Fighters who retired too early

[blaseblase]

I always think of Chad Mendes. He was 33 and ran into Alexander Volkanovski who was unheralded and ranked 10th at the time. He almost put Volk out at one point but got overwhelmed by the pace and finished. He took that as a sign he was past it and retired. Then Volk goes on an insane run and becomes one of the greatest fighters of all time.

I wouldn't see Mendes ever winning a title but he could have been a contender for at least the next few years. I think he smokes the good not great guys hanging around the top 5 now like Ortega and Yair.

 

[BigTruck]

Gsp had a few more fights in him imo.
Khabib had a few as well
Is Gregor still competing or did he retire?

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Zabit obviously.

 

[Azure]

No fighter retires to early.. MMA is a brutal sport that takes a terrible toll on your body.

 

[blaseblase]

Is Gregor still competing or did he retire?

The weird thing is he never retired, he just stopped accepting fights. After beating Ferreira and getting into the top 10 he refused to take any fights with anyone ranked lower than him. He sank his own career.

 

[Croaker]

Shabulat Shamalaev

He got shot and said he'd come back and never did. Dude had crazy timing and power for a 145er

 

[Michael Wetzel]

Cain Velasquez could have gone longer if he had better knees. He was possibly the best rounded HW UFC champion ever.

 

[Bork Neslar]

Conor

 

[BigTruck]

Cole Konrad

 

[legcramp]

 

[PhilMcCavity]

He’s got 40 or 60 years left to make a comeback. He was a fetus last time he entered the hexagon or whatever

 

[supermurph]

GSP and Khabib were the 1st two that came to mind.

 

[Ares Black]

I would have liked to see Khabib Nurmagomedov fight more elite competition. His resume is just so weak.

 

[Shaddows]

Gsp had a few more fights in him imo.
Khabib had a few as well
Is Gregor still competing or did he retire?

the only two I had in mind.

GSP was the obvious choice of going out while on top.
But we will NEVER know how he would fare had he stayed. Maybe he'd lose his very next fight, or maybe he wouldn't. but I am 100% sure he was still close to the top of his game, his prime.

And Khabib, unfortunately his father passing is what took him out, so it was not even that he was tired or declining..... A pity. There were lots of good fights for him that we'll never get to see. Then again, lucky Islam! He would probably not have ascended if Khabib was still at the top.

 

[TheBulge]

Cain Velasquez could have gone longer if he had better knees. He was possibly the best rounded HW UFC champion ever.

He was defeated by a more well rounded HW champ, who then was beaten by an even more well rounded champ, who later got beaten by a rather one dimensional HW champ who left the UFC. It's the current HW champ who is by far the most well rounded ever.

 

[CatchtheseHands]

He was defeated by a more well rounded HW champ, who then was beaten by an even more well rounded champ, who later got beaten by a rather one dimensional HW champ who left the UFC. It's the current HW champ who is by far the most well rounded ever.

LOL Francis a 1 dimensional champ. What the fuck?

 

[Clark Rogers]

On one hand given how brutal the sport is, I cant second guess anyone's decision to hang it up. If the thought was there, it was the right time, imo.

On the other hand, a few clearly had more in the tank. GSP and Khabib are two good examples of that.

 

[filthybliss]

Zabit obviously.

dude would of ended up dead if he kept fighting. he had a serious heart condition, he's becoming a doctor now so thats a better net positive today.

don't worry though, I am sure Khabib has another cousin in the mountains of daegstan that will make a name for themself in the 145lb division.

 

[filthybliss]

On one hand given how brutal the sport is, I cant second guess anyone's decision to hang it up. If the thought was there, it was the right time, imo.

On the other hand, a few clearly had more in the tank. GSP and Khabib are two good examples of that.

love GSP but he retired at the perfect time. he wouldn't of been able to handle the next gen of MW at that point, romero would be too quick and athletic for him to just out point with wits.

 

[Ludwig von Mises]

Khabib
Genki Sudo
Zabit