Because can isn’t the same thing as will. Brock Lesnar could come back to MMA and challenge Cain Velasquez for the Heavyweight title. Chuck Liddell can come back and show he’s better than Jon Jones. Urijah Faber can challenge Jose Aldo again and he can dominate Aldo for five rounds. But just because those guys have a chance and they can, doesn’t mean they should or they will.
At this point in Hendo’s career, there isn’t much left for him to prove. He’s been a champion in multiple organizations at different weight classes. He’s been involved in some of the greatest fights in MMA history and has provided some of the most memorable highlights in MMA that fans have seen numerous times. The showdowns with Wanderlei, the finish of Fedor, the war with Shogun, flooring Bisping, the guy has done it all. He’s a bona fide hall of famer and a legend in every sense of the word. Fighters coming up today would be lucky to have half of the success that he’s had. His career is truly epic and monumentally eclipses the majority of MMA fighters.
Even if there is something left to prove, for him, he may not be able to prove it anymore. We’ve all been there. Losing or failing at something and the very next thing we want to do is get right back in there and try again and win. Finding success is a good feeling. But there comes a point when you have to be satisfied. There are times when you tip your cap and hang em up. A lot of pro athletes say the hardest part is knowing when to walk away and actually doing it. Some guys just can’t, even the greatest performers of their era.
43 years old. First KO loss in his career. First three fight losing streak of his career. UFC contract over. Hendo doesn’t appear to be good enough to beat the best of the best anymore, but he is too good to just beat up on middle of the pack guys. He’s accomplished too much to fall into that zone. He’s not likely to challenge for a title again anytime soon and if that’s the case, better to go out on your own terms and have people reflect on your successes more than your recent failures. Three losses in a row, topped by the first KO loss of his career is a sign, a sign that he should stop. Take a job as an announcer, stay in the gym and train some young lions. Share his invaluable experience and knowledge and coach the hell out of someone, do whatever he wants to stay close to MMA. Let the desire to keep fighting gradually die out by channeling that energy into other, more productive outlets.
Does he still have it? Yes. Hendo is always in a fight with his instincts, wrestling and that incredible right hand. He’s one of the most dangerous KO artists in the game and personally speaking, one of my favorite fighters of all time. Many fans, including me, don’t want to see him retire. But he should.
