5 former UFC champions who could retire in 2022

#4. Rafael dos Anjos – former UFC lightweight champion

Could Rafael Dos Anjos make 2022 his final year with the UFC?

Rafael dos Anjos is one of those fighters who seems to have been around in the UFC forever. While that isn’t quite the case, he’s certainly one of the promotion’s most tenured fighters, having debuted back in November 2008.

‘RDA’ is now 37 years old and while he hasn’t lost all of his skills in the octagon by any means, it’s probably safe to say that he peaked during his run as UFC lightweight champion back in 2015. That title reign came to an end at the hands of Eddie Alvarez in 2016.

While dos Anjos has picked up some big wins in the years that have followed, he’s also suffered his fair share of major losses, too, primarily at welterweight.

November 2020 saw him triumphantly return to 155 pounds with a strong win over Paul Felder, but he hasn’t fought since. Right now, it feels like his career is at a crossroads.

It seems unlikely that he can get past the division’s most dangerous fighters anymore and that means that, at best, he’s now a high-level gatekeeper. While there’s nothing wrong with occupying a spot like that, it’s worth questioning whether continuing to fight is the best thing for the Brazilian.

After all, dos Anjos is closer to 40 years old than he is to 30 now. With almost 20 years of MMA experience behind him, Father Time could arrive for him at any point.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see him hang up his gloves at some point in 2022.

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#3. Robbie Lawler – former UFC welterweight champion

Robbie Lawler has realistically been past his best for some time now

Many fans expected that former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler would hang up his gloves a couple of years ago. The fact that ‘Ruthless’ is still competing in the octagon is surprising enough in itself.

Less than a decade ago, Lawler was undoubtedly one of the most feared welterweights on the planet. After returning to the UFC in 2013, he cut a path of destruction through the likes of Josh Koscheck and Jake Ellenberger, before beating Johny Hendricks to claim the UFC welterweight title in late 2014.

‘Ruthless’ then put on some of the most epic welterweight title bouts of all time, defending against Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit before finally being dethroned by Tyron Woodley in 2016. Since then, it’s fair to say he’s fallen on hard times.

Lawler’s only wins since dropping the title have come against Donald Cerrone and Nick Diaz. In-between, he also lost four bouts in disappointing fashion.

Lawler did impress in his win over Diaz in 2021, but it’s probably fair to say that Diaz is as far past is prime as ‘Ruthless’. If the UFC match Lawler with a high-level 170lber, it’s likely he’ll come out second-best.

Therefore, at the age of 39, it’s probably best for Lawler altogether if he chooses to step away from the UFC in 2022. His title reign will always be fondly remembered and he’ll go down as a genuine legend. However, given the punishment he’s absorbed over the years, enough must be enough now.