Molly McCann teases ‘big announcement’ about next career move after her shock UFC retirement following brutal defeat
Molly McCann hinted at a possible new career following her retirement from UFC as she teased a ‘big announcement’.
‘Meatball’ called it quits on her career in the cage after a devastating loss at UFC London last month, which saw her tap out to debutant Alexia Thainara – who took the fight on short notice – in the first round at the O2 Arena.
The Everton supporter, who won over fans due to the heart-on-the-sleeve nature of her performances and heartwarming friendship with fellow Liverpudlian UFC star Paddy Pimblett, fought a total of 14 times in the promotion.
She won seven of those bouts, the most recent coming in February last year before back-to-back defeats by Bruna Brasil and Thainara.
She took to the microphone after the bout to thank those close to her and hang up her gloves, with close friend Pimblett cutting an emotional figure in the crowd.
McCann has now teased her next step, however, and fans won’t have long to wait to find out what it is.
Molly McCann has teased a ‘big announcement’ following her retirement from UFC last month
‘Meatball’ Molly called it a day when she was beaten in the first round at UFC London
She has insisted she will remain in competitive sport but didn’t specify what sport it will be
‘I’m sure in a few weeks we’ll know what I’m doing, there’ll be a big announcement somewhere I imagine,’ she told Sky Sports. ‘[I’ll do] competition in some sport.
‘Whether it be football, hyrox or, I don’t know, pickleball, paddleball. I wouldn’t rule anything out.’
Some MMA stars have enjoyed success in combat crossover, whether that be the likes of Brock Lesnar or Ronda Rousey popping up in WWE or the likes of Anderson Silva and Conor McGregor trying their hands at boxing.
McCann hasn’t ruled that out, but did admit she would refuse to take part in Misfits Boxing.
‘I wouldn’t rule anything out,’ she continued, when pushed specifically on boxing. ‘If I was offered boxing, I wouldn’t want to do Misfits, and that’s not a disrespect to the people that do it.
‘I feel we’ve all been young and we’ve had the limelight on us and all acted a bit idiotic at times.
‘But I don’t think I have ever disrespected the sport of MMA or boxing and when I watch Misfits stuff, you’re just teaching the younger generation, “Yeah, I’ll throw a microphone at your head. I want to have a face-off just to try and go viral.” We’re just teaching the wrong things.
‘I’ve not been the greatest role model because I’ve always liked a bevvy and got fat and all that kind of thing after fights. But I have always tried to have decent integrity, and I just don’t see that there. I have never gone somewhere for money. I’m still waiting for offers, so we’ll see.’
Close friend Paddy Pimblett (left), who cut an emotional figure as she retired, remains active
McCann did rule out ever taking part in Misfits because they are ‘teaching the wrong things’ to ‘the younger generation’
Pimblett, meanwhile, wrote a heartfelt message to McCann after she announced her retirement.
He posted 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 will never fail to make me laugh when she said “haven’t done bad for a lesbo who was working in Subway have I”. Love u @meatballmolly and always will me big sis.’
