Molly McCann announced her retirement from mixed martial arts inside the octagon by leaving her gloves in the centre of the octagon after being beaten at UFC London
Everton have congratulated Molly McCann on her mixed martial arts career after she announced her retirement from the sport at UFC London.
‘Meatball Molly’ tapped out from a rear naked choke by Brazilian fighter Alexia Thainara four minutes and 32 seconds into the first round of their three-round strawweight bout.
The defeat was McCann’s second successive loss after being beaten by Bruna Brasil at UFC 304 in Manchester last summer and her fourth in her last five fights.
She retires with a 14-8 professional record and was the first Englishwoman to win in the UFC when she beat Priscila Cachoeira at The O2 Arena in March 2019.
Five years on, she has decided to retire from MMA.
McCann kissed her gloves and left them in the centre of the octagon following her fight. In response, Everton posted a tribute on X, formerly Twitter.
“Congratulations on an inspirational career, @MeatballMolly,” it reads. “Enjoy retirement and whatever comes next.
“You’ve done yourself, our city and this football club proud. UTT.”
She has made no secret that she supports Everton and signed off her final post-fight interview by saying, “And one last thing, up the f****** Toffees”.
That concluded an emotional speech in which she announced her retirement with close friend and team-mate Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett present and watching on.
“I started this sport at 24, and I have given you all my f****** heart and soul,” McCann said.
“Tonight, with that performance against someone on a week’s notice, it’s not good enough.
“I’m not coming in here just for a payday; the UFC deserves more, I deserve more, and you all deserve more.
“So from this little girl from Norris Green who’s got to fight in these amazing arenas, thank you so f****** much.
To the little girls at home, look at me; look what I’ve managed to do; just two hands and two elbows, and I had a good go.”
