Brian Melancon retires due to kidney health concerns

UFC welterweight Brian Melancon has retired from mixed martial arts competition, due to declining kidney function. This follows his report earlier in the year that the drop to 155 had been potentially life threatening.

Melacon made the announcement via Twitter.

“It has been announced, I am sad to say that my fight career is over,” posted Melancon. “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.”

Melancon went 1-1 in the UFC, with a win over Seth Baczynski and a submission loss to Kelvin Gastelum. The retirement scraps a planned fight with The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K. winner Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Night 33.

Melancon’s retirement brings further attention to the dangers of weight cutting. In September, MMA experienced the first death due to cutting, when Nova Uniao flyweight fighter Leandro “Feijao” Souza, 26, passed away while cutting weight for Shooto Brazil 43 card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Daniel Cormier missed the Beijing Olympics, when a weight cut to 211 caused renal failure and hospitalization.

The entire UnderGround wish Melancon every success in his future endeavors.