Veteran Fighters' Last Stand: Notable Retirement and Farewell Fights in 2023

2023-08-28  

UFC is one of the most famous sports that have fans from all over. The most talked about topic these days is the farewell fights in 2023 and how their idols are retiring and are continuing to inspire.

In this article, we will talk about how many fighters have retired this year as they have contributed so many years to this sport. And they deserve every recognition in their way.

We are also going to talk about its history and debut fighters as well. So that you don't have to research and you can jump to the next steps.

History of UFC

On November 12, 1993, Ricion Gracie and Art David competed in the inaugural pay-per-view mixed martial arts fight in Denver, Colorado. 

The famed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Gracie joined forces with business tycoon Art Davie to present Jiu Jiutsu, the first self-protection martial art, on national television. Davie had imagined a showdown between martial artists of various styles to determine the most potent.

The sport of MMA was created due to Gracie's traditional Vale Tudo, a full-body fight with few regulations.

The fights were savage in the early matches, with few rules and minimal structure. By the 2000s, the UFC was in financial trouble, and the fans weren't watching the fights as much.

After buying the UFC, the Lorenzo brothers re-established their reputation as a recognized sport featuring top competitors.

The UFC defines mixed martial arts as a full-participation fighting sport that allows an extensive range of combating methods. And abilities from various other combative activities to be used in tournaments.

The UFC was founded with the goal of contrasting combat sports like boxing, karate, and jiu-jitsu. However, as the sport developed, it began incorporating elements from these combat sports.

An octagon stage with a mat and a fence is used to stage UFC and MMA fights. The octagon has become synonymous with the UFC brand because it was the first MMA match to be held on such a substantial and distinctive stage.

The UFC claims that the fenced octagon prevents combatants from jumping off the stage and prevents cornering your opponent.

The rounds in a UFC bout last 3 to 5 minutes apiece, with a 1-minute break in between. Five-round fights are typically saved for the night's last contest or finals at an MMA event. 

Although a battle may seem to last only a short while, a lot of training goes into it, and a lot of dopamine is released.

Today, the UFC's economic prosperity is derived from more than just their live pay-per-view fights; it also stems from their extensive media promotion. McClearen claims that The Ultimate Fighter show attracted new populations by encouraging identification with combatants from all backgrounds, particularly women.

List of Debut UFC Fighters of 2023

These are some of the names that made their debut in 2023 - 

  • Anshul Jubli – UFC Fight Night 218
  • Blake Bilder – UFC 284
  • Brunno Ferreira – UFC 283
  • Carl Deaton III – UFC Fight Night 220
  • Choi Seung-guk – UFC Fight Night 218
  • Claudio Ribeiro – UFC Fight Night 217
  • Clayton Carpenter – UFC Fight Night 219
  • Daniel Marcos – UFC 283
  • Elves Brener – UFC 284
  • Francisco Prado – Same as above
  • Gabriel Bonfim – UFC 283
  • Gabriella Fernandes – UFC Fight Night 220
  • Ismael Bonfim – UFC 283
  • Jeka Saragih – UFC Fight Night 218
  • Jack Jenkins – UFC 284
  • Jamal Pogues – UFC Fight Night 219
  • Jesús Santos Aguilar – UFC Fight Night 218
  • Khusein Askhabov – UFC Fight Night 219
  • Lee Jeong-Yeong – UFC Fight Night 218
  • Luan Lacerda – UFC 283
  • Nick Aguirre – UFC Fight Night 217
  • Nick Fiore – Same as above
  • Nurullo Aliev – UFC Fight Night 220
  • Mateus Mendonça – UFC Fight Night 217
  • Mateusz Rębecki – Same as above
  • Melquizael Costa – UFC 283
  • Nazim Sadykhov – UFC Fight Night 219
  • Park Hyun-sung – UFC Fight Night 218
  • Rinya Nakamura – Same as above
  • Shannon Ross – UFC 284
  • Themba Gorimbo – UFC Fight Night 219
  • Toshiomi Kazama – UFC Fight Night 218
  • Trevor Peek – UFC Fight Night 220
  • Victor Martinez – Same as above
  • Yi Zha – UFC Fight Night 218
  • Yusaku Kinoshita – Same as above

Farewell Fights in 2023

We've witnessed an increase of well-known fighters declaring their retirement from the sport in 2023, and we are going to present the list of those who made that decision this year - 

Leah Letson

Debut date: November 22, 2014

Retirement date: January 9, 2023

Age: 30

UFC news: Featherweight Leah Letson announces MMA retirement

Read more here: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/01/ufc-news-leah-letson-retirement-womens-featherweight-wmma

Claudio Silva

Debut date: November 10, 2007

Retirement date: January 16, 2023

Age: 40

Mauricio Rua

Debut date: Nov 8, 2002

Retirement date: Jan 21, 2023

Age: 41

Glover Teixeira

Debut date: June 7, 2002

Retirement date: January 21, 2023

Age: 43

Fedor Emelianenko

Debut date: May 21, 2000

Retirement date: February 4, 2023

Age: 46

Lina Lansberg

Debut date: December 29, 2012

Retirement date: February 19, 2023

Age: 40

George Sullivan

Debut date: February 11, 2006

Retirement date: March 3, 2023

Age: 41

UFC's George Sullivan gets one-year suspension from USADA - MMA Fighting

source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2016/11/8/13566558/ufc-s-george-sullivan-gets-one-year-suspension-from-usada

Benson Henderson

Debut date: November 18, 2006

Retirement date: March 10, 2023

Age: 39

Raphael Assuncao

Debut date: Jan 23, 2004

Retirement date: March 11, 2023

Age: 40

Steven Peterson

Debut date: August 4, 2010

Retirement date: March 25, 2023

Age: 32

John Salter

Debut date: March 27, 2009

Retirement date: March 31, 2023

Age: 38

Jorge Masvidal

Debut date: May 24, 2003

Retirement date: April 8, 2023

Age: 38

Zak Cummings

Debut date: November 28, 2007

Retirement date: April 15, 2023

Age: 38

Ed Herman

Debut date: May 10, 2003

Retirement date: April 15, 2023

Age: 42

Juan Espino

Debut date: February 21, 2009

Retirement date: April 21, 2023

Age: 42

Juan Espino vs. Alexandr Romanov added to UFC Vegas 24 fight card - MMA  Fighting

source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/4/4/22365664/juan-espino-vs-alexandr-romanov-added-to-ufc-vegas-24-fight-card

Ray Borg

Debut date: August 11, 2012

Retirement date: April 21, 2023

Age: 29

Chad Mendes

Debut date: September 26, 2008

Retirement date: April 29, 2023

Age: 37

Jim Wallhead

Debut date: April 8, 2005

Retirement date: April 29, 2023

Age: 39

Alistair Overeem

Debut date: October 24, 1999

Retirement date: June 1, 2023

Age: 43

Marlon Moraes

Debut date: April 14, 2007

Retirement date: June 8, 2023

Age: 35

Amanda Nunes

Debut date: March 8, 2008

Retirement date: June 11, 2023

Age: 35

Stevie Ray

Debut date: June 27, 2010

Retirement date: June 23, 2023

Age: 33

Robbie Lawler

Debut date: April 7, 2001

Retirement date: July 8, 2023

Age: 41

Kevin Lee

Debut date: March 31, 2012

Retirement date: July 11, 2023

Age: 30

Carlos Candelario

Debut date: Jan 3, 2015

Retirement date: July 31, 2023

Age: 32

Chan Sung Jung

Debut date: June 24, 2007

Retirement date: August 26, 2023

Age: 36

MMABite offers a seamless platform for streaming exclusive free UFC matches. With their user-friendly interface, UFC fans can enjoy live games with ease. 

Experience every thrilling moment without the hassle. This platform is an ideal destination for uninterrupted UFC action.

FAQs

What is the cost of a UFC ticket?

On average, it costs around $200.

Is the UFC still growing?

As the UFC maintains its gradual rise in global acclaim in 2023, MMA supporters from all walks of life will continue to cheer on their preferred competitors.

Conclusion

Overall, we can say that UFC has passionate fans that are making it globally popular. Many new fighters are coming to proclaim themselves in this field. Many are leaving their footprints here.

How much emotion and respect these people are leaving this sport shows how it was an integral part of their lives. Fans showing them respect shows how much they respect the sport and the players.