Cathal Pendred calls time on MMA career

Pendred’s last bout as a pro came at UFC Fight Night: Holohan vs. Smolka in October 2015, where he suffered a TKO loss to Tom Breese.

Pendred’s MMA career had been impressive, with a record of 17-4-1, initially rising to fame on the local circuit before going unbeaten in the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship.

Pendred added that he meant to remain involved in the sport in some capacity. He entered the UFC in 2014 after competing as a middleweight contestant on the 19th season of The Ultimate Fighter.

“I now find that my passion is no longer what it was and I feel that it is time for me to move on”, he said.

Earlier this week, Pendred was profiled as one of the latest franchisees of Irish salad bar Chopped.

He said: ‘I am a passionate person I always give 100 per cent to what I do.

Cathal Pendred has announced his decision to retire from MMA this afternoon.

The interim UFC featherweight champion, a team-mate of Pendred’s at Straight Blast Gym, may have enjoyed a more successful time in MMA’s biggest organisation, but he’s still very aware that Pendred was one of the sport’s trailblazers in this country. My love of MMA remains with me.

After nine years as a mixed martial artist, the 28-year-old admitted he has lost some of the competitive levels required in the demanding sport after losing his final two fights as a professional.

‘This strength will carry through into other areas of my life, as I move on to pursue new goals’.

I would like to thank all my coaches and team mates for their friendship and support.

Thank you for all the rounds and all the help over the years and I wish you nothing but the best my brother!!

My participation in competing in MMA has come to an end, but my love for the sport has not.