5 times that stepping out of retirement proved to be a bad idea for UFC legends

#4. Urijah Faber – former UFC bantamweight title challenger

Petr Yan seemed to make Urijah Faber regret his return from retirement in 2019.

Urijah Faber remains one of the greatest fighters in UFC history to never hold a title in the promotion. However, it’s probably safe to say that his 2019 return from retirement proved to be a mistake.

‘The California Kid’ was clearly beginning to age in 2016 when he lost to Dominick Cruz and Jimmie Rivera. When he beat Brad Pickett in what was supposedly his retirement fight, he appeared to have gone out on a high note.

However, in a decision that seemed to come from nowhere, Faber announced that he’d be returning in mid-2019. He was matched with Ricky Simon in a clash that July.

‘The California Kid’ actually started his comeback well. He knocked out Simon in just 46 seconds and inked a new big-money deal with the UFC shortly after.

However, when he was matched with highly ranked bantamweight contender Petr Yan in his second fight back, the alarm bells began to ring. Yan had already destroyed the likes of Rivera and John Dodson, and probably would’ve been a tricky match for Faber in his prime.

Sure enough, ‘No Mercy’ thoroughly beat Faber in their clash at UFC 245. He knocked Faber down, and hurt him badly on more than one occasion, before finishing him with a third-round head kick.

It was only the second time Faber had been stopped in the UFC. However, this one was a violent and scary finish that probably left him regretting his decision to return. ‘The California Kid’ has not stepped into the octagon since then.

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#3. Alexander Gustafsson – former UFC light heavyweight title challenger

Alexander Gustafsson’s return to the UFC was spoiled badly by Fabricio Werdum.

Alexander Gustafsson famously came within a hair’s breadth of winning the UFC light heavyweight title on two occasions. However, he was edged out by Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, respectively, in two of the best championship fights in UFC history.

By 2016, injuries and damage had begun to take their toll on the Swedish fighter. ‘The Mauler’ competed just once in 2016 and once in 2017. He was then comfortably defeated by Jones in their long-awaited rematch in his only fight in 2018.

When Gustafsson fell to Anthony Smith – in front of his hometown fans in Stockholm to boot – it seemed that he had simply reached the end of the road.

Following the loss to Smith, ‘The Mauler’ removed his gloves and left them inside the octagon. That was a traditional sign of retirement, which he confirmed after the event.

However, one year later, the Swede got the itch to return. In a surprising move, he decided to bulk up to heavyweight for a clash with former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum on the UFC’s third event at the Fight Island facility.

Werdum had looked miles past his prime leading into the fight. He had lost his last two bouts in disappointing fashion. However, he quickly looked back to his best against Gustafsson, who looked a shadow of his former self.

‘Vai Cavalo’ grounded the Swede early in the first round. He then wrapped up a textbook armbar to force him to tap out in just over two minutes.

The loss was a devastating one for Gustafsson, who was clearly hoping for a resurgence at heavyweight. He has not fought since then, although he hasn’t yet returned to retirement either.