MMA
Legendary UFC Fighters Who Retired Early: Khabib, GSP Ranked
Within the world of combat sports and mixed martial arts, often walking away from the fight is indicated by the body’s inability to keep going. You see fighters go through injuries, concussions and all sorts of training environments to make a name for themselves. Interestingly, some legends chose to walk away far too early. What if they stayed? What could they have gone on to achieve? These are often the remnants of a career ended far too soon.
Khabib Nurmagomedov / Getty Images
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate These Early Retirees
This evaluation combines a statistical analysis of their retirement age with expert and media perception of their overall legendary status to provide a comprehensive ranking. Our SB Market Index represents the average of each fighter’s SB Score as well as the Industry Insights mentions the fighter achieved.
Industry Insights
A curated analysis from top 10 MMA and sports media sources measures how prominently each fighter is featured in discussions of the "greatest UFC fighters of all time."
| Fighter | Total Mentions |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | 10 |
| Georges St-Pierre | 10 |
| Anderson Silva | 10 |
| Chuck Liddell | 8 |
| Randy Couture | 7 |
| Dustin Poirier | 6 |
| Dominick Cruz | 6 |
| Mauricio Rua | 5 |
| Tito Ortiz | 5 |
| Robbie Lawler | 3 |
| Glover Teixeira | 3 |
| Ken Shamrock | 2 |
SB Score
| Fighter | Age at Retirement | SB Score |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | 33 | 1.000 |
| Dustin Poirier | 36 | 0.917 |
| Georges St-Pierre | 38 | 0.868 |
| Dominick Cruz | 39 | 0.846 |
| Robbie Lawler | 41 | 0.805 |
| Mauricio Rua | 41 | 0.805 |
| Tito Ortiz | 41 | 0.805 |
| Glover Teixeira | 43 | 0.767 |
| Anderson Silva | 45 | 0.733 |
| Randy Couture | 47 | 0.702 |
| Chuck Liddell | 48 | 0.688 |
| Ken Shamrock | 55 | 0.600 |
This score is calculated based on the fighter's age at retirement (100% weightage). A lower retirement age results in a higher SB Score.
SB Market Index
| Rank | Fighter | SB Score | Industry Mentions | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Khabib Nurmagomedov | 1.000 | 10 | 8.200 |
| 2 | Georges St-Pierre | 0.868 | 10 | 8.174 |
| 3 | Anderson Silva | 0.733 | 10 | 8.147 |
| 4 | Chuck Liddell | 0.688 | 8 | 6.538 |
| 5 | Randy Couture | 0.702 | 7 | 5.740 |
| 6 | Dustin Poirier | 0.917 | 6 | 4.983 |
| 7 | Dominick Cruz | 0.846 | 6 | 4.969 |
| 8 | Mauricio Rua | 0.805 | 5 | 4.161 |
| 9 | Tito Ortiz | 0.805 | 5 | 4.161 |
| 10 | Robbie Lawler | 0.805 | 3 | 2.561 |
| 11 | Glover Teixeira | 0.767 | 3 | 2.553 |
| 12 | Ken Shamrock | 0.600 | 2 | 1.720 |
The Undefeated King: Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib was able to draw the attention of the entire combat world by retiring undefeated (29-0) at the age of just 33. The iconic retirement came right at the cusp of personal loss, where Khabib lost his father and coach after announcing his retirement.
It comes as little surprise to see Khabib’s name top the SB Score after his young retirement, and earn a perfect 10 in our Industry Insights. His is arguably the greatest “what if” but little dispute the fact that he retires as the G.O.A.T.
The GOATs Who Walked Away: GSP and Anderson Silva
Georges St-Pierre, a two-division champion and tactical wizard famously retired twice, once in 2013 before finally walking away in 2017. While he stayed in the game until the age of 38, his total dominance and incredible status elevated him to champion in the eyes of many.
Anderson Silva, often seen as one of the greatest creative fighters in the industry, left the octagon at 45 – but very few can forget his dominance between 2006 and 2012. 10 title defences earn him a perfect 10 in our Industry Insights, but his legacy seemed to go well past just the moment of his retirement.
The Modern Legends: Poirier and Cruz
Dustin Poirier isn’t often associated with UFC gold, but given his countless wars (and wins) over the likes of McGregor, Holloway and Gaethje sees Dustin leave the world of MMA with an incredible legacy and an identifiable association with violence.
Dominick Cruz had a career which unfortunately was brought to an end by a range of injuries. His footwork and movement has, however, shown relevance to a generation of fighters even up to today, a legacy which is entrenched even amidst long layoffs and inconsistent achievement.
Conclusion on Legacies Forged by Absence
Through our SB Market Index, early retirees are interestingly more likely to find their ‘legend’ enhanced in the pubic eye. Khabib Nurmagomedov has the top spot locked in thanks to his elite character and fighting ability.
Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva are examples that fighters who maintain a longer career are not to be forgotten – even if fans might unconsciously enjoy the cliffhanger early retirement brings.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.