Retirement Round Up

Given the volatile nature of fighters’ fortunes, they often talk about retirement. Right now, who are those threatening retirement, and who is likely to make an announcement in the future?

Let’s start with the recent drama coming from Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. Who knows what could happen here. The problem with having a blog when you’re famous is that everything must seem like an announcement. I get the feeling Rampage has yet to make up his mind, and his blog posts have really been more about him working through this decision. The current outlook on the Evans vs. Jackson fight looks good, though, as Rampage seems averse to letting fans down. After all, it’s his MMA fans going to see him in his early movies that will make him seem like a bankable actor in the future.

Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic also seems uncertain on his retirement plans, but it’s looking pretty likely the high kicking Croatian will call it a day. A recent quote in particular suggested it’s really just a matter of time: “I’m entering a cage and thinking about fishing in Privlaka.” If he isn’t retired right now, then he’s certainly in the mindset to move on from fighting. He’ll leave us with plenty of highlight reel footage thanks to his dominant striking in Pride, but not from his UFC fights, unfortunately.

Frank Trigg will likely be released from the UFC shortly, thanks to a terrible performance against Josh Koscheck. Trigg plans to retire if the rumors are true. In his own words: “If the UFC cuts me, I’m done fighting. I don’t have the strength or determination to go fight in the minor leagues anymore. I’ve done it before.” It’s sound thinking. He was preparing for one last shot at glory in the biggest promotion around, and he didn’t make it. Why go back to what you were unsatisfied with?

Some other fighters I think will retire soon are Randy Couture (That’s not a shocking guess, but COME ON! How does the man manage to keep fighting?) and possibly Forrest Griffin. Not in the really near future, but within a year or so. For both I think it all depends on their next fights. If they win, they’ll continue, but Couture must surely be feeling too old by now for this kind of punishment and Griffin seems far too bitter after the Anderson Silva fight. Randy’s eventual retirement is a foregone conclusion, given his contract, but what Forrest will decide to do is harder to gauge. A third loss in a row could just send him overboard, and I don’t know if he’d come back from that.

Well, it’s a long wait until UFC 104, but at least WEC 43 is coming up soon. I have a feeling this could be the event that marks the end of the WEC, as it seems doomed to such spectacular monetary failure that folding it into the UFC will be appear to be the only sound option.