Should I stay or should I go?: 3 UFC vets facing retirement
Saturday's UFC event in Nashville was an entertaining affair, but it was also a sobering one.
The main card featured appearances from MMA mainstays Jake Ellenberger, Joe Lauzon, and Diego Sanchez. Each man failed to see their hand raised, with Ellenberger and Sanchez suffering particularly grotesque losses. These three have combined for well over 100 fights and it shows as they've been hit hard by the law of diminishing returns over the past few years.
As harsh as it sounds, it's time to take a good, hard look at these respected fighters and determine whether they should stay in the cage or go on to the great unknown of retirement.
Jake Ellenberger
Age: 32
Professional debut: April 9, 2005
Record: 31-13
Record in last 10 fights: 3-7
We start off with arguably the least famous name on this list, but one that came close to contending for a UFC title. Ellenberger looked like a world beater five years ago when he became just the second fighter to knock out Jake Shields, putting the former Strikeforce champion down in just 53 seconds.
Few could have predicted that Ellenberger would peak there as he would go on to lose eight of his next 13, including four knockout losses after never being finished by strikes in his first 32 fights. That tally includes the bone chilling KO he suffered at the hands of Mike Perry this past weekend.
This startling trend has as much to do with Ellenberger's deteriorating durability as his increasingly difficult competition, and it's hard to see the situation getting better as a new generation of welterweights chomps at his heels.
It looks like you actually can stop "The Juggernaut."
Stay or go?: Go
Joe Lauzon
Age: 32
Professional debut: Feb. 21, 2004
Record: 27-13
Record in last 10 fights: 5-5
Ironically, based on the 15 fight-night bonuses Lauzon compiled in his decade-long run with the UFC, it seems like he's the one most financially prepared for retirement and yet he's also the least likely to hang up the gloves anytime soon.
"J-Lau" still has plenty to offer, at least in the entertainment department, though he has shown signs of slippage in his past three fights: A split-decision loss to Jim Miller (that he might have won), a split-decision win over Marcin Held (that he might have lost), and a majority-decision loss to Stevie Ray in which he may have been the victim of inconsistent scoring.
While Lauzon can't be blamed for those results, he needs to get back to being the fight-finishing maniac that won over the hearts of millions. The smart money says that he has at least a few more bonus checks coming his way before he's through.
Stay or go?: Stay
Diego Sanchez
Age: 35
Professional debut: June 21, 2002
Record: 27-10
Record in last 10 fights: 4-6
Once renowned for his indefatigable fighting spirit, the trait that made Sanchez one of the UFC's must-see warriors now threatens to make him one of its cautionary tales.
It's getting difficult to watch Sanchez make the walk down to the Octagon, veins pumping, his face etched with intensity, only to see him get dismantled by opponents who are smart enough to avoid getting into a brawl with the original "Ultimate Fighter."
Sanchez can still squeak out a decision here or there (he outworked Held and Miller in 2016), but the fact that two of his three career knockouts have occurred in the past nine months has to be a sign that the end is nigh.
Even though Sanchez would probably tell anyone who asks that he can fight until he's 50, it's time for this future UFC Hall of Fame member to call it quits.
Stay or go?: Go
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)