Nothing lasts forever, but combat sports retirements seem to have a shorter shelf life than uncooked chicken. Whether it’s the money, the fame, or just the thrill of getting to punch another person in the face and have people cheer them on, fighters rarely seem to quit the game for good.
This especially seems to be the case when it’s not so much the fighter pushing themselves to retire, but others around them. “I think Luke Rockhold should talk about hanging it up,” UFC president Dana White told reporters after UFC 239 back in July of last year—where Rockhold suffered a broken jaw on his way to his second straight KO loss.