We’ve seen some huge names hang up the gloves this year. UFC retirements in 2025 have seen multiple world champions, fan favourites, recognisable names and those who haven’t lived up to their potential all call time on their careers this year.
Without further ado, let’s take a look (in no particular order) at UFC retirements in 2025.
UFC Retirements in 2025
Dustin Poirier
The Diamond in name, The Diamond in nature. One of the best to ever do it laced them up one last time after 41 professional bouts. Dustin Poirier has had a hall of fame worthy career, from WEC to the dizzy heights of UFC title fights, Poirier faced all comers, put on entertaining fights and came up narrowly short on his three title opportunities. He’ll be missed for sure. This is certainly one of the biggest UFC retirements in 2025.
Career Highlights: The Conor McGregor trilogy, multiple title fights (and an interim title reign), his wars with Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis
Henry Cejudo
Former two-weight world champion, Henry Cejudo, hung up the gloves at the final PPV when he lost to up and comer, Payton Talbott. Although he ended his career with a record of 0-4, we can’t take away the impact he had on the sport. He all but saved the flyweight division when he defeated Demetrious Johnson in 2018 and breathed a breath of fresh air into the 125lbs division. He also snapped DJs 14 fight winning run on this occasion.
He went up in weight to defeat Marlon Morales for the interim bantamweight championship. He would make just one defence of the belt before retiring, only to return three years later. Behind the persona, Cejudo was always a world-class operator.
Career Highlights: Ending Johnson’s dominance, beating a drug-fuelled TJ Dillashaw, becoming a two-weight world champion
Stipe Miocic
Arguably the heavyweight GOAT, Stipe Miocic competed one last time in 2025 before officially retiring. With that being said, he’s been all but retired since 2021 but returned to face Jon Jones at UFC 309.
Making more heavyweight title defences than any other champion, Miocic always came to fight. With 20 wins and 15 knockouts, the part-time firefighter, part-time fighter was a fan favourite.
Career Highlights: Knocking out Fabricio Werdum in Brazil to win the belt, his trilogy with Daniel Cormier and stopping Francis Ngannou tearing through the division
Anthony Smith
A 60 fight veteran, Anthony Smith finally hung them up in 2025. The one-time title challenger is a veteran of Strikeforce, Bellator and the UFC, a multiple time Fight Night headliner and pulled off some huge upsets throughout his career.
Rounding out his career with a 2-6 record (including four finish losses), Smith has transitioned into the media side of things, where he’s done fairly well.
Career Highlights: Not taking the easy way out to win the belt from Jon Jones
Dominick Cruz
Former bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz is the second undisputed champion on our UFC retirements list. Despite not competing since 2022, Cruz officially called time on his career in 2025.
Retiring with a record of 24-4, Cruz held the UFC bantamweight title and the WEC bantamweight title. Battling injuries throughout his career, he defied the odds on multiple occasions. Changing the game with regards to his elusive movement, Cruz is now a regular in the commentary booth, providing great insight.
Career Highlights: Rivalry with Team Alphamale, becoming the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion
Bill Algeo
Bill Algeo surprised many by calling time on his MMA career after a 27 fight career. The former Ring of Combat champion joined the UFC in 2020 and competed 10 times in five years with a record of 5-5. After back to back knockout finishes in 2024, Algeo decided to hang them up this year.
Career Highlights: Impressive wins over Alexander Hernandez, Joanderson Brito and Herbert Burns
Julia Avila
Raging Panda, Julia Avila made the walk one final time in February when she lost a unanimous decision to Jacqueline Cavalcanti. Finishing off her career with a record of 9-4, Avila retired from MMA at 36 years old.
Career Highlights: Win over Pannie Kianzad
Joe Solecki
Joe Solecki hung them up in 2025 at just 31 years old. After a successful outing on the Contender Series, Solecki quickly raced to 3-0 in the UFC and at one point was 5-1.
He would finish his career 0-3, however, there’s an argument that he could still be competitive at lightweight today.
Career Highlights: Defeating UFC vet, Jim Miller
Molly McCann
Meatball Molly McCann decided to hang up the 4oz gloves and pick up the boxing gloves this year. The scrappy former CageWarriors champion made her debut in her home town of Liverpool and after 14 fights, decided to make the switch over to boxing, where she’s 2-0.
She was a fan favourite, always came to fight and was constantly progressing. She’ll be missed.
Career Highlights: Becoming the first ever CageWarriors flyweight champion, notching three straight post-fight bonuses, including two straight spinning back elbow knockout of the night awards
Antonina Shevchenko
The sister of flyweight queen, Valentina, Antonina Shevchenko, officially called time on her career this year, despite not fighting since 2022. Winning a contract on the Contender Series, Shevchenko retired with a UFC record of 4-4.
Career Highlights: Notching a performance of the night bonus at UFC 255
Diana Belbita
Fan favourite, Diana Belbita, decided that 2025 would mark the final time that she would make the walk to the UFC octagon. A veteran of 25 professional fights, Belbita competed for major promotions, including KSW and UFC. Her UFC run didn’t go to plan, finishing with a record of 2-6, but she has transitioned into the media side of the game in recent times.
It was fun fighting at the highest level.
I never even dared to dream that I will get there, But I ended up spending my last 6 years fighting for the best promotion in the world. It was a fun journey and I loved it. Now it’s time for me to start a new chapter. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/bqclvnAoYq— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) April 8, 2025
Career Highlights: Wins over Hannah Goldy and Maria Oliveira
Vinc Pichel
One of the greatest nicknames in the game, From Hell, Vinc Pichel decided to call time on a 16 year MMA career. Competing on The Ultimate Fighter 15, Pichel had an 8-4 UFC run, but having lost three straight and at the age of 43, Pichel decided enough was enough.
Career Highlights: A 7-1 UFC run, including a win over Jim Miller
Dan Argueta
Dan Argueta had a tough UFC career. After losing on TUF 29, Argueta made his UFC debut off the back of a three fight winning run in LFA. He traded a win and a loss in his first two outings, however, after back to back no contests, first for a premature stoppage and then a failed drug test for his opponent, followed by two losses, Argueta called ‘no mas’ on his career.
Career Highlights: Becoming LFA bantamweight champion
Marina Rodriguez
A stalwart of the strawweight division’s top 10 since 2018, Marina Rodriguez called time on a 25 fight MMA career. Making her debut back in 2015, she went undefeated across 14 fights. She gained a contract on the Contender Series and ended her career with a 7-6-2 UFC record. Headlining three fight night cards and notching three post fight bonuses, Rodriguez was highly respected at 115lbs.
Career Highlights: Knocking out Amanda Ribas (twice), defeating the current strawweight champion, Mackenzie Dern
Jose Aldo
The King of Rio, Jose Aldo once again called time on his illustrious career in 2025. Having retired in 2022, Aldo returned in 2024 with a 2-1 record. Aldo’s career needs no introduction, but the 10-year undefeated run at featherweight speaks for itself. After a reasonable 4-5 run at bantamweight to round out his career, Aldo deserves his place in the Hall of Fame. One of the more
Career Highlights: Becoming the first UFC featherweight champion and winning it again later in his career, being the WEC champion, being a UFC Hall of Famer
Lauren Murphy
Lucky Lauren Murphy boasted a 23 fight MMA career, spanning an impressive 15 years. She rushed to 8-0 and won the inaugural Invicta FC bantamweight belt before making the move to the UFC. After trading wins and losses, Murphy was announced as a contestant on TUF 26, losing in the first round. A turnaround in fortunes saw her go on a five fight winning run and gain a title shot, ultimately losing out.
Career Highlights: Becoming the inaugural Invicta FC bantamweight champion, beating former champion, Meisha Tate and gaining a title shot in 2021
Paul Craig
One of the faces of British MMA, Paul Craig made one final walk in 2025 after a hugely respectable career. Bearjew always bought the intensity whenever he fought. The Scot fought a who’s who of talent throughout him time with the promotion, including former and future champions and with eight post-fight bonuses, his talent was underappreciated.
Career Highlights: Submitting Magomed Ankalev in the final second in 2018, every win coming via finish and becoming the BAMMA champion
Should Jon Jones be in our list? Who knows… we’ll likely see him in 2026.
