Ireland’s Paddy ‘the Hooligan’ Holohan has been forced to retire from mixed martial arts due to a rare blood condition.
Routine medical tests showed that the 27-year-old Dublin fighter was missing the Factor XIII enzyme, which means his blood’s ability to clot is compromised.
As he was no longer passed fit to fight by the UFC, the sport’s leading brand, he had no choice but to give up the game he loves.
“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,” said Holohan, in a statement released on Facebook on Monday.
“I am forced to retire from MMA.
“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, organisations wouldn't understand or take the chance with me as I have found out now, I never explained in full to John or my team the actual risks cause (sic) I didn't think there was excess risk.”
The John he refers to is his coach John Kavanagh at Straight Blast Gym, where world champion Conor McGregor also trains.
Flyweight Holohan has a 12-2-1 record in the octagon as a professional and said that he is proud of what he has achieved despite having been forced into premature retirement.
“This journey has made me the man I am today.” - Paddy Holohan
He also took aim at fighters that use performance enhancing drugs, which endangers the safety of clean athletes.
“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,” he explained in his statement.
“I am also disappointed because people who have cheated within the sport due to PEDs 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.”
He concluded: “To all the Irish people and people of my home town of Tallaght who have always caught my falls and helped me back to my feet, I am forever grateful to those people who have backed me through thick and thin.
“This journey has made me the man I am today.”
