2022 saw several legends of the game retire and hang up their UFC gloves for good. Names such as Jose Aldo, TJ Dillashaw, Frankie Edgar and Donald Cerrone all made it official last year. Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Luke Rockhold are also included, but both have already hinted at a potential return.
At UFC 283 last week, two more legends of the sport followed suit in front of their home Brazilian crowd. Shogun Rua and Glover Teixeira both bowed out of the promotion with one last fight for the fans. The two former champions were defeated respectively, with Glover losing in the main event to Jamahall Hill.
With Shogun and Teixeira being the first big names to retire in 2023, let’s take a look at five ranked names who, unfortunately, may not be far behind.
Stipe Miocic
Arguably the greatest UFC heavyweight of all time. Stipe Miocic failed to compete in 2022 after his KO defeat to Francis Ngannou in 2021. After losing the belt to Francis, the 40-year-old took some much-needed time off to reevaluate.
A UFC veteran of over ten years, Miocic finally secured UFC gold in May of 2016 when he knocked out Fabricio Werdum in Brazil. The part-time firefighter went on to defend his title three times, a UFC heavyweight record. What came next was one of the most famous trilogies in the promotion’s history.
After being finished by Daniel Cormier at UFC 226, Stipe came out on top in both the rematch and the trilogy. His speed, fitness, and boxing have been a problem for UFC heavyweights for over a decade. Might we see him retire sooner rather than later?
After it was announced last week that Jon Jones would be taking on Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 in March, many still questioned where the former champion factored into all this. Not long after, the man himself tweeted: “I got winner in July”. Could this be Stipe’s last chance to ride off into the sunset?
Dominick Cruz
He is another man who is arguably the ‘GOAT’ of his division. Dominick Cruz was a pivotal part of the WEC’s merger with the UFC. In fact, he won the inaugural UFC bantamweight title at WEC 53. The only UFC title fight to take place outside of the promotion. What followed was a string of bad luck and unfortunate injuries for the champion.
After defeating Demetrious Johnson in 2011, Cruz spent three years on the side lines. He returned once in 2014, setting up another shot at the title. However, another injury kept him out. In 2016, he reclaimed gold, defeating TJ Dillashaw and defended his title a few months later against old foe Urijah Faber.
At UFC 207, Cruz was soundly defeated by Cody Garbrandt, losing his title and picking up more injuries that would keep him another four years. Since 2020, the former champion has fought four times, winning twice. A fighter with some of the best movement and timing in the sport. Given his unavoidable inactivity, it’s not unlikely. We may not see Dom Cruz fighting for too much longer. Could he retire this year?
Jan Błachowicz
Polish Power himself. Jan Błachowicz is a UFC veteran of nearly a decade. The Pole has had its share of ups and downs but has proved, time and time again, that you should never give up on your dreams. In 2020, he was given a worthy shot at the vacant light-heavyweight title at UFC 253. After working so hard to get to this point, he finished Dominick Reyes and became champion.
Not only that, but in his only title defence, he became the first man to hand Israel Adesanya his first loss in MMA. The man has a resume that shows the level that he has fought at for so long. After losing his title in 2021 to Teixeira, he worked his way back up to another shot at gold in December of last year. Unfortunately, for both him and Magomed Ankalaev, their fight was deemed a majority draw, counting both men out of another immediate shot.
At the age of 39, it’s unclear how long the Pole has yet. However, it may not be too far away. He’s shown he still has all the skills necessary to continue, but how many more before he calls it a day?
Holly Holm
Holder of one of the most iconic moments in UFC history. The former champion will always be remembered for that unbelievable knockout over Ronda Rousey in 2015. “The Preacher’s Daughter” has fought the very best in her time with the promotion and left it all inside the cage.
At 41 years of age, could we see her hang up the famous UFC gloves in 2023? Since the Rousey victory, she has fought ten times, winning on four occasions. Her last bout ended in a controversial decision defeat to Ketlen Viera in May of last year. No one will ever doubt her motivation, but given that she’s already looking at ventures outside of both the UFC and mixed martial arts, it may not be long.
The former boxing champion could certainly make a return to the ring before she retires from fighting. There are several options that Holm might take, but with so few fights left on her UFC contract, we should appreciate her whilst we can.
Jorge Masvidal
This one might be controversial. The BMF champion has had a thrilling time with the UFC since signing in 2013. Forever immortalised for that famous flying knockout of Ben Askren at UFC 239 in 2019. How long before Gamebred chooses to retire?
Masvidal is a veteran of over 50 professional bouts and has been working through the welterweight rankings for some time. With famous finishes over Darren Till, Cowboy Cerrone and Nate Diaz. In the last couple of years, he has fought twice for the title, losing on both occasions to Kamaru Usman. He also tasted defeat at the hands of his arch-rival Colby Covington at UFC 272 last March.
With three difficult defeats in a row, fans may begin to question just how much of a challenge Jorge can pose for the top dogs at welterweight. In the past few years, he has invested in several outside business ventures and also began his own fight promotion. Could his motivation in the sport be slowly diminishing?
In 2021, Gamebred stated: “When I go to the gym, myself, and the younger generations, and I can no longer hang with them and compete with them and do well — and not just well one day out of the week, but do well every time I step on the mat like I do right now — then I know it’s time for me to hang it up.” At the age of 38, could this be his final year competing?
Who do you think we might see retire and hang up the gloves this year? Let us know!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
