Fighters who were forced to retire because of injury (in their prime or not)

Are there a lot of these ?

The best example I can think of is TJ Grant going to have a title shot at LW and then retiring because of concussion symtoms.

Bisping did not retire because if his eye he fought many fights like that.

Any other example outside Grant ?

Updated list:
- TJ Grant, concussion
- Dan Hardy, heart condition
- Chris Holdsworth, concussion
- Mark Kerr, mental health
- Yuki Nakai, eye loss
- Sean Sherk, shoulder/knee/hip injury
- Evangelista Cyborg Santos, fractures
- James Te Huna, brain trauma
- Travis Lutter, neck injury
- Igor Vovchanchyn, hand injury
- Krzysztof Soszyński, CTE
- Dave Terrel, sinus infection

 

Chris holdsworth, maybe he wasn't even in his prime yet

 

Sean Sherk.... though one may argue juicing had something to do with his retirement...

 

One of TJ Dillashaw sparring partners, Holdsworth iirc.

 

What was his injury ?

 

Igor Vovchanchyn was only 32. He lost 2 in a row when he retied, but had won 5 in a row before that.

 

Yes the guy won TUF i think. And iirc it was Dillashaw's fault also

 

CM Punk. That devastating right cross he threw to Mickey Gall had so much power behind it that he tore his rotator cuff. And it was obviously the reason he lost that close match.

Premature ending to what could have been a fantastic GOAT level career.

 

I don't recall.

Per Wiki:

Injury plague hits[edit]
Sherk was scheduled to face Gleison Tibau at UFC 104, but was forced off the card with an injury. He was replaced by Josh Neer.[26]

Sherk was scheduled to face Rafaello Oliveira on January 2, 2010 at UFC 108.[27] However, due to an injury to Tyson Griffin, Sherk was promoted to the main card to fight Jim Miller.[28] Sherk did not compete at UFC 108, pulling out due to injury. Sherk suffered a cut above his right eye requiring several stitches.

Sherk was expected to face Clay Guida on March 21, 2010 at UFC on Versus: Vera vs. Jones,[29] but Sherk was forced off the card with yet another injury.[30]

Return to the Octagon and Retirement[edit]
After a 16-month hiatus, Sherk returned on September 25, 2010 at UFC 119 and defeated Evan Dunham via split decision in a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors.[31]

Sherk was planning a fall 2011 return after rehabbing past injuries, but no fights for him came to fruition.[citation needed]

After rehabbing a litany of injuries over the past few years, Sherk indicated in October 2012 that he was still planning a return to the UFC and hoped to return sometime in early 2013.[32]

On September 2, 2013, Sherk formally announced his retirement from MMA fighting.[33]

 

But did he retire because of injury or health condition ?

 

What do you guys think about Mark Kerr ? His mental state (depression) could qualify as health reasonfor why his career stopped or not in your opinion ?

 

He had another fight after that, a 3 round war with a top photographer, i mean, contender, Mike Jackson.

 

I think Brian foster who had a good win over Matt brown had a brain hemmorage. This was 10 plus years ago, so it’s hazy. Dropped out of a fight and got dropped by the ufc from what I remember. Continues to fight outside of the ufc though. Maybe they didn’t want to take on him as a liability?

 

Forrest, pretty sure he was meant to fight Chael but had to pull out due to surgery and decided to just retire.


EDIT. I just read prime, maybe not so much.

 

Ok I see. But he kept fighting outside of UFC as you said so we can't include him

 

If i recall correctly he had shoulder problems

 

Holdsworth didnt even get a chance to see a prime.

.......shame.

Aren't many examples but grant definitely good example . I dont even think he was 30 yet as he had strung several w's in a row.

 

I think Yuki Nakai can definitely be included. He was blinded by Gerard Gordeau in the first round of a one night tournament and won that fight. When I say blinded it's literally, Gordeau eye goujed him and he became blind in one of his eyes.

The guy is such a beast that he kept fighting until he reached the final where he lost to Rickson Gracie. He retired after that tho.