After an eventful UFC career, Matt Brown, a true legend of the sport, announced his retirement. The fighter, who turned 43, recently took to X to announce his exit from the octagon after 16 years, leaving a void in the UFC community.
“Not doing it again. I’m out. That’s the announcement. My life will now be dedicated to serving others. Growing others in the martial arts and building businesses that can help the community and the world. Thanks to @danawhite and @ufc for giving me a platform to express myself and my brand, but it is time to move on to bigger, better things.”
The fighter debuted his first UFC at The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale in 2008. Since then, he’s fought some top UFC welterweights and beaten top fighters like Stephen Thompson and Diego Sanchez. The 43-year-old won seven consecutive fights and a knockout of Erick Silva. He was on a fast track to gaining a UFC welterweight title shot before a unanimous decision loss to UFC Hall of Famer Robbie Lawler in 2014. The bout is tabbed as one of the best fights in UFC welterweight history. Brown describes the fight as one of his favourite bouts despite his loss. In a recent sitdown on The MMA Hour, He spoke about the fight.
“The Robbie Lawler fight was actually my favorite. On a personal level… because I probably learned more as a martial artist in that fight than any fight in my career. Robbie is just an absolute savage and I just never faced someone like him before or after. I thought I won the fight, of course, the judges gave it to him, and it was close enough that it wasn’t a robbery or anything. But I feel like I performed really well considering the circumstances…The lessons that I took walking out of that cage have hit me a little deeper than any other fight… I wasn’t as powerful as I thought I was [at the time].”
Like several other UFC fighters, Brown has found a way to enjoy retirement and generate a secondary income. Following in the footsteps of his counterparts Conor McGregor, who earns millions from his famous Irish Whiskey, and Dustin Poirier, who owns a signature hot sauce -Louisiana Style Hot Sauce—Brown is also venturing into new territories. He has a small real estate business and plans to start his own podcast, offering a unique perspective on life at the UFC and other things.
Brown’s retirement comes shortly after his formidable counterpart Robbie Lawler cemented his name in the UFC Hall of Fame and retired from MMA after knocking out Niko Price at UFC 290. The two fighters will forever be remembered in UFC lore, and their legendary battle will remain an all-time favourite in UFC history.
