Who walked away from fighting?

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Mike Bohn and MMA Junkie Staff

March 4, 2024 1:30 am ET

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently, fighters from the era who helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves in order to move on to the next chapter in life.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete, and perhaps more importantly get a payday, will continue to drive fighters back even well beyond their expiration dates.

2024 has already seen a number of notable fighters announcing they are done with the sport, and we have a list of those who have opted to walk away this year (the list will update as new retirements are announced).

Malcolm Gordon

Malcolm Gordon

MMA debut date: Oct. 19, 2012
Retirement date: Jan. 21, 2024
Age: 33
Record: 14-8
Notable wins: Francisco Figueiredo and Chris Kelades
Source: Gordon’s retirement announcement

Mark Madsen

MMA debut date: Sept. 26, 2013
Retirement date: Jan. 31, 2024
Age: 39
Record: 12-2
Notable wins: Clay Guida and Vinc Pichel
Source: Madsen’s retirement announcement

Felice Herrig

MMA debut date: Feb. 21, 2009
Retirement date: Feb. 10, 2024
Age: 39
Record: 14-10
Notable wins: Alexa Grasso and Cortney Casey
Source: Herrig’s retirement announcement

Jamie Pickett

MMA debut date: Sept. 24, 2011
Retirement date: March 2, 2024
Age: 35
Record: 13-11
Notable wins: Jhonoven Pati on DWCS, Joseph Holmes and Laureano Staropoli in the UFC
Source: UFC Fight Night 238 post-fight news conference

Tyson Pedro

MMA debut date: Sept. 23, 2013
Retirement date: March 2, 2024
Age: 32
Record: 10-5
Notable wins: Khalil Rountree Jr., Paul Craig in the UFC.
Source: UFC Fight Night 238 in-cage interview after loss to Vitor Petrino.

Satoshi Ishii

2023 PFL 8: New York City at the The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Cooper Neill / PFL)

MMA debut date: Dec. 31, 2009
Retirement date: March 3, 2024
Age: 37
Record: 25-13-1
Notable wins: Tim Sylvia, Perdo Rizzo, Jeff Monson, Philip De Fries, Heath Herring
Source: Tokyo Sports

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