UFC London: Molly McCann announces retirement after 11-year MMA career as Paddy Pimblett fights back tears

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Molly McCann of England announces her retirement from MMA after a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at The O2 on March 22, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) — Molly McCann retired with a 14-8 record. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

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.

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