Paddy Pimblett expressed deep respect and admiration for Molly “Meatball” McCann after her retirement announcement.
McCann, a close friend and fellow fighter from Liverpool, declared the end of her MMA career on Saturday at UFC London. This followed a quick submission defeat to Alexia Thainara. Addressing the London crowd, McCann, 34, stated her performance wasn`t up to par, mentioning that the UFC, herself, and the fans deserved better. She concluded her speech by thanking everyone and saying good night.
The day after, Pimblett shared a touching message for McCann on social media, celebrating her achievements in the sport.
“Last night was heartbreaking, watching my big sister retire,” Pimblett wrote on Instagram. “I’ve been by her side from the beginning and will always be there. Her fighting journey might be over, but our friendship is far from ending. We’re friends for life.”
McCann`s professional MMA record stands at 14 wins and 8 losses since her debut in May 2015. A significant milestone was becoming the Cage Warriors women’s flyweight champion in 2018, which led to her signing with the UFC. In the UFC, her career was marked by periods of success, including two separate streaks of three consecutive wins. However, she also faced setbacks against top contenders in the 125-pound division. Despite these ups and downs, McCann remained a popular figure, especially in the UK, becoming the first British woman to win a UFC fight when she defeated Priscila Cachoeira at UFC London in 2019.
She is particularly remembered for her consecutive spinning back elbow knockouts against Hannah Goldy and Luana Carolina. In her last five fights, McCann suffered four losses, including three in the strawweight division, ending her UFC record at 7 wins and 7 losses.
Pimblett is scheduled to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in Miami on April 12.