Legendary MMA fighters that retired in 2023: UFC champs and a all-time Great!

Retired MMA fighters in 2023

Just 15 weeks into the year, a bunch of legendary MMA fighters have already hung up their gloves for good.

Click ”Next” to check out which MMA stars that retired so far in 2023!

Benson Henderson

Photo via Instagram (@bensonhenderson)

MMA lightweight legend Benson Henderson retired in March after a long and successful career.

He made his pro debut back in 2006 and became a UFC lightweight champion in 2012.

Henderson holds notable wins against the likes of Clay Guida, Donald Cerrone, Jim Miller, Nate Diaz and back-to-back wins against Frankie Edgar.

Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor Bellator at 290. Photo via Bellator

Legendary MMA heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko is one of the biggest names in the sport.

After more than two decades of professional fighting he called it a career in February at the age of 46.

During the years, he fought some of the best fighters to ever fight in the cage, and holds notable wins against Quinton ”Rampage” Jackson, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, Mirko Cro Cop and Frank Mir.

Glover Teixeira

Glover Teixeira is one of the retired MMA fighters in 2023. Photo via Twitter (UFC)

Former UFC lightweight champion Glover Teixeira retired in front of his home crowd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after losing the title fight against Jamahall Hill.

In October 2021 Teixeira became the oldest first time champion in UFC history at 42 years old as he defeated Jan Blachowicz via a second-round submission.

Mauricio Rua

Mauricio ”Shogun” Rua. Photo via Instagram (@shogunoficial)

Another Brazilian former UFC light heavyweight champion hung up his gloves in 2023. The legendary Mauricio ”Shogun” Rua fought his last bout at UFC 283 on his home turf in Rio de Janeiro.

”Shogun” won the UFC strap back in 2010 as he knocked out his countryman Lyoto Machida in the first round.

During his long career the Brazilian defeated the likes of Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Quinton ”Rampage” Jackson and Alistair Overeem.

Lina Länsberg

Lina Länsberg. Photo via Instagram (@linalansberg)

In February Swedish MMA pioneer Lina Länsberg decided to hang up her gloves for good.

“Thank you so much for all the love and support. This has been a hell of a ride and to start fighting is the best thing I’ve ever done. It has given me so much. But now it’s time to move on. I’m done,” Länsberg wrote on Instagram.

”Elbow Queen” was the first Swedish woman to compete in the UFC. Her biggest wins came against Macy Chiasson and former long-time Invicta FC bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger.

Jorge Masvidal

Photo via Instagram (@gamebredfighter)

Welterweight Jorge Masvidal retired from MMA this past Saturday after losing to Gilbert Burns in the UFC 287 co-main event.

“The UFC came here 20 years ago, and it inspired me to chase this dream; fifty-something fights later, hopefully I inspired somebody in here to go and fight for theirs – no matter what it is,” Masvidal said in the octagon.

2019 was his greatest year as a UFC fighter as he defeated Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz, all via stoppage.

The incredibly violent flying knee KO against Ben Askren is the fastest knockout in UFC history and is probably what Masvidal will be remembered most for when people look back at his career.

Raphael Assuncao

Raphael Assuncao  is one of the retired MMA fighters in 2023. Photo via Instagram:(@raphaassuncao)

Raphael Assuncao made his professional MMA debut in 2004 and almost two decades later he decided to call it a day after losing at UFC Fight Night 221 in March.

During his fantastic career he defeated the likes of  T.J. Dillashaw, Aljamain Sterling, Marlon Moraes and Pedro Munhoz.

Claudio Silva

Claudio Silva. Photo via Instagram (@claudiohannibalsilva)

MMA veteran Claudio Silva retired in January after three straight losses.

During his prime, the 40-year-old defeated fighters like Nordine Taleb, Danny Roberts and current welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

Leah Letson

Leah Letson is one of the retired MMA fighters in 2023Photo via Invicta

Former UFC featherweight fighter Leah Letson retired in January.

In 2018, Letson was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters and won the quarterfinal bout against Sweden’s Bea Malecki by unanimous decision.

Letson competed twice in the UFC and left the promotion with one loss to title challenger Felicia Spencer and one win against Julija Stoliarenko.

Steven Peterson

Photo via Instagram (@8ocho08)

UFC featherweight Steven Peterson decided to call it a day on March 25 after losing to Lucas Alexander.

During his UFC career he faced the likes of Chase Hooper and Alex Caceres.

John Salter

Photo via Bellator

Bellator fighter John Salter, who also had a short stint in the UFC, decided to hang up his gloves on March 31.

Salter defeated Aaron Jeffrey  via unanimous decision and announced his retirement during the post-fight interview.

George Sullivan

George Sullivan is one of the retired MMA fighters in 2023

On March 3, former UFC fighter George Sullivan won the vacant ROC Middleweight Championship and decided to call it a day.

During his years in the UFC he faced tough opponents like Niko Price, Mickey Gall and Tim Means.

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