Ashland’s Own Chad Trukovich Returns to the Cage One Final Time: A Warrior’s Last Stand Makes History
ASHLAND, OH — The roar of the crowd. The adrenaline. The thud of gloves. The lights. The cage. For Ashland native Chad Trukovich, it’s not just a fight—it’s the final chapter in a 30-year saga of grit, heart, and unrelenting passion.
On August 23, Trukovich will step back into the cage one last time, ending his career exactly how it began: as a fighter. But this isn’t just any comeback—it’s record-breaking.
Trukovich is making history as the first UFC referee to ever return to competition, and he’s doing it after a jaw-dropping 16-year layoff—the longest break ever recorded by any MMA fighter before stepping back into the cage.
“I’ve spent the last 30 years in combat sports,” Trukovich said, reflecting on a journey that began with the iconic Original Toughman Contest, where he became a legend in rings across the Midwest. Fighting in 28 different events, he took home titles in light heavyweight, heavyweight, and even conquered the brutal Super Toughman Contest, where champions clashed to determine the best of the best.
After 2005, Trukovich transitioned to professional MMA, fighting across Ohio and earning respect in gyms, locker rooms, and cages around the state. But he didn’t stop there—he became a guardian of the sport, refereeing and judging events with the insight only a true fighter could bring.
In 2009, he walked away from active competition and became a full-time referee—quickly rising through the ranks to become Ohio’s most active MMA referee, eventually earning the call to officiate on the sport’s biggest stage: the UFC.
For 16 years, he was the calm, commanding voice inside the cage. But in his mind, the fire never faded.
“I spent the last 16 years critiquing every fighter’s move in the cage. Right or wrong, I would mentally put myself in the situation and talk myself through what to do,” Trukovich said. “It built my confidence to a point where I knew—I could do this again.”
And now, at age 50, he’s doing just that. He’s not just returning to the cage—he’s shattering records and silencing doubt.
“I always told fighters, I started this journey as a fighter, and I’ll end it as one.”
But this isn’t just about legacy—it’s personal. It’s about inspiring others to rise up, no matter the odds.
“This is for my Ohio fighters. They’ve given me so much love and respect—it’s the least I can do,” he said. “But most importantly, I want to show people that you can overcome anything. You don’t have to listen to anyone who says you can’t. I’ve always believed I was in control of my own story.”
On August 23, in what promises to be a night of thunderous action and raw emotion, Chad Trukovich returns not just as a competitor, but as a living embodiment of grit, redemption, and determination.
Ashland, get ready. Because history isn’t just being made—it’s stepping back into the cage
