Molly McCann announces retirement following UFC London loss

UFC women’s strawweight Molly McCann announced her retirement on Saturday following her UFC London loss to Alexia Thainara.

“Meatball” entered the fight coming off a loss. She had been defeated in three of her last four fights.

“I started this sport at 24,” McCann said in her post-fight interview with Michael Bisping inside the O2 Arena. “I’ve giving you all my f*cking heart and soul. Tonight, with that performance with someone on a week’s notice, it’s not good enough. I’m not coming in her just for the payday. The UFC deserves more. I deserve more, and you all deserve more.”

McCann made her octagon debut in 2018, losing to Gillian Robertson but rebounded with three consecutive wins. She lost back-to-back fights for the first time in her career, but again rebounded with a three-fight win streak. In the last three years, McCann struggled to put together back-to-back wins.

In her seven years with the fight promotion, McCann earned four bonuses. She holds the record for most post-fight bonuses in UFC Women’s Flyweight division history with three.

The former Cage Warriors women’s flyweight champion’s record will stand at 14-8. She closed the curtain on her fighting career near where it began. The Liverpool native said goodbye to fight fans in London.