McCann made her retirement announcement shortly after the UFC London fight card. The fighter squared up against Alexia Thainara and suffered a first-round submission loss via rear-naked choke (RNC).
She took this defeat to heart, as it was her fourth loss in a row, and decided to exit the cage after a long run. In an Instagram post, she thanked her team and fans for their support and announced her retirement.
“I’ll do the official retirement post in a few days, but I’d be no one without the help of these men right here. They took me to the moon and back, carried me through the highest highs and the lowest lows,” McCann wrote. “NEXT GENERATION LIVERPOOL, THANK YOU! MY CITY, MY PEOPLE, MY HEART—I OWE IT ALL TO THIS PLACE XX.”
“UFC, Dana (White), Hunter (Campbell), Mick (Maynard)—fcking hell, all of you. I started this fight career at 24,” McCann said in the Octagon while announcing her retirement. “I walked into this fight with these (coaches), and I give you all my fcking heart and soul. But tonight, with that performance against someone on a week’s notice, it’s not good enough. I’m not coming out here just for the payday. The UFC deserves more. I deserve more. And you all deserve more. … Thank you so f*cking much.”
Although the news shocked many, McCann’s close friend and fellow fighter Paddy Pimblett took it especially hard. He posted a heartfelt tribute to McCann on Instagram.
“Heartbreaking night last night watching my big sister retire. Been there with her from the start and will always be there. This may be the end of her fighting career, but it’s far from the end of mine and her friendship—that’s till death do us part ❤️. UKMMA women’s legend. First English woman to get a win in the UFC and has one of the best knockouts in women’s UFC and combat sports history. Her legacy will live on forever. Emotional isn’t even the word for last night, but even when I was crying, the Meatball never fails to make me laugh when she said, ‘Haven’t done bad for a lesbo who was working in Subway, have I?’ Love you, @meatballmolly, and always will, my big sis ❤️.”
McCann compiled a 14-8 record as a professional fighter since debuting in May 2015. She became the first Cage Warriors women’s flyweight champion in 2018, which led to her UFC signing. She shared the Octagon with the likes of Erin Blanchfield, Gillian Robertson, and Taila Santos. McCann lost four of her last five fights, including three strawweight appearances, and finished with a 7-7 record in the UFC.
