UFC London: Molly McCann announces retirement after 11-year MMA career as Paddy Pimblett fights back tears
Molly McCann is calling it career.
The UFC veteran announced her retirement at UFC London on Saturday after an 11-year professional run in MMA, seven of which were spent in the UFC. She lost her final fight by first-round submission against Alexia Thainara.
She'll finish her career with a 14-8 record.
Meatball says goodbye. pic.twitter.com/5xFxp6Puw8
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 22, 2025
McCann's retirement announcement, with her good friend Paddy Pimblett holding back tears in the crowd:
"I started this sport at 24, I walked into that gym with these three boys and I've given you all my f***ing heart and soul. Well tonight, with that performance which was on a week's notice, it's not good enough. I'm not coming in here just for the payday.
"The UFC deserves more, I deserve more and you all deserve more, so from this little girl from Norris Green who's gotten to fight in these amazing arenas, thank you so much f***ing much. To the little girls at home, look at me. Look what I managed to do."
She also offered her services to Dana White as a UFC ambassador.
A soccer player with Liverpool until an ankle injury ended her career, McCann adopted the nickname "Meatball" due to her job at Subway as she broke into the MMA ranks. She got her start with England's Shock n' Awe promotion and won the flyweight title with Cage Warriors before signing with the UFC.
McCann's personality made her stick out in the flyweight and strawweight division, and she had enough memorable wins to earn three Performance of the Night bonuses and a Fight of the Night. She had lost four of five since November 2022 though, and opted to retire at 34 years old.
Topics
-
Paddy Pimblett emotional over Molly McCann's retirement at UFC London: 'Her legacy will live on forever'
Molly McCann decided to hang up the gloves, and her friend and teammate Paddy Pimblett admits that it was a tough moment to process. McCann announced her retirement Saturday at UFC Fight Night 255 ...Yahoo Sports - 8h -
McCann retires as British MMA icon
Molly McCann says she "knocked on the door and opened it" after retiring from MMA following defeat by Alexia Thainara at UFC London.BBC News - 1d -
UFC Fight Night 255 video: Molly McCann retires from MMA after Alexia Thainara's quick win
Alexia Thainara shined in her short notice octagon debut Saturday with a one-sided finish over Molly McCann at UFC Fight Night 255. After accepting the strawweight fight on eight days' notice, ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Trailblazer Molly McCann retires after UFC London defeat: ‘I came, I saw, I didn’t conquer’
McCann announced she was hanging up her gloves after being submitted in the first round by Alexia Thainara but departs as probably Britain’s greatest-ever female MMA fighterYahoo Sports - 21h -
Molly McCann plans to show off 'more educated' version of herself at UFC Fight Night 255
LONDON – Molly McCann has shifted her mindset ahead of UFC Fight Night 255. McCann (14-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC) will look to rebound against newcomer Alexia Thainara (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on Saturday's main ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Molly McCann gets new UFC Fight Night 255 opponent for London
Molly McCann will be going up against a Brazilian strawweight at UFC Fight Night 255, but it won't be Istela Nunes. With Nunes out, in steps Alexia Thainara, a Dana White's Contender Series signee ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Alexia Thainara reacts to submitting Molly McCann in retirement bout at UFC London: 'This is my time'
LONDON – Alexia Thainara thinks her UFC debut signaled a changing of the guard in the women's strawweight division. Thainara (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) took a short-notice fight Saturday at UFC Fight ...Yahoo Sports - 11h -
McCann's rollercoaster UFC career in pictures
The best pictures from Molly McCann's UFC career, which had as many lows as highs.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara prediction, pick, start time for UFC Fight Night 255
Molly McCann and Alexia Thainara meet Saturday on the main card of UFC Fight Night 255 at The O2 in London. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last ...Yahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Erin Cuthbert brings Chelsea a needed boost of ‘desire’, giving ‘her heart and soul every game’
Erin Cuthbert is known as the “aggressivity booster” on the Chelsea squad. She’s someone who sets the tone, drives standards and holds her team-mates to account. When head coach Sonia Bompastor ...Yahoo Sports - 45m -
Fabrizio Romano declares ‘”it’s over” for two Chelsea players in brutal outgoing updates
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has declared that it’s over for two Chelsea players in some brutal outgoing updates this weekend.Romano has been putting his latest info out on his YouTube channel ...Yahoo Sports - 46m -
Commander Peter Bruce, naval engineer and racing yachtsman who sailed to win
Commander Peter Bruce, who has died aged 83, was a naval engineer, accomplished skier and a highly successful racing yachtsman.Yahoo Sports - 59m -
San Antonio faces Detroit on 3-game win streak
Yahoo Sports - 1h -
Golden State visits Miami following Wiggins' 42-point game
Yahoo Sports - 1h
More in Sports
-
Sources: Texas nearing deal with Xavier's Miller
Less than a week after appearing in the First Four of the NCAA tournament, where it lost to Xavier, Texas on Sunday informed coach Rodney Terry that he has been fired, with athletic director Chris ...ESPN - 32m -
Hurley: UConn's historic run ends with 'honor'
UConn coach Dan Hurley said there was "some honor" in the end to UConn's 13-game tournament win streak, which was halted in a narrow loss to Florida on Sunday.ESPN - 32m -
Sources: Curry joining Dubs in Miami; status TBD
Warriors star Stephen Curry is traveling to join the team in Miami, and his status for Tuesday's game against the Heat will depend on how his pelvic bruise responds to treatment over the next two ...ESPN - 32m -
Queen's buzzer shot sends Terrapins to Sweet 16
Derik Queen banked in a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to lift Maryland over Colorado State 72-71 and into the Sweet 16.ESPN - 32m -
Poch: U.S. has 'time' to fix issues before World Cup
After suffering two defeats in the Concacaf Nations League, United States manager Mauricio Pochettino insisted that his side still has enough time to turn things around before the 2026 World Cup.ESPN - 32m