5 UFC fighters who retired in 2018

#4 Jake Ellenberger

Jake Ellenberger was KO'd or TKO'd in his last 4 fights

Once one of the most feared Welterweights in the world, Jake Ellenberger retired in the summer following a loss to Bryan Barbarena. The defeat was Ellenberger’s 4th in a row, all of which came by KO or TKO, and it’d be hard to argue that ‘The Juggernaut’ probably hung on for at least one or two fights too many.

In the middle of 2013 Ellenberger had a seriously impressive 8-2 UFC record including wins over Diego Sanchez, Nate Marquardt and Jake Shields, but a disappointing loss to Rory MacDonald that summer represented a watershed moment, as he went on to lose his next two fights in disappointing fashion. A 2015 win over Josh Koscheck seemed to turn things around for him, but 2 losses swiftly followed that.

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Ellenberger’s last win came in July 2016 over Matt Brown, but realistically, it was perhaps the worst thing that could’ve happened to him as it led to him taking those final 4 fights past his prime. Jorge Masvidal, Mike Perry, Ben Saunders and finally Barbarena then knocked him out in violent fashion – a sad ending to what was a hell of a career.

Ellenberger claimed he didn’t plan to retire after the Barbarena loss – which came in his home state of Nebraska – but stated that his future with his children was the key to his decision. He also stated that he doesn’t plan to make his retirement temporary – which is probably the correct decision given the decline of his durability towards the end of his career.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith