Paddy Pimblett expressed his deep respect and admiration for Molly “Meatball” McCann after she announced the end of her MMA career.
McCann, a close friend and fellow fighter from Liverpool, declared her retirement on Saturday at UFC London. This decision came after a quick submission defeat to Alexia Thainara. Addressing the London crowd, the 34-year-old McCann felt her performance was not up to par, stating that the UFC, the fans, and she herself deserved better. She concluded with a thank you and farewell to the UFC.
The following day, Pimblett shared a touching message dedicated to McCann, celebrating her achievements in the sport.
In his Instagram post, Pimblett described the previous night as “heartbreaking,” watching his “big sister” retire. He reminisced about supporting her from the beginning and pledged his unwavering support in the future. He emphasized that while her fighting journey might be over, their friendship is lifelong.
Molly 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 paved her way to the UFC. In the UFC, she experienced both victories and setbacks, achieving two separate three-fight winning streaks but often facing challenges against top-ranked opponents in the flyweight division. Despite these ups and downs, McCann remained a beloved figure in her home country. She made history as the first female fighter from England to win a UFC bout when she defeated Priscila Cachoeira at UFC London in 2019.
McCann is particularly remembered for her consecutive spinning back elbow knockouts against Hannah Goldy and Luana Carolina. However, she faced a tougher stretch in her recent fights, losing four of her last five, including three strawweight matches, and concluding her UFC record at 7 wins and 7 losses.
Pimblett is scheduled to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami.
