Opinion: After 25 pro fights Shayna Baszler should retire

25 pro fights, a record of 15-10, 14 wins by submission – Shayna Baszler is a veteran of women’s MMA. She’s headlined at Invicta FC and fought a who’s who of the sport, trading punches with Julie Kedzie, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Alexis Davis, Tara LaRosa and Sara McMann but is it time for Baszler to call it a day?

Baszler started her UFC career as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs Team Tate. She submitted Colleen Schneider by first round armbar, earning her a spot in the house where she was selected as a member of Team Rousey. In the first fight of the season Baszler lost due to rear-naked choke in the second round against Julianna Pena, who later went on to become the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter.

Baszler made her UFC debut in August 2014 at UFC 177 where she faced Bethe Correia. In the first round Baszler threatened Correia with several submission attempts. However, Correia came back and unloaded on Baszler and the fight was stopped at 1:56 in round 2. At the weekend Baszler faced Amanda Nunes at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs LaFlare. Nunes with a clear speed advantage, tagged Baszler early with body shots that had the veteran grimacing in pain. Nunes threw a kick to Baszler’s leg which dropped her and as Baszler clutched her leg, Nunes pounced, finishing the fight with strikes at 1:56 in the first round.

Baszler is 1-4 in her last 5 fights, 0-2 in the UFC and after a very poor performance this weekend I don’t see a place for her in the division. Baszler has already suffered losses from 4 of the top 10 UFC women’s bantamweights. In fact Baszler hasn’t won a fight since she fought at Invicta FC 3 in 2012 where she defeated Sarah D’Alelio by rear-naked choke in round 2. She just isn’t cutting it in the UFC, hopefully the UFC will see this and cut her. Baszler has done a lot for WMMA but she’s passed it. I think the best possible move for Baszler is to retire.