Matt Brown announces his MMA retirement: ‘Not doing it again, I’m out’

Matt Brown, a staple of the UFC roster since 2008, announced his retirement from MMA on Saturday.

The 43-year-old veteran, who holds the record for the most knockouts in the history of the UFC welterweight division, called it a career in a post on Instagram.

“Not doing it again. I’m out. That’s the announcement,” Brown wrote. “My life will now be dedicated to serving others. Growing others in the martial arts and building businesses that can help the community and the world. Thanks to Dana White and UFC for giving me a platform to express myself and my brand but it is time to move on to bigger, better things!

“I’ll talk about this on the podcast with Damon Martin and go even deeper when I start my own podcast that I’ve talked about starting for years now lol… Anyway, be prepared for new content and a new Immortal! Check out link in bio for the best martial arts instructionals, coffee, creatine gummies and Airbnb listings that I own! There’s something there for everyone let’s go!”

A cast member on The Ultimate Fighter 7, Brown joined the UFC after competing on the reality show, where he scored a pair of knockout wins before falling to eventual winner Amir Sadollah. Following his stint on TUF, Brown transitioned to a UFC career in which he immediately became a fan favorite thanks to his aggressive, all-action style in the octagon.

Starting in 2012, Brown put together his longest UFC win streak with seven victories in a row, which led to a main event slot against former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in a title eliminator in 2014. Brown came up short, but still earned Fight of the Night honors.

Brown contemplated retirement earlier in his career but ultimately decided to continue fighting after he scored a dramatic knockout of Diego Sanchez in 2017 that earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.

His most recent UFC appearance came in May 2023 when he finished Court McGee in brutal fashion in the first round, which extended his record for the most knockouts in UFC history to 13.

In recent years, Brown opened his own gym in Columbus, Ohio, where he’s worked with a number of up-and-coming talents, including UFC prospect Josiah Harrell.

Brown retires with a 24-19 overall MMA record, including a 17-13 résumé in the UFC.