With less than a week’s notice, Alexia Thainara managed to make her way into UFC London and score a quick victory over Molly McCann, sending the veteran into retirement in the process.
The fight quickly went to the ground, where McCann tried to do damage with elbows and lock up a submission. Thainara, however, was able to reverse the position and take control of the fight from there.
The Brazilian newcomer got to “Meatball’s” back and locked up a deep choke. McCann was able to escape once, but upon Thainara re-locking up her neck, quickly tapped out.
McCann then laid her gloves in the Octagon, stating she had no desire to continue to enter the Octagon just for paychecks without victories — though still feeling fulfilled of living out a dream career.
Fans React As Molly McCann Retires Following Loss To Short-Notice UFC Debuting Alexia Thainara
"Molly McCann" in big 2025
pic.twitter.com/WtmbXyMfRH
—
𝙎𝙩-𝙋𝙞𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙧 (@GoatStPiHair) March 22, 2025
Molly McCann has officially retired from MMA.
Thanks for all the great memories, ‘Meatball’.
A true warrior who always put on a show for the fans.
#UFCLondon | #UFC pic.twitter.com/eh9l5gnKKU
— James Evans (@EvansJames99) March 22, 2025
Thainara, who now moves to 12-1 in her professional MMA career, scored a unanimous decision over Rose Conceição on Dana White’s Contender Series last September.
The Liverpudlian, meanwhile, ends her career with losses in four of her last five. Her sole win in that stretch came at strawweight in a battle against Diana Belbiţă.
McCann, who made her pro debut in 2015, went 7-1 before being signed by the UFC. She made her UFC debut in May 2018, losing to Gillian Robertson. She then won six of her next eight fights and gained a surge of popularity through not just her victories, but also her connection to training partner Paddy Pimblett.
