Retirements in any sport are just a natural part of the process. Everyone knows they happen sooner or later, and everyone expects them.
Still, that didn't make the rash of retirements following last Saturday's UFC Stockholm any less surprising. Three consummate professionals of the Octagon hung up their gloves this past week. Here they are in their own words, followed by the reactions from fans, fighters, and media upon hearing the news.
“I fight because I love this sport, because I want to be the best and compete against the best. It feels like I don’t have it anymore.