A 28-year-old has decided to hang up the UFC gloves.
Several UFC fighters saw their names removed from the UFC roster this week, including Westin Wilson, Austin Hubbard, and Maryna Moroz.
Mexico’s Melissa Martinez was one of them.
Nicknamed ‘Super Mely’, the 8-2 UFC strawweight lost her last fight via brutal head kick KO to top prospect Fatima Kline in July.
Little did we know at the time, this would be the final bout of Martinez’s career.
Melissa Martinez retires from UFC, admits it’s not her passion
In the same week that her younger brother, David Martinez, fights ranked bantamweight Rob Font in the co-main event of Noche UFC, Martinez has decided to announce her UFC retirement.
“It’s true, I just left the most important MMA company,” Martinez wrote in Spanish on Instagram (h/t: Somos MMA, Luis Hernandez)
“The dream of every athlete in this sport. But it didn’t make sense for me to have one more fight and finish the contract, just to look for more fights in something that isn’t my passion,” Martinez explained.
“I have many new projects and new goals to achieve. Thank you UFC,” said Martinez.
“But now it’s time to support my brother because he is living his dream, and he’s co-main eventing at a massive event. Go Mexico! This Saturday he’s going to crush it — trust, everyone,” Martinez rooted for her brother.
Martinez began her pro MMA career in 2016 and was undefeated at 7-0 until her UFC debut. She’s a former champion in Combate Global and in kickboxing. Martinez’s lone UFC win came over Alice Ardelean by unanimous decision last October.
David Martinez gets co-main event spot in second UFC fight
Melissa’s brother David Martinez is a 12-1 bantamweight prospect, who’s a year younger than his sister. They are the only brother-sister duo in UFC history.
The 27-year-old Martinez has won three fights in one night before at the pro level and is also a former champion in Combate Global.
Signed to the UFC off Contender Series last October and coming off a first-round knockout in his UFC debut against Saimon Oliveira, Martinez enters the biggest fight of his life on Saturday.
Martinez meets perennial contender Rob Font in his second UFC fight, which comes on short notice.
It’s not every day a UFC newcomer gets the co-main event spotlight. We’ll see if the Mexican Martinez can make the most out of the opportunity.