Alexander Gustafsson and 4 other UFC fighters who should consider retirement
The UFC is home to some of the toughest athletes in the world. Sadly, it is often said that athletes are typically the last ones to realize they should retire from the sport they've dedicated their lives to. Whenever fans and media members alike are both calling for athletes to consider retirement, athletes are always the most adamant about prolonging their stay.
Fighters are no different. Perhaps they are worse given the amount of pride that goes into a combat sports career. It is difficult for fighters to admit when they're no longer as good as they remember, least of all when they were once world champions who were feared by the divisions over which they ruled. Though in some ways, facing the prospect of retirement without ever having won a world championship might be a tougher pill for fighters to swallow.
One such fighter is Alexander Gustafsson, whose recent loss to Nikita Krylov at UFC London has led to calls for the Swede to retire. This list looks at four other fighters, alongside Gustafsson himself, who should consider hanging up their gloves.
#5. Miesha Tate - Former UFC women's bantamweight champion
Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate is a pioneer in women's MMA. She is best known for her personal feud with UFC legend Ronda Rousey, whom Tate fought twice. While championship success in the UFC eluded her during Rousey's reign as the undisputed queen of the 135lb weight class, a glimmer of hope emerged when her longtime nemesis finally lost to Holly Holm.
It was the first time in the history of the women's bantamweight division that someone other than Rousey was the champion. Riding a four-fight win streak at the time, Tate faced Holm at UFC 196, shocking the world by choking her foe unconscious in the fifth round after losing every preceding frame.
Hear ALL of Miesha's thoughts w/ @RyanMcKinnell now!"I don't NEED to fight, I just WANT to."
@MieshaTate says she won't give up on her fight future and opens up on her plan to find a sports psychologist ahead of her next octagon appearance.
⬇️ Hear ALL of Miesha's thoughts w/ @RyanMcKinnell now!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mie… https://t.co/7STL8x1Sbl
Unfortunately for 'Cupcake', she would not be a defending champion, losing her title to Amanda Nunes in her subsequent bout before losing to Raquel Pennington to go 0-2 since becoming a champion. The fight took place in 2016, and Tate made her first retirement before returning five years later, successfully defeating Marion Reneau.
However, the win was not a sign of things to come, as Tate lost her next two bouts, the last of which was against Lauren Murphy, who is 38 years old, in a failed flyweight debut.
At 35 years old with her only win since her return coming against Marian Reneau, who is 45 years old and retired after losing her last five fights, Tate's prospects for her MMA future are bleak, at best.