(This story was updated to add new information.)
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
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
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
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
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
Joanne Wood
Joanne Wood
MMA debut date: Feb. 25, 2012
Retirement date: March 9, 2024
Age: 38
Record: 17-8
Notable wins: Cortney Casey, Valerie Letourneau, Andrea Lee, Jessica Eye, Maryna Moroz
Source: In-cage announcement after split decision win over Maryna Moroz at UFC 299.
Mike Grundy
MMA debut date: Sept. 13, 2014
Retirement date: April 27, 2024
Age: 37
Record: 12-4
Source: Social media announcement
Thiago Alves
MMA debut date: June 30, 2001
Retirement date: April 28, 2024
Age: 40
Record: 23-15
Notable wins: Matt Hughes, Josh Koscheck, Patrick Cote
Source: BKFC: KnuckleMania 4 post-fight press conference
Matt Brown
Matt Brown
MMA debut date: Oct. 8, 2005
Retirement date: May 4, 2024
Age: 43
Record: 24-19
Notable wins: Stephen Thompson, Tim Means, Diego Sanchez
Source: Social media announcement
Heather Hardy
Heather Hardy
MMA debut date: June 27, 2017
Retirement date: May 7, 2024
Age: 42
Record: 2-2
Source: Social media announcement
Brennan Ward
Brennan Ward 2024 PFL 6 weigh-ins
MMA debut date: Feb. 23, 2008
Retirement date: June 28, 2024
Age: 36
Record: 17-9
Source: In-cage announcement after submission loss to Magomed Umalatov at 2024 PFL 6
Michelle Waterson-Gomez
Michelle Waterson-Gomez, UFC 303 retirement
MMA debut date: Feb. 16, 2007
Retirement date: June 29, 2024
Age: 38
Record: 18-13
Notable wins: Angela Hill, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Jessica Penne
Source: In-cage announcement after decision loss to Gillian Robertson at UFC 303.
Darren Stewart
Darren Stewart
MMA debut date: June 7, 2014
Retirement date: Aug. 27, 2024
Age: 33
Record: 16-10 with two no contests
Source: Social media announcement
Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson
MMA debut date: Aug. 15, 2009
Retirement date: Sept. 6, 2024
Age: 38
Record: 25-4-1
Notable wins: Henry Cejudo, Joseph Benavidez, Miguel Torres, Adriano Morres
Source: Special announcement at ONE Championship 168
Matt Schnell
Matt Schnell, UFC Fight Night 242
MMA debut date: Sept. 14, 2012
Retirement date: Sept. 7, 2024
Age: 34
Record: 16-9
Notable wins: Jonathan Martinez, Marco Beltran, Louis Smolka, Jordan Espinosa, Tyson Nam, Su Mudaerji
Source: Left gloves in cage after loss at UFC Fight Night 242
Kanna Asakura
MMA debut date: Oct. 4, 2014
Retirement date: Sept. 29, 2024
Age: 26
Record: 20-7
Notable wins: Mei Yamaguchi and Rena Kubota
Source: Left gloves in ring after loss at Rizin FF 48
Carla Esparza
Oct 5, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Carla Esparza (red gloves) reacts after her fight against Tecia Pennington (blue gloves) during UFC 307 at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
MMA debut date: Feb. 19, 2010
Retirement date: Oct. 5, 2024
Age: 36
Record: 19-8
Notable wins: Felice Herrig, Bec Rawlings, Rose Namajunas (twice), Maryna Moroz, Virna Jandiroba, Alexa Grasso, Michelle Waterson
Source: Announced ahead of her fight with Tecia Pennington at UFC 307 that it would be her final bout, and she left her gloves in the cage after a controversial decision loss.
Daniel Pineda
Daniel Pineda, UFC Fight Night 244
MMA debut date: April 13, 2007
Retirement date: Oct. 19, 2024
Record: 28-17
Notable wins: Tucker Lutz, Herbert Burns
Source: Announced in the cage following a unanimous decision loss to Darren Elkins at UFC Fight Night 245.
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