No Room for Sentiment - Matt Brown Opposes Retirement Bouts in UFC

UFC veteran Matt Brown has come out against fighters who announce retirement bouts beforehand, specifically aiming for Anthony Smith's first-round TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City. Retired after a 15-year UFC career, Brown said planning farewell fights is a dangerous mental disadvantage for competitors, and the 42-year-old welterweight legend said fighters who announce retirement plans fight with a fundamentally different mindset than opponents who haven’t.
Matt Brown bases his criticism on the fact that pre-announced retirement fights rarely end in storybook fashion. Matt Brown retired privately after he realised his competitive drive had faded, unlike Smith, who announced his retirement fight with UFC matchmakers.

"I was like, if I've got a foot out, I'm not going to go in there with a guy with both feet in. You're risking a lot, especially when you've got kids and stuff," Matt Brown explained. He referenced the inherent dangers of mixed martial arts competition, noting that fighters must maintain complete focus to minimise risks.
The Ohio native cited UFC President Dana White's similar perspective, agreeing that once retirement thoughts begin creeping into a fighter's mind, it's often already time to step away from competition.
Matt Brown talked up the difference in thought processes between a fighter who is thinking about retiring and one who is still on the divisional ladder. This dynamic played out in Smith’s fight with the rising Chinese contender Zhang, a result that mirrors Matt Brown’s experience as a fighter.
"When you do start voicing it, or you are even having that thought in your mind, you're going in against a guy that is in a completely different mindset," Matt Brown stated. "This guy is leaving it all in there because he wants to move up. You're leaving it all in there so that you feel cool... your motivation is different."
Fans can watch Matt Brown's full analysis on the latest episode of "The Fighter vs. The Writer" podcast, available on all major streaming platforms beginning April 30, 2025.
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Matt Brown's perspective raises important questions about fighter safety and career management as more UFC veterans approach retirement age in the coming years.