For many fighters, knowing when to call it quits on their careers and retire can feel like one of the hardest things they will ever have to do. After many years of training and competing at the highest-level, fighting has become an integral part of their lives, with combat sports becoming a cornerstone part of their identity.
Whether it’s due to being scared of what comes after competition or the thrill of the cage still driving them on, there are some individuals in mixed martial arts history that should have made the decision to retire from the game much sooner, including revered icons of the sport.