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The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon

Ranker Sports
Updated October 26, 2020 2.7k votes 250 voters 8.6k views44 items

List RulesVote up the retired UFC fighters who had the best careers.

The list of retired MMA fighters features some of the all-time great performers in the sport. Many active fighters are hoping to rise in the all-time great rankings, but we already know the entire story of these careers that ended. This is a look at the top names to leave the mixed martial arts world after having strong careers to see just which names stand out the most. 

Top icons like Ronda Rousey, Randy Couture, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson have seen the end of their time inside of the octagon. The retired UFC fighters have the best argument, but there are also some relevant names to have international success in other promotions. 

Which of these retired MMA fighters deserves to have the most respected legacy in retirement? Vote up the best fighters and check back to see just which retired MMA stars have the most respect for their careers.

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  • 1
    Georges St-Pierre is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    144
    32

    Georges St-Pierre

    Canada

    Birthplace: Saint-Isidore, Montérégie, Quebec, Canada

    Record: 26-2
    Weight class: Welterweight
    Fighting style: Kyokushin karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Gaidojutsu, Shidokan
    Belts won: UFC Welterweight Championship, UFC Middleweight Championship

  • 2
    Randy Couture is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    71
    25

    Randy Couture

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Everett, Washington, United States of America

    Record: 19-11
    Weight class: Light Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai, Jujutsu, Greco-Roman wrestling, Catch wrestling, Submission wrestling
    Belts won: UFC Heavyweight Championship, UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

  • 3
    Chuck Liddell is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    86
    39

    Chuck Liddell

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Santa Barbara, California, United States of America

    Record: 21-9
    Weight class: Light Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Kickboxing, Kajukenbo, Karate, Wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
    Belts won: UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

  • 4
    Matt Hughes is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    74
    31

    Matt Hughes

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Hillsboro, Illinois, United States of America

    Record: 45-9
    Weight class: Welterweight
    Fighting style: Wrestling, Boxing
    Belts won: UFC Welterweight Championship

  • 5
    Michael Bisping is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    77
    36

    Michael Bisping

    United Kingdom

    Birthplace: Nicosia, Cyprus

    Record: 30-9
    Weight class: Middleweight
    Fighting style: Kickboxing
    Belts won: UFC Middleweight Championship

  • 6
    Dan Henderson is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    63
    31

    Dan Henderson

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Downey, California, United States of America

    Record: 32-15
    Weight class: Middleweight
    Fighting style: Greco-Roman wrestling
    Belts won: N/A

  • 7
    Forrest Griffin is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    56
    31

    Forrest Griffin

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio, United States of America

    Record: 19-7
    Weight class: Light Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Brazilian jiu-jitsu
    Belts won: UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

  • 8
    Bas Rutten is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    59
    35

    Bas Rutten

    Netherlands, United States of America

    Birthplace: Tilburg, Kingdom of the Netherlands

    Record: 28-4-1
    Weight class: Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Karate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Krav Maga, Wrestling, Boxing, Shoot wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Shoot boxing, Catch Wrestling
    Belts won: UFC Heavyweight Championship

  • 9
    Anthony Johnson is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    52
    28

    Anthony Johnson

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Dublin, Georgia, United States of America

    Record: 22-6
    Weight class: Light heavyweight
    Fighting style: Boxing, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
    Belts won: N/A

  • 10
    Mirko Filipović is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    48
    29

    Mirko Filipović

    Yugoslavia, Croatia

    Birthplace: Vinkovci, Croatia

    Record: 34-8
    Weight class: Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Kickboxing, Boxing, Taekwondo
    Belts won: Only person to win K-1, Pride, and RIZIN Grand Prix championships

  • 11
    Royce Gracie is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    50
    35

    Royce Gracie

    Brazil

    Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Record: 15-2-3
    Weight class: Welterweight
    Fighting style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
    Belts won: N/A

  • 12
    Henry Cejudo is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    24
    7

    Henry Cejudo

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Colorado

  • 13
    Quinton Jackson is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    39
    26

    Quinton Jackson

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America

    Record: 38-13
    Weight class: Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Kickboxing
    Belts won: UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

  • 14
    Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    35
    24

    Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira

    Brazil

    Birthplace: Vitória da Conquista, Brazil

    Record: 34-10-2
    Weight class: Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo, Submission Wrestling, Boxing
    Belts won: Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship

  • 15
    Vitor Belfort is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    36
    30

    Vitor Belfort

    Brazil

    Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Record: 26-14-1
    Weight class: Middleweight
    Fighting style: Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo, Shotokan Karate
    Belts won: UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

  • 16
    Ken Shamrock is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    35
    29

    Ken Shamrock

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Macon, Georgia, United States of America

    Record: 28-17-2
    Weight class: Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Shootfighting, Wrestling, Kickboxing
    Belts won: UFC Superfight Championship

  • 17
    Rashad Evans is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    39
    37

    Rashad Evans

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Niagara Falls, New York, United States of America

    Record: 19-8
    Weight class: Light Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Wrestling
    Belts won: UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

  • 18
    Tito Ortiz is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    17
    10

    Tito Ortiz

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Huntington Beach, California, United States of America

  • 19
    Dan Severn is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    31
    28

    Dan Severn

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Coldwater, Michigan, United States of America

    Record: 101-19-7
    Weight class: Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Wrestling, Judo, Jujitsu, Sambo
    Belts won: UFC Superfight Championship

  • 20
    Don Frye is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    29
    26

    Don Frye

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States of America

    Record: 20-9-2
    Weight class: Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Wrestling, Boxing, Judo
    Belts won: N/A

  • 21
    Khabib Nurmagomedov is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    8
    0

    Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Record: 29-0
    Weight class: Lightweight, Welterweight
    Fighting style: Sambo
    Belts won: UFC Lightweight Championship

  • 22
    Ronda Rousey is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    46
    51

    Ronda Rousey

    United States of America

    Birthplace: California, United States of America

    Record: 12-2
    Weight class: Bantamweight
    Fighting style: Judo
    Belts won: UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship

  • 23
    Frank Shamrock is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    12
    7

    Frank Shamrock

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States of America

  • 24
    Matt Serra is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    28
    28

    Matt Serra

    United States of America

    Birthplace: East Meadow, New York, United States of America

    Record: 11-7
    Weight class: Welterweight
    Fighting style: Wing Chun, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing
    Belts won: UFC Welterweight Championship

  • 25
    Mark Coleman is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon
    24
    24

    Mark Coleman

    United States of America

    Birthplace: Fremont, Ohio, United States of America

    Record: 16-10
    Weight class: Heavyweight
    Fighting style: Wrestler
    Belts won: UFC Heavyweight Championship

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