After UFC 3 is over, the question remains, “When do fighters retire?” For example, flyweight Jimmy Flick announced his retirement after just one appearance in the organization, and earned Performance of the Night honors. Prior to his UFC debut, Flick was a 10-year professional. Another UFC 3 veteran, welterweight Alan Jouban, announced his retirement after 13 appearances. Jouban will now focus on his on-air broadcasting career.
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Liddell’s retirement
It was no secret that Chuck Liddell had a hard time deciding whether to retire in a UFC fight or not. His two losses in 2003 and the knockout loss to Alistair Overeem sparked talk that he’d be done fighting. But, Liddell went on to go on a three-fight tear from 2004 to 2007, during which he became the undisputed light heavyweight champion. But that streak ended abruptly when Liddell’s retirement was announced. By the time Liddell announced his retirement, he had won six consecutive UFC fights, and remained respected by his peers.
The MMA legend has been away from the cage for quite some time, and his recent performances have been less than impressive. After two consecutive losses, Liddell was knocked out in the first round. He’d previously dominated his opponent, but in his last bout, he was knocked out in the opening round. After the defeat, Liddell refused to say he was retiring, but his next statement raised alarms.
Renato Sobral’s retirement
It’s been a month since Renato Sobral announced his retirement from MMA. The Brazilian fought for Affliction Entertainment in 2008, where he was a part of the Strikeforce light heavyweight tournament. In that tournament, Sobral defeated Mike Whitehead via unanimous decision, and then he went on to defeat Bobby Southworth by TKO in round two. His retirement from MMA was announced on the website of the UFC, and Sobral was one of the main reasons for this.
Before retiring from the UFC, Sobral had competed in the Light Heavyweight summer series tournament on Spike. Sobral fought Jacob Noe in the first round of the four-man tournament, and Sobral lost by TKO. After the fight, Sobral announced that he was retiring from MMA. While his decision is not fully clear, it’s likely a good sign for the sport.
Luke Sanders’ retirement
After his successful UFC debut, Luke Sanders has called it quits. The former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion has a record of 13-5. He made his UFC debut in 2016 and won his first three bouts, including one by knockout against Renan Barao. However, he has since gone back and forth with wins and losses. Despite a 3-5 record, his final fight against Colares was competitive and earned Sanders a performance bonus.
The retirement comes as a surprise to many. While he was a solid fighter, many felt that he had reached his peak and had surpassed his potential. This was particularly evident in his fights with former bantamweight champion Renan Barao and former lightweight contenders Patrick Nelson and Michael Bisping. He also won two of his fights against Henry Cujudo and Nikki Bella.
Zabit Magomedsharipov’s retirement
The news of Magomedsharipov’s retirement came as a surprise to many fans and MMA observers alike. The Russian has been a popular and highly successful fighter since making his UFC debut in 2017. Magomedsharipov was a standout 145-pounder who had a record of 18-1-1. In addition to his striking, Magomedsharipov was also known for his unique style. His fights featured numerous unorthodox techniques, including jumping off the side of the cage to land kicks. He attempted this maneuver several times in the same round. In addition, Magomedsharipov was 6 feet, one of the tallest men in the UFC division. Because of his length, he was able to leverage his height and reach to his advantage.
In his final fight, Zabit Magomedsharipov had an overall record of 18-1-1. Before this fight, he was one of the most prominent featherweights in the world. Many believed that he had a bright future in MMA and could become a top contender. But the Russian did not reveal his future plans in the UFC, and it’s not known how he will spend the rest of his time.
Gian Villante’s retirement
With his three career “Fight of the Night” bonuses, Gian Villante is on the verge of retirement. However, there’s a silver lining in the future for the Brazilian-born heavyweight. In his next fight, he’ll take on Jake Collier, who is 1-3. Both fighters are expected to deliver explosive finishes, but Villante is more likely to be a tough opponent for Collier.
Gian Villante has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts after this weekend’s UFC 268 event. Previously, Villante had hinted that he’d be retiring after his next fight, but he wanted one last fight inside the Octagon before calling it a day. His fight against Chris Barnett ended in a controversial decision. He is now 7-10 after a grueling eight-fight career. Gian Villante was previously with Strikeforce and holds wins over current Bellator light heavyweight title challenger Corey Anderson and The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Ed Herman.