Former Strikeforce and current UFC fighter Brian Melancon has announced his decision to hang up his gloves after being diagnosed with a kidney issue.
In a statement, the 31 year-old revealed that a specialist had advised him to retire after discovering that his kidney function was only operating at 47%.
Melancon had joined the UFC earlier this year with a 6-2 record after a stint in the Strikeforce organization and made an immediate impact by notching up a first round KO victory against Seth Baczynski at UFC 162.
Less than a couple of months later he stepped into the Octagon again as a late replacement to face former TUF winner Kevin Gastelum and a suffered a submission defeat.
That was back in August and Melancon has since discovered about his kidney problem and so he closes the book on his career with a 7-3 record.
Read Melancon’s full statement below.
“It has been announced, I am sad to say that my fight career is over. I have been having kidney problems that have gotten much worse recently and just found out that my kidney function has dropped to 47%. If I continue to train, fight, and cut weight then I run the risk of permanent damage. I have been advised by my Specialist to retire and move on and that is what I will be doing. This is not how I wanted to go out, but I have to believe that God has another path for me. Thanks to all of you who supported me throughout my career.”
