Stevie Ray – Syndication Server

2023 MMA retirement tracker: A list of former UFC champions, legends and more who hung up the gloves

The MMA world already has said goodbye to many retiring fighters in 2023, from former UFC champions to icons of the sport.

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently, fighters from the era who helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves in order to move on to the next chapter in life.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete, and perhaps more importantly get a payday, will continue to drive fighters back even well beyond their expiration dates.

2023 has seen an uptick in notable fighters announcing they are done with the sport, and we have a list of those who have opted to walk away this year (the list will update as new retirements are announced).

2023 PFL 6 fighter pay: Shane Burgos pockets six-figure purse after move from UFC

Check out the disclosed 2023 PFL 6 fighter pays, including what Shane Burgos is making after jumping over from the UFC.

PFL returned to Atlanta this past Thursday for the third of three shows in three consecutive weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

2023 PFL 6 featured final regular season bouts at lightweight and welterweight, as well as three showcase fights. In the main event, 2022 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] knocked out Dana White’s Contender Series alum [autotag]Anthony Romero[/autotag].

Other names on the card included former UFC fighters [autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag] and [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag], as well as past PFL championship winners [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag], [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag], [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag].

MMA Junkie acquired a list of the 24 fighters’ disclosed payouts Monday from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. The amounts do not include bonuses, sponsorships or any other discretionary payments.

Five fighters topped the list at $100,000, while all other fighters received five-figure or four-figure payouts. Among them was Burgos, who left the UFC as a free agent to sign with the PFL. Friday, Burgos pocketed a six-figure flat purse against [autotag]Yamato Nishikawa[/autotag].

Scroll below to see the disclosed pay for each 2023 PFL 6 fighter.

Stevie Ray announces retirement from MMA after 2023 PFL 6 loss: ‘Time to pass on my knowledge and experience’

One of Scotland’s greatest MMA fighters has called it a career.

[autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] has decided to retire after suffering a second-round TKO to Clay Collard this past Friday at 2023 PFL 6, which took place at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.

Ray (25-13) needed a finish in the first round to clinch a spot in the playoffs, but fell short when he was stopped by Collard. “Braveheart” took to Instagram to announce that he’s hanging up his gloves, and his plans to continue coaching.

“14 years of service done. Time to pass on my knowledge and experience. Going to try book some Seminars over the next few months July/Aug/Sep in the UK if you’d like me to do a seminar at your Gym give me a message 😊👊

I will now also be back full time coaching at my Gym @braveheartmma from Next Monday 🙏👊 Full MMA timetable again.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct8r_ExKXKH/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

Ray departs the sport having lost three straight for the first time in his career. The 33-year-old made it to the 2022 PFL lightweight final after back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Anthony Pettis, but fell short in claiming the $1 million prize when he was knocked out by Olivier Aubin-Mercier.

Ray, a former Cage Warriors champion and ex-UFC fighter, holds notable wins over Pettis, Michael Johnson, Joe Lauzon and Ross Pearson.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 6.

Clay Collard def. Stevie Ray 2023 PFL 6: Best photos

Check out these photos from Clay Collard vs. Stevie Ray at 2023 PFL 6 in Atlanta.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag]’s victory over Stevie Ray at 2023 PFL 6 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

2023 PFL 6 video: Clay Collard swarms Stevie Ray for playoff-clinching TKO

Clay Collard turned in an impressive performance against Stevie Ray in Atlanta, getting the stoppage he needed to clinch a playoff spot.

[autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] is heading to the 2023 PFL playoffs thanks to his crisp striking.

At 2023 PFL 6 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Collard (23-10) escaped the grappling attempts of Stevie Ray (25-13) to secure his spot in the playoffs. Collard’s striking became too much for Ray to handle in the second round, leading to a stoppage at 1:04.

Ray needed a finish in the first round to clinch a spot in the playoffs, whereas Collard needed a finish in any round to lock in his. Ray came out on fire in the grappling game, and quickly took Collard’s back. Remaining calm, Collard worked free and confidently got to work in the striking department while trying his best to turn away the ground game of his opponent.

In the second round, Collard’s punching stunned Ray, and the swarm was on. Ray dropped to the ground and attempted to grab a leglock, but Collard was wise to it and kept raining down hard punches until the referee stopped the fight.

Check out video of the finish below (via Twitter):

CLAY COLLARD UNLOADS! He is heading back to the #PFLPlayoffs!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN & ESPN+
🌎https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/PMpfplIin1

— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 24, 2023

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Collard won both of his 2023 regular season bouts. At 2023 PFL 3, he won a unanimous decision over Yamato Nishikawa to earn three points in the lightweight standings. Paired with his five-point stoppage of Ray, Collard clinched his spot in the 2023 playoffs.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 6.

UFC veterans in MMA and bareknuckle boxing action June 23-25

Check out which veterans of the UFC are in combat sports action across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC returns to Jacksonville, Fla. for UFC on ABC 5.

The event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena features a featherweight main event between [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag] and [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

This week, there are a total of 16 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and bareknuckle boxing this week from June 23-25.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

2023 PFL 3 predictions: Two unanimous picks from welterweight, lightweight openers

Check out our staff members’ picks for 2023 PFL 3 in Las Vegas, which features season-opening fights at welterweight and lightweight.

	Sy vs. Al-Silawi	Egli vs. Magomedkerimov	Ray vs. Schulte	Manfio vs. Martinez	Lopez vs. Mitchell	Amir vs. Miranda	Jenkins vs. Juusola
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 45-33	Sy (69%)	Magomedkerimov (95%)	Schulte (72%)	Manfio (88%)	Lopez (72%)	Miranda (76%)	Jenkins (82%)
Nolan King @mma_kings 48-30	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Schulte	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Jenkins
Matt Erickson @MattE 48-30	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Schulte	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Jenkins
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 48-30	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Schulte	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Juusola
Simon Samano @SJSamano 47-31	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Ray	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Jenkins
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 45-33	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Schulte	Manfio	Mitchell	Miranda	Jenkins
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 44-34	Al-Silawi	Magomedkerimov	Schulte	Manfio	Lopez	Amir	Jenkins
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 44-34 2018, 2022 Champion	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Ray	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Jenkins
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 44-34	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Ray	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Jenkins
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 43-35 2014 Champion	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Schulte	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Jenkins
Brian Garcia @thegoze 43-35 2017 Champion	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Ray	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Jenkins
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 41-37	Sy	Magomedkerimov	Schulte	Manfio	Lopez	Miranda	Jenkins

The PFL wraps up its Las Vegas three-event residency this week with the start of the lightweight and welterweight regular seasons.

PFL 2023, Week 3 takes place Friday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

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In the main event, 2022 welterweight season winner [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] (13-6-2) takes on former Brave CF champion [autotag]Jarrah Al-Silawi[/autotag] (18-4). Sy is nearly a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, and our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have him as a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] (30-6) is by far the biggest favorite on the card at more than 12-1 in his welterweight bout against [autotag]Ben Egli[/autotag] (14-4). Not surprisingly, Magomedkerimov is one of two unanimous picks on the main card.

Also on the main card, two-time (2018, 2019) lightweight season winner [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] (23-5-1) is back to take on [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (25-11). Schulte is a 4-1 betting favorite, but Ray has a pocket of support that leaves Schulte with just a 7-4 picks lead.

[autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] (16-4), the 2021 lightweight winner, takes on [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag] (10-3) to open his 2023 regular season. Even though Martinez is the slight -150 favorite at the betting window, Manfio is our staff members’ other unanimous pick a 11-0.

[autotag]Shane Mitchell[/autotag] (13-4) takes on the unbeaten [autotag]Nayib Lopez[/autotag] (15-0) at welterweight. Lopez is a -250 favorite and is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1. And -150 lightweight favorite Bruno Miranda (14-3) is a 10-1 pick over Ahmed Amir (12-3-1).

To open the main card, [autotag]Brandon Jenkins[/autotag] (16-9) is a slight favorite at welterweight against [autotag]Zach Juusola[/autotag] (13-9), and he’s got a big 10-1 picks lead.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Sy (69 percent), Magomedkerimov (95 percent), Schulte (72 percent), Manfio (88 percent), Lopez (72 percent), Miranda (76 percent) and Jenkins (82 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 3.

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UFC veterans in MMA action April 14-15

Check out which UFC veterans are in MMA and boxing action across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC travels to Kansas City, Mo. for UFC on ESPN 44 following UFC 287 in Miami. Former featherweight king [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag] in the main event.

Elsewhere, many other MMA events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

This weekend, there are a total of 14 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and boxing this week from April 14-15.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Clay Collard, Raush Manfio, more booked to complete 2023 PFL 3 card

The lineup for the third PFL event of this season is now complete.

The promotion announced on Monday the full lineup for 2023 PFL 3, which is set to go down April 14 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

These newly announced fights, which include fan favorites and two former champions, join the previously announced matchups that make up the main and co-main event in Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos and Sadibou Sy vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi.

2019 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] takes on former UFC veteran and 2022 PFL runner-up [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] in a matchup at 155 pounds. Schulte is on a two-fight winning streak, with his most recent victory being a submission over Jeremy Stephens this past November. Ray also competed in November, where he lost to Aubin-Mercier in the 2022 PFL lightweight final.

The other former champion added to the card is [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag], who won the 2021 PFL lightweight season. He’ll be taking on [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag]. Manfio last fought in June, also losing to Aubin-Mercier – a result that snapped a five-fight winning streak.

Additionally, [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag], one of PFL’s most exciting fighters, will take on [autotag]Yamato Nishikawa[/autotag] to close out the preliminary card.

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Below is the full lineup for 2023 PFL 3:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 9 p.m, ET)

Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos
Sadibou Sy vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi
Natan Schulte vs. Stevie Ray
Raush Manfio vs. Alexander Martinez
Shane Mitchell vs. TBA
Abdelaziz Abdulvakhabov vs. Ahmed Ami

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

Clay Collard vs. Yamato Nishikawa
Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Don Madge
Carlos Leal vs. David Zawada
Magomed Umalatov vs. Dilano Taylor

MMA Junkie’s 2022 Submission of the Year: Islam Makhachev def. Charles Oliveira

Islam Makhachev finishing the most decorated grappler in UFC history secured him lightweight gold and MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Year for 2022.

With another action-packed year of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie takes a look at the best submissions from January to December 2022.

As voted on by our entire staff, here are the top 10 and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Year.

Honorable mentions