UFC boss Dana White Urges Retirement for Three Veteran Fighters Immediately
UFC boss Dana White Urges Retirement for Three Veteran Fighters Immediately
UFC CEO Dana White urged three fighters to call it quits after their bouts on Saturday night. During the UFC 310 press conference, a journalist inquired about the futures of Clay Guida, Anthony Smith, and Chris Weidman following their matches.
White straight-up declared: "They oughta hang their gloves up for good tonight."
White's sentiments echo his previous concerns about the fighters' recent performances and long-term health, stressing the importance of recognizing when it's time to walk away from the sport.
White isn't wrong in his assessment.
Guida, who's 43, got submitted in just 79 seconds by Chase Hooper during the prelims. Guida has lost three back-to-back battles within the UFC, and his overall MMA record dropped to 38-25 following the Hooper loss.
At his age, it makes no sense to continue fighting, considering the low potential rewards, with Guida likely to enter underdog territory in any future UFC fights.
Smith, though not necessarily as past his prime as Guida, faces similar circumstances. Smith strained to a second-round TKO loss to Dominick Reyes, but his performance was compromised due to his close friend and coach, Scott Morton, passing away from a heart attack two weeks earlier. Despite his emotional turmoil, Smith chose to compete and even looked disoriented during the fight.
Smith stayed kneeling on the mat for multiple minutes post-match, prompting speculations about his retirement. During the post-fight interview, he admitted it might have been his last battle, yet he failed to confidently endorse his retirement.
Weidman, meanwhile, lost via TKO in the second round to 37-year-old Eryk Anders during his catchweight bout. Weidman was scheduled to face Anders at UFC 309, but Anders fell ill and had to pull out, leading to the rescheduled bout at UFC 310.
Anders overpowered Weidman on the ground, with the former wrestler not able to fend off Anders, a college football standout and MMA specialist.
Weidman, known for his resilience, left the Octagon without speaking to commentator Joe Rogan and refused to announce his retirement, despite White's repeated calls for his departure.
Here are the results, bonus winners, and highlights from UFC 310:
🏆 - Alexandre Pantoja defeats Kai Asakura via submission at 2:05 of Round 2
Shavkat Rakhmonov defeats Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision (48-47x3)
Ciryl Gane defeats Alexander Volkov via split decision (29-28x2, 28-29)
Bryce Mitchell defeats Kron Gracie via TKO at 0:39 of Round 3
Doo Ho Choi defeats Nate Landwehr via TKO at 3:21 of Round 3
Dominick Reyes defeats Anthony Smith via TKO at 4:46 of Round 2
🏆 - Vicente Luque defeats Themba Gorimbo via submission at 0:52 of Round 1 (D'Arce Choke)
Movsar Evloev defeats Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision (29-28x3)
Bryan Battle defeats Randy Brown via split decision (29-28x2, 28-29)
Eryk Anders defeats Chris Weidman via TKO at 2:50 of Round 2
Joshua Van defeats Cody Durden via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
Michael Chiesa defeats Max Griffin via submission at 1:56 of Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke)
🏆 - Chase Hooper defeats Clay Guida via submission at 3:41 of Round 1
🏆 - Kennedy Nzechukwu defeats Lukasz Brzeski via TKO at 4:51 of Round 1
- Dana White's urging for Clay Guida, Anthony Smith, and Chris Weidman to retire after their performances at UFC 310 aligns with his previous concerns about their long-term health and the impact of continued fighting on their futures.
- Following his loss at UFC 310, Chris Weidman, despite being known for his resilience, did not announce his retirement as Dana White had suggested, leaving speculations about his career path unresolved.
- Amidst his struggles, Anthony Smith earned bonus winners accolades for his performance at UFC 310, showcasing his resilience and determination, despite the emotional turmoil following his coach's death two weeks prior to the event.
- UFC 310 bonus winners also included Chris Weidman's opponent, Eryk Anders, who secured a TKO victory in their catchweight bout, marking Anders' impressive win over a high-profile opponent in the UFC.