5 UFC fighters whose next fight could be their last
Every year in the UFC, we see a handful of often-legendary fighters who announce their retirement. This situation may be beckoning for a number of the roster right now.
There are definitely some fighters on the UFC's roster who are inching towards retirement, and in fact, for some of them, their next fight could well be their last.
Of course, nobody can say this for certain, as the history of MMA is littered with fighters who kept hanging on for one more bout, often to their detriment.
Regardless, here are five UFC fighters whose next fight could be their last.
#5. Tony Ferguson - UFC lightweight contender
This weekend's UFC event will see former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson face fellow veteran Michael Chiesa in a welterweight bout.
It'll be his first full-notice fight at 170 pounds, and he'll be giving up plenty of size, making it a difficult match for 'El Cucuy'.
If the TUF 13 champion loses, as many fans expect that he will, the fight could prove to be Ferguson's last in MMA.
Few fighters in UFC history have seen such a quick tumble down the rankings as 'El Cucuy'. At the start of 2020, he was arguably the lightweight division's most feared fighter and looked like the man most capable of giving Khabib Nurmagomedov a real test.
Since his defeat to Justin Gaethje, though, it's all been downhill for the former interim titleholder.
The beating that Gaethje gave him appeared to take years off his career, causing him to age overnight. He's since looked like a shadow of his old self and is now riding a seven-fight losing streak.
An eighth loss in a row this weekend would essentially be unthinkable, but if it happens, Ferguson is almost certain to lose his spot on the UFC roster.
If that's the case, then put simply, at the age of 40, there's no reason for him to keep fighting. If he loses this weekend, it's likely to be his last-ever fight.
#4. Stipe Miocic - former UFC heavyweight champion
While there are many fans who don't agree with the idea, it looks all but set now that the next UFC heavyweight title bout will see Jon Jones defend against legendary former champion Stipe Miocic.
Five years ago, this fight would've been about as big as it could get in the octagon. However, despite being the most accomplished heavyweight in the promotion's history, Miocic will hardly come into the bout with momentum.
The former champ now hasn't fought in well over three years after being knocked out by Francis Ngannou in March 2021. He hasn't won since his 2020 win over Daniel Cormier, who is long since retired.
Essentially, the odds that Miocic, who will be 42 years old by the time the fight comes around, can beat Jones are slim.
Even if he does pull off a miracle win, his chances of fighting again seem unlikely. Putting a 42-year-old in with an animal like interim champ Tom Aspinall would simply seem unfair.
Of course, it's far more likely that Miocic loses to Jones and then rides off into the sunset, his legacy largely intact. If his next fight isn't his last one, it'd be a huge shock to everyone.
#3. Stephen Thompson - UFC welterweight contender
While he was never able to capture the welterweight title, Stephen Thompson remains one of the UFC's most respected veterans.
'Wonderboy' fought to a draw with then-170-pound champ Tyron Woodley in 2016 and only narrowly missed out on defeating him in a rematch. He holds wins over Jorge Masvidal, Geoff Neal, and Johny Hendricks and even beat Kevin Holland relatively recently.
However, at the age of 41, could Thompson's time in MMA be coming near its end? It definitely feels likely.
'Wonderboy' most recently fought in December, when Shavkat Rakhmonov soundly beat him. In fact, he's only won one of his last four bouts, dating back to the start of 2021.
Thompson remains highly ranked in the welterweight division, currently sitting in the No.9 spot. However, he has nothing more to prove, and with his athletic prime likely over now, his chances of one more title run feel slim.
'Wonderboy' seems like a smart fighter, and that means that he's probably aware that his time is nearly up.
Therefore, it would not be a surprise to see his next fight be his last, particularly if he's matched with another young, hungry lion-like Rakhmonov.
#2. Nick Diaz - UFC welterweight contender
For as amazing as most of the UFC's fights are to watch, there are also some that make for uncomfortable viewing.
One of the most difficult fights to watch in recent years took place back in September 2021. It saw former welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz return to action for the first time since January 2015, when he took on fellow veteran Robbie Lawler.
Diaz looked like a broken shadow of his former self and was forced to quit the fight early in the third round. This was worrying for longtime fans of the Stockton-based fighter.
At that point, it didn't feel likely that we'd see Diaz return again. Remarkably, though, he was set to face Vicente Luque in an unlikely comeback fight this coming weekend until travel issues saw the bout postponed.
Luque has stated that he expects the bout to be re-booked soon, although Dana White has suggested it won't be in 2024.
Either way, though, it definitely feels like the fight will be the final one of Diaz's storied career. By that point, Diaz will be 41 years old, and it's hard to see how he'll have improved his physical condition since the Lawler fight.
Given how bad the Californian looked against 'Ruthless', the idea that he's fighting again, especially against a man as dangerous as Luque, is worrying in itself.
With that considered, surely Diaz's own family would be willing to convince him not to step back into the fray if he were to lose. The chances of his next fight being his last, then, seem huge.
#1. Conor McGregor - former UFC lightweight champion
Very few fighters in MMA and UFC history have been able to transcend the sport entirely, but Conor McGregor is definitely one of them.
'The Notorious' has been the promotion's biggest star for a decade now, and even though he hasn't fought since the summer of 2021, nobody has been able to eclipse his star power just yet.
But could the Irishman's next fight also be his last one in the octagon? At this point, it seems likely.
McGregor has been matched with Michael Chandler for what feels like an age now, and while Dana White has still not confirmed a date for the bout, early 2025 seems probable.
So why is it so likely that 'The Notorious' will not fight again after the bout with Chandler? Put simply, he's got no reason to continue.
If he loses to 'Iron Mike', then any idea of him climbing back into contention - at any weight - will be dead in the water.
Even if he wins, the chances of him claiming gold at either 170 pounds or 155 pounds are doubtful. A fight with Islam Makhachev would draw huge money, but would probably end badly for 'The Notorious'.
And given the millions he's earned during his career - as well as from other ventures such as his Irish stout and whiskey brands - he really doesn't need to suffer in the octagon to earn more.
Add in his burgeoning acting career, and the truth is that McGregor just doesn't need to fight anymore. Therefore, it's easy to see why his fight with Chandler will probably bring the 'Notorious' era in the UFC to an end.