Paddy Holohan announces his retirement due to rare blood disorder
UFC flyweight Paddy Holohan has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts due to a rare blood clotting disorder that has forced him to walk away from the sport at just 27 years old.
Holohan made the announcement on his Facebook page while confirming that he has a genetic disorder called Factor VIII, which prevents an essential protein from being created that's essential to blood clotting in the human body.
"I've known this announcement was coming for a week or more now and it has only felt worse the more I have thought about it. I am forced to retire from MMA," Holohan wrote.
"I was born with a factor missing in my blood called Factor XIII. I never disclosed it then or now, it came to the UFC's attention from a third party and I can no longer pass the medical requirements to compete, only 1 in 5 million people are diagnosed so I knew that it was so rare, organizations wouldn't understand or take the chance with me as I have found out now, I never explained in full to John (Kavanagh) or my team the actual risks cause I didn't think there was excess risk."
Holohan was expected to face Willie Gates on the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in the Netherlands, but now he's been ruled out of the contest and his opponent will face a late replacement on the May 8 show.
It's clear from his message that Holohan was broken-hearted to announce his retirement after such a short career that spanned just 15 total fights including five inside the UFC.
"It is a disorder that is only dangerous for me not my opponents," Holohan wrote.
"I really did see MMA as the way to have a real shot at life for myself and my family and it turns out I was right."
The flyweight teammate of Conor McGregor and Aisling Daly explained that he was having "mixed emotions" after being forced to retire at such a young age.
"Sad because I will never make that walk again, under those lights, feeling all those uncomfortable yet life giving feelings as they count and you hear "walk walk walk" staring into a camera, knowing millions are watching but most importantly the Irish are watching," Holohan said.
"I am also disappointed because people who have cheated within the sport due to PED's (performance enhancing drugs) etc putting their opponents in extra danger will fight again, whereas for me it's a genetic 1 in 5 million disorder that stops me dead in my tracks. I really feel I was only turning the corner in my fight career and I still have so much more to give!".
Holohan retires from the UFC with a 3-2 record overall with a career mark of 12-2-1 over 15 fights.