American UFC fighter Brian Melancon has retired from competitive fighting with a 7-3 record, citing ongoing kidney issues.
Melancon explained further via his facebook page:
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.
31 year-old Melancon made a successful Octagon debut in July when he stopped Seth Baczynski in the late stages of round one. Melancon then returned in August where he was submitted by TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum.
Melancon was due to face Australian Robert Whittaker next month on the UFC Fight Night 33 card in Brisbane, Australia on December 7. Whittaker has now been scrapped from the event and will now be matched on a future event.
Fight Card:
- Mark Hunt vs Antonio Silva
- James Te Huna vs Mauricio Rua
- Pat Barry vs Soa Palelei
- Antony Perosh vs Ryan Bader
- Dylan Andrews vs Clint Hester
- Caio Magalhaes vs Nick Ring
- Nam Phan vs Takeya Mizugaki
- Krzysztof Jotko vs Bruno Santos
- Alex Garcia vs Andreas Stahl
- Alex Caceres vs Mitch Gagnon
- Justin Scoggins vs Richie Vaculik
- Julie Kedzie vs Bethe Coreira
