May 9, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

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Top 5 UFC Fights That Basically Ended Careers – Feat Anderson Silva, Tony Ferguson And More!

Nobody wants to see their favorite fighters go out on a brutal loss. But the UFC cage doesn’t care about sentiment or legacy and one fight can change everything. A devastating knockout can steal a fighter’s chin forever. A gruesome injury can break both bone and spirit. And occasionally, ‘Father Time’ shows up mid-fight to remind everyone that this sport belongs to the young and hungry. The saddest moments in UFC history aren’t always title losses or shocking upsets. They’re the fights that end careers in ways nobody wanted to see.

These aren’t retirements after long farewell tours. These are career-enders that happened in real time while millions watched. Some fighters tried coming back but were never the same. Others took the hint and walked away immediately. Either way, these 5 UFC fights basically ended careers and left fans wondering what could have been if things had gone differently.

5. UFC 168 – Anderson Silva vs Chris Weidman 2

Silva’s second fight with Weidman didn’t just end his title reign. It nearly ended his whole leg. After losing his championship by knockout in their first meeting, Silva came back determined to prove it was a fluke. He looked focused and dangerous through the first round. Then came the second round and one of the most horrific injuries in sports history.

Dec28.2013

11 years ago today,

Anderson Silva shattered his leg while attempting to kick Chris Weidman. pic.twitter.com/5iGJ40J7WL
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) December 28, 2024

Silva threw a leg kick that Weidman checked with his knee. The sound echoed through the arena as Silva’s shin snapped completely. The injury required surgery and a metal rod inserted into his shin. Although Silva eventually returned to fighting, he was never the same dominant force. His movement was compromised and his confidence shaken. The man who once seemed untouchable had been broken in the worst possible way.

4. UFC 88 – Chuck Liddell vs Rashad Evans

The ‘Iceman’ once had a chin made of granite. He would walk through punches that would drop other men and fire right back. That invincibility disappeared forever at UFC 88. Rashad Evans caught Liddell with an overhand right that knocked him completely unconscious.

Chuck Liddell vs Rashad Evans

Chuck Liddell ruled with an iron chin for years. He was known for taking crazy punishment. He was brutally KOd by Rashad Evans in spectacular fashion. @SugaRashadEvans pic.twitter.com/fVZINZgczg
— HJ (@cannonier_szn) July 19, 2024

This wasn’t just another knockout. Something fundamental changed in Liddell’s brain that night. His famous iron chin had crumbled into dust. He followed this loss with two more brutal knockouts against Mauricio Rua and Rich Franklin. Dana White eventually told him he would never fight in the UFC again. Liddell retired after losing three straight by knockout. He tried one comeback fight eight years later against Tito Ortiz and got knocked out again in the first round.

3. UFC on ESPN 1 – Cain Velasquez vs Francis Ngannou

Cain Velasquez had retired from competition earlier as the former two-time heavyweight champion had been plagued by injuries for years. After three years away from competition, he decided to return against one of the scariest knockout artists in UFC history. Bad decision.

February 17, 2019

UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez

Cain has another long layoff

Returns against Francis Ngannou

Losing via KO in 26 seconds, a very depressing finish. pic.twitter.com/9lRHeiyr03
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) May 22, 2023

The fight lasted just 26 seconds. Ngannou connected with punches that sent Velasquez crumbling to the canvas. But the real damage came from Cain’s knee giving out during the exchange. His body had betrayed him once again. Velasquez retired quietly after that devastating loss. His legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights remains intact, but that final fight showed everyone why fighters should listen to their bodies. The saddest part wasn’t losing to Ngannou. It was watching a legend’s body quit on him when he needed it most.

2. UFC 249 – Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje

‘El Cucuy’s’ decline didn’t start with this fight. It started during it. Ferguson entered UFC 249 on a 12-fight winning streak and looked unstoppable. He had earned an interim lightweight title and was supposed to finally face Khabib Nurmagomedov. But COVID-19 travel restrictions trapped Khabib in Russia. Justin Gaethje stepped in on short notice.

No Commentary 🔉 ❌ #UFC324

Justin Gaethje vs Tony Ferguson was BRUTAL 😳 pic.twitter.com/Ppe8xmfqLf
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 18, 2025

What followed was five rounds of systematic destruction. Gaethje landed 143 significant strikes while Ferguson absorbed brutal damage. His leg kicks turned Tony’s legs into mush. His punches left Ferguson’s face swollen beyond recognition. But Tony being Tony, he refused to quit. The referee finally stopped the fight in the fifth round. Ferguson later revealed he struggled to get out of bed for over a year after the fight due to severe leg injuries. Something fundamental broke in Ferguson that night. He went on to lose eight consecutive fights after Gaethje. The UFC eventually cut him after that eighth straight loss. The man who once seemed indestructible couldn’t win a single fight after facing Gaethje. He’s found new life in boxing, but his MMA career essentially died that night in Jacksonville.

1. UFC 207 – Ronda Rousey vs Amanda Nunes

Ronda Rousey never recovered from Holly Holm’s head kick knockout. After taking a year off to heal physically and mentally, she returned to face bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. Everyone wondered if the old Ronda would show up. She didn’t.

When Nunes ABSOLUTELY obliterated Ronda Rousey pic.twitter.com/UHn6yvuzEX
— MrTestoestrogen (@MrTestoestrogen) August 30, 2025

Nunes destroyed Rousey in just 48 seconds. She landed clean punches that sent Ronda stumbling backward with no defense. The referee stopped the fight as Nunes unloaded combinations on a helpless Rousey. It wasn’t competitive. It was target practice. Rousey left the cage in tears and never fought in MMA again. Her aura of invincibility was completely shattered. The woman who once finished opponents in seconds couldn’t handle getting hit anymore. That Nunes fight didn’t just end Rousey’s comeback. It ended her entire combat sports career.

(Image Credit: Jasen Vinlove – Imagn Images)

Amanda Nunes

Anderson Silva

Cain Velasquez

Chris Weidman

Chuck Liddell

Francis Ngannou

Justin Gaethje

Rashad Evans

Ronda Rousey

Tony Ferguson

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!