UFC
Legendary MMA fighters that retired in 2023
Retired MMA fighters in 2023. Photo: USA Today Sports and Instagram
Many incredible careers came to an end in 2023.
In fact, some of the sport’s absolute biggest names to date hanged up their gloves for good during the past 12 months.
Let’s take a closer look at legendary MMA fighters that retired in 2023!
Jorge Masvidal
Retired MMA fighters in 2023. Photo via USA Today Sports
- Age: 38
- Record: 19-6
The legendary bad boy Jorge Masvidal hung up his gloves in April after losing to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287.
During his long and violent career, ”Gamebred” defeated the likes of Tim Means, Michael Chiesa, Donald Cerrone, Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz.
Benson Henderson
Benson Henderson. Photo via Instagram (@bensonhenderson)
- Age: 39
- Record: 30-12
Former UFC and Bellator champion Benson Henderson retired after Bellator 292 in March. During his successful career he defeated fighters like Donald Cerrone (twice), Jim Miller, Clay Guida, Frankie Edgar (twice) and Nate Diaz.
Glover Teixeira
Glover Teixeira. Photo via Twitter (UFC)
- Age: 43
- Record: 33-9
Veteran Glover Teixeira was a late bloomer.
The Brazilian light heavyweight became the oldest first time champion in UFC history when he defeated Jan Błachowicz at age 42. Leading up to the title fight he stopped former title challengers Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith.
After losing his title to Jiri Prochazka and falling short against Jamahal Hill in a 2023 title fight, he decided to call it a day in front of the Brazilian crowd at UFC 283.
Raphael Assuncao
Raphael Assuncao. Photo via Instagram:(@raphaassuncao)
- Age: 40
- Record: 28-10
Brazilian veteran Raphael Assuncao competed in three weight divisions and defeated the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Joe Lauzon, T.J. Dillashaw, Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Moraes in promotions like Full Throttle, WEC and UFC.
Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes. Photo: USA Today Sports
- Age: 35
- Record: 23-5
The greatest female fighter on the planet, Amanda Nunes, retired in June after retaining her bantamweight title.
During her fantastic career, she became a two-division champion and defeated the likes of Germaine de Randamie (twice), Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Raquel Pennington, Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm.
What a champion!
Mauricio Rua
Mauricio ”Shogun” Rua. Photo via Instagram (@shogunoficial)
- Age: 41
- Record: 27-14-1
Former light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua, also known as ”Shogun”, retired at UFC 283 after three straight losses.
During his prime, the Brazilian defeated fighters like Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, Forrest Griffin, Alistair Overeem and Quinton Jackson.
Chad Mendes
Photo via instagram (@chadmendes)
- Age: 37
- Record: 18-5
Chad Mendes retired in April after a long and successful career.
During his years in the UFC he defeated fighters like Cub Swanson, Darren Elkins, Clay Guida, Ricardo Lamas.
Mendes stepped in as a short notice replacement to face Conor McGregor for the interim championship in 2015. He lost the fight via a second-round TKO after performing well in the first round.
Alistair Overeem
Alistair Overeem. Photo: Jerry Lai – USA TODAY Sports
- Age: 43
- Record: 49-19 with 1 no contest
Dutch MMA fighter and kickboxer Alistair Overeem is one of the best heavyweights that never won a UFC title.
During his years in the UFC, he secured notable wins against Brock Lesnar, Fabricio Werdum (twice), Mark Hunt (twice), Junior Dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski, Frank Mir and Vitor Belfort.
He fought for UFC gold in September 2016 but fell short to Stipe Miocic.
Angela Lee
Angela Lee. Photo via Instagram (@angelaleemma)
- Age: 27
- Record: 11-3
ONE Championship star Angela Lee announced her retirement from MMA in September.
She was the youngest person to ever win a MMA world title when she won the inaugural ONE atomweight championship at 19 years old and 9 months. Lee defended the belt five times before vacating the title when she retired from the sport.
Robbie Lawler
Robbie Lawler (left) and NIck Diaz (ríght) Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
- Age: 41
- Record: 30-16
Former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler fought some of the biggest wars in UFC history. He’s best known for his second fight against Rory MacDonald, a fight that many consider to be the best UFC fight ever.
During his career, Lawler defeated athletes like Matt Brown, Johny Hendricks, Carlos Condit, Donald Cerrone and Nick Diaz.
Marlon Moraes
Marlon Moraes. Photo via Instagram (@pflmma)
- Age: 35
- Record: 23-13-1
In his prime, Marlon Moraes was a highly dangerous striker with tons of power. During his prime he stopped UFC fighters like Raphael Assuncao, Aljamain Sterling and Jimmie Riviera.
However, Moraes ended his career on a seven-fight losing skid and fought his last bouts in PFL.
Lina Länsberg
Lina Länsberg. Photo via Instagram (@linalansberg)
- Age: 40
- Record: 10-8
Even though she might not qualify for being legendary outside of Sweden, Lina Länsberg made history as the first Swedish woman to fight in the UFC as she took on the dangerous Cris Cyborg in a main event bout.
Known as a fantastic Muay Thai striker, she tested herself against fighters like Mayra Bueno Silva and Yana Kunitskaya.
Fedor Emelianenko
- Age: 46
- Record: 40-7 with one no contest
After 23 years in the game, legendary heavyweight fighter Fedor Emelianenko decided to hang up his gloves for good.
Arguably one the greatest heavyweight of all time, Fedor defeated the likes Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, Mirko Cro Cop, Frank Mir, Chael Sonnen and Quinton ”Rampage” Jackson.
Chan Sung Jung ”Korean Zombie”
”The Korean Zombie”. Photo: Josh Morgan – USA Today Sports
- Age: 36
- Record: 17-8
Chan Sung Jung, better known as the ”Korean Zombie”, fought pretty much every big name in the UFC featherweight division.
During his long and successful career he tested himself against Dustin Poirier, Dennis Bermudez, Renato Moicano, Frankie Edgar, Max Holloway, Yair Rodríguez and Alexander Volkanovski!
Claudio Silva
Retired MMA fighters in 2023. Photo via Instagram (@claudiohannibalsilva)
- Age: 40
- Record: 14-4
Claudio Silva retired in January. During his career he got his hands raised against Leon Edwards, Nordine Taleb and Danny Roberts.
Complete list: Here’s the top 10 Best UFC fights in 2023