Citing lack of passion, UFC welterweight Cathal Pendred announces MMA retirement

Cathal Pendred

UFC welterweight and “Ultimate Fighter 19” veteran Cathal Pendred today announced he’s retiring from MMA after six years as a professional.

In a prepared statement posted on his Twitter account, Pendred said his feelings for the sport have changed and he’s decided to step away from the life of an active fighter while still remaining in the sport.

“I have other interests that I want to pursue,” he wrote. “The time is right to close one door and open another.”

Pendred’s rep was unavailable for comment.

Pendred, 28, hangs up his gloves with a 17-4-1 record while going 4-2 in the UFC. A crowd favorite while fighting in Ireland, he leaves an uneven legacy in the sport. Often derided by hardcore fans for a clinch-heavy style, he’s also won several controversial decisions in the octagon.

Pendred’s most recent pair of appearances did not end in wins, however, with a split-decision loss to John Howard at UFC 189 and a first-round knockout at the hands of rising prospect Tom Breese this past month at UFC Fight Night 76.

A member of the famed SBG Ireland team, where he works alongside UFC interim featherweight champ Conor McGregor, Pendred rose to prominence in the U.K.-based Cage Warriors promotion before winning a spot on “The Ultimate Fighter 19.” He won his quarterfinal fight before being eliminated by eventual winner Eddie Gordon.

Here is Pendred’s full statement:

I am a passionate person and I always give 100% to what I do. I have been passionate about MMA for a long time and my focus on the sport has been my driving force for the last 9 years.

I now find that my passion is no longer what it was and I feel that it is time for me to move on. I have other interests that I want to pursue. The time is right to close one door and open another. My love of MMA remains with me. I intend to maintain my involvement with the sport, but I no longer wish to compete.

I have developed as a person because of mixed martial arts, as I learned to cope with the discipline and demands of the sport. MMA has made me a stronger person. This strength will carry through into other areas of my life as I move on to pursue new goals.

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