MMA Icon Announces Retirement in the Ring after Two Straight Defeats in UFC Competition
Lauren Murphy, a trailblazing figure in women's MMA and one of the UFC's longest-serving female athletes, announced her retirement from professional competition on July 12, 2025, following a unanimous decision loss to Eduarda Moura at UFC Fight Night in Nashville.
Murphy's MMA career spanned an impressive 15 years, during which she amassed a professional record of 16-7, with 8 wins and 6 losses in the UFC. Her journey began in 2010, and she started with an impressive 8-0 winning streak.
Career Achievements
In 2013, Murphy made history by becoming the inaugural Invicta FC bantamweight champion after defeating Miriam Nakamoto. This victory propelled her to the UFC, where she made her debut in 2014. After a brief release in 2016, she returned by competing on season 26 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” solidifying her place in the promotion.
Murphy's most significant career win came in 2022 when she secured a unanimous decision over former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. Tate herself had beaten Holly Holm to claim the title in 2016. Murphy also boasts notable victories over UFC contender Joanne Wood, Roxanne Modafferi, Andrea Lee, and women's MMA pioneer Barb Honchak.
UFC Run
Murphy's UFC career, which spanned approximately ten years, saw her compete in both the bantamweight (135 lbs) and flyweight (125 lbs) divisions. She had ups and downs early, going 1-3 at bantamweight but found greater success at flyweight, ending with a 6-3 record in her later UFC fights.
Her fighting style showcased toughness and resilience; even in her final fight, she almost secured a standing submission, demonstrating the competitive spirit she maintained up to retirement at the age of 41.
Impact on Women’s MMA
Lauren Murphy is widely recognised as a veteran and pioneer in women’s MMA, inspiring many through her longevity and competitiveness in a sport that has evolved significantly during her 15-year career. Her career reflects the growth of women's divisions in major promotions like Invicta FC and the UFC, helping to elevate the profile and legitimacy of female fighters.
Murphy has expressed plans to remain involved in MMA through coaching and analysis, continuing to contribute to the sport beyond her active fighting days.
In her retirement speech, Murphy thanked herself for doing all the hard work, being a pioneer for women in the sport, and for picking herself up every time she was knocked down. The future will reveal where Murphy lands following her distinguished career.
While Murphy did not win the UFC gold during her career, her resume, which includes Invicta success, a UFC run, and a defining win over Tate, stacks up with many of the best fighters who never won a UFC title. Most fighters with a similar resume to Murphy's eventually broke through to win a UFC title at some point. However, Murphy's trailblazing role in women's MMA is cemented due to her longevity, title challenge against Valentina Shevchenko, and her willingness to take on tough opponents, according to Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog.
Murphy's UFC career began with back-to-back losses, but she battled back, reaching her peak during a five-fight win streak from 2019-2021. Shevchenko successfully defended her title via fourth-round TKO against Murphy in their title bout at UFC 266 in September 2021.
Murphy's retirement marks the end of an era characterised by perseverance, breakthroughs, and significant wins against top-tier competition, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s influential female athletes.
Sports enthusiasts and mixed-martial-arts analysts will follow the news of Lauren Murphy's retirement from professional competition, as she concludes an impressive 15-year MMA career spanning UFC, Invicta FC, and other promotions. Despite not winning the UFC gold, her record of 16-7 (8-6 in the UFC) includes a historic victory over former champion Miesha Tate and a title challenge against Valentina Shevchenko. Lauren Murphy's impact on women's MMA goes beyond her fighting days, as she aims to contribute to the sport through coaching and analysis.
