the belt to Joanna Jędrzejczyk the next yr however received her arms on the strap once more in 2022 when she beat Rose Namajunas at UFC 274.
Michelle Waterson-Gomez
One other former Invicta champion Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-13 MMA, 6-9 UFC) made her closing stroll to the Octagon at UFC 303 final June. “The Karate Hottie” had success early in her UFC profession, selecting up victories over Angela Hill, Felice Herrig, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Paide VanZandt between 2015-2020, however a 5-fight shedding streak satisfied the 38-year-old to name time on her lengthy profession.
Additionally Learn: MMA Fighters who retired in 2022
Jack Shore
Former Cage Warriors champion Jack Shore (17-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) made the shocking resolution to stroll away from the Octagon following his loss to Youssef Zalal in November. “Tank” revealed that an accumulation of accidents had been bheind the choice when he introduced his retirement through a publish on Instagram.
“For the whole lot of my 20s preventing and coaching was my life and sole focus, nonetheless, the previous few weeks/months have confirmed that is now not the case”, wrote the Welsh featherweight, “and I at all times promised myself after I was mentality checked out I might retire from the game relatively than the game retire me.
“Accidents have caught up with me after a lifetime within the sport. I’m leaving with my psychological in examine, good well being, financially secure, and am absolutely prepared to maneuver onto the longer term.”
Matt Brown
Fan favourite Matt Brown (24-19 MMA, 17-13 UFC) known as time on his distinctive profession in Could after struggling to seek out the motivation combat one closing time. “The Immortal” was final seen in motion when he knocked out fellow veteran Courtroom McGee in Could 2023 and had been hoping for one final dance contained in the Octagon in 2024. “The UFC did make me a proposal just a few months in the past for a combat,” Brown informed MMA Junkie.
“I keep in mind I awoke one morning and I noticed the e-mail, and my d*** didn’t get arduous. I didn’t get a sense down my backbone. I wasn’t excited”.
Brown has essentially the most knockout victories in welterweight historical past (13), and holds wins over stellar names akin to Diego Sanchez, Mike Swick and Stephen Thompson.
Satoshi Ishii
The lengthy and storied profession of Satoshi Ishii (26-14-1) lastly drew to an in depth final March, seven months after his closing combat contained in the PFL smartcage in opposition to Danilo Marques. The Japanese star gained Olympic gold medal in judo in 2008 earlier than embarking on an MMA profession which noticed him compete in organizations akin to Ok-1, Dream, Rizin and Bellator amongst others.
Ishii fought some legendary names all through his profession akin to Tim Sylvia, Jeff Monson, “Rampage” Jackson and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.
Joanne Wooden
The third feminine veteran on this listing to hold up her gloves this yr, Joanne Wooden (17-8 MMA, 9-8 UFC) went out in model as she got here from behind to defeat Maryna Moroz at UFC 299 in March. “Jo Jo” fought within the UFC for ten years after showing alongside Carla Esparza on season 20 of The Final Fighter in 2014.
Matt Schnell
One of the vital thrilling fighters within the UFC flyweight division Matt Schnell (16-9-1 NC MMA, 6-7-1 NC MMA) retired in September after struggling his third consecutive loss in opposition to Cody Durden. Schnell, one other Final Fighter veteran, shall be finest remembered for his chaotic two-round conflict with Sumudaerji at UFC on ABC 3 in 2022.
Germaine de Randamie
Dutch kickboxing/Muay Thai legend and former UFC featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie (10-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) known as time on her profession after shedding to Norma Dumont in April. “The Iron Girl” beat Holly Holm to win the vacant title at UFC 208 again in 2017 earlier than being uncermoniously stripped of her belt when she refused to combat Cris Cyborg.
De Randamie additionally amassed a 46-0 report in kickboxing with 30 knockouts. Alongside her victory over Holly Holm, she additionally holds wins over present UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Pena, former champion Raquel Pennington, and former PFL champion Larissa Pacheco.
