Meatball Molly McCann retires after losing via first round submission at UFC London. Taking on short notice replacement Alexia Thainara, McCann was never truly in the fight, being taken down early and not managing to hold off her Brazilian opponent’s submission threat, tapping at 4:32 of the first round.
Molly McCann loses by submission to short notice replacement Alexia Thainara.#UFCLondon
pic.twitter.com/WoiYgqSC5o
— Verdict (@VerdictMMA) March 22, 2025
Molly McCann the British Trailblazer
McCann retires off the back of a torrid run of form, going 1-4 in her last five fights.
Starting out her UFC career in her home town of Liverpool, Molly McCann’s start to life in the big leagues didn’t get off to the best of starts. Not only did she miss weight, she was also submitted in the second round.
Her second promotional fight saw her make history, however, becoming the first English woman to pick up a victory in the UFC.
Without a doubt, the highlight of her career was her epic spinning elbow knockout in the O2 Arena against Luana Carolina. Not only did it earn her an additional $50K, but it also was voted the third best knockout of that calendar year.
She made the very best of a limited skill set and every time that she took the step up in competition, she came up short. With that being said, she was a fan favourite, a good ambassador for British MMA and along with her teammate, Paddy Pimblett, she provided entertainment.
Whatever’s next for Molly McCann, we wish her the best in retirement!
