A blunder! UFC veteran laments being ignored in retirement fight: 'I don't want to stay here'

Michael chiesa e Niko Price they retired in UFC Seattle. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.

Among the many memorable moments that caught the public's attention during the UFC Seattle Last Saturday (28), one of them may have gone unnoticed by some less attentive viewers. During the fourth fight of the main card, the veterans Michael chiesa e Niko Price They stepped into the world's most famous octagon for the last time, but only one of them had an official farewell. After winning by submission, Chiesa was cheered by the crowd and honored by the UFC with an institutional video. In contrast, Price was completely ignored.

See too

Melk Costa predicts Jon Jones will dominate a potential UFC fight against Poatan.

Kayla Harrison slams Ronda Rousey and Netflix event: 'Irrelevant'

Moicano's opponent heaps praise ahead of UFC Vegas 115, but points out a 'harsh truth' about the Brazilian.

Obviously, the situation upset the fighter. In an interview with 'Inside Fighting', Niko described how he felt while watching his opponent receive praise from the fans and the organization, while he waited for a moment to say goodbye to the sport.

“I had to stand there watching everything, and they said, ‘Yeah, you’ll have time to speak into the microphone.’ I replied, ‘Okay, cool.’ Then I thought, ‘Why haven’t I had time to speak into the microphone yet?’ So I said, ‘Whatever, don’t worry, but can I leave? I don’t want to stay here anymore.’ Then I talked to my coach because they didn’t even send me away. They went straight to my gloves and took a picture of him with my gloves. I was like, ‘Nooo, I wanted to take that picture with my gloves,’” he stated.

I feel really bad for Niko Price right now. He took off his gloves and is also withdrawing, he waited around the cage for Chiesa's package, and he never got an interview.

Price had over 20 UFC fights. They did him dirty. I feel really bad for him. #UFCSeattle

— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) March 29, 2026

Amid the unpleasant situation, Price simply left his gloves in the center of the octagon and left the arena without making any statement. Regarding his retirement decision, he made it clear that it came about during a conversation with his wife. Furthermore, the accumulation of injuries and the fact that he is already 36 years old were significant factors. The loss to Chiesa was the fourth consecutive defeat in his career.

“This was probably mentioned about 10 days before the fight: ‘Would it be possible?’ I said, ‘I need to talk to my team.’ At first, I said ‘No,’ but then my wife and I started talking, and I said, ‘I’m getting old, man. Everything hurts. I want to spend more time with my children and stop being so selfish and spending so much time alone.’ She said, ‘I don’t want you to do that anymore, and it’s getting too hard for my daughters.’ I mean, it’s hard for me too, man,” he concluded.