Paddy Holohan Was a Good Fighter and an Even Better Representative for His Team

The MMA community received a bit of sad news on Monday when 27-year-old UFC flyweight Paddy Holohan announced his retirement.

Holohan took to Facebook to make the unexpected announcement, which came after UFC officials learned the Irishman has a rare blood disorder. The statement read in part:

"

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 [head coach John Kavanagh] or my team the actual risks cause I didn't think there was excess risk. It is a disorder that is only dangerous for me not my opponents. 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.

"

If he has indeed fought his last professional fight, Holohan—who shared a training headquarters with Conor McGregor and others at Dublin's SBG Ireland—retires with a record of 12-2-1, including a mark of 3-2 inside the UFC Octagon.

Holohan was scheduled to face Willie Gates in May, but Gates will now receive a new opponent, according to a report from MMA Fighting.

He boasts UFC wins over Josh Sampo, Vaughan Lee and Shane Howell. A loss to Chris Kelades in October 2014 earned both men Fight of the Night honors from the UFC.

Holohan's apparent final fight came in October, when he tapped out to a rear-naked choke to end a hard-fought battle with prospect Louis Smolka in the main event of UFC Fight Night 76. The loss was particularly emotional because it came in front of Holohan's hometown fans.

"I never come out here and say I'm the best," Holohan said in the cage after the fight (h/t Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie). "I never said I was born gifted. But I tell you one thing: When I come out, I give you everything."

Holohan gained a reputation for grit inside the cage and grace outside of it. As is the case with just about any fighter who fights five times in the UFC, Holohan was a skilled, if not preternaturally gifted, competitor. His calling card was submission grappling, with a preference for chokes, which he used to earn seven professional victories.

He was also a vocal backer of his fellow SBG Ireland fighters and head coach John Kavanagh, and proudly basked in his countrymen's support.

"

A CHAMPION loses and the whole world seems to know the game inside out..the world only sees 10% of what it takes to step in there

— Paddy Holohan (@PaddyHolohanMMA) November 15, 2015"

However, as McGregor and Kavanagh became more vocal fixtures in the media, Holohan served as a more thoughtful (if no less passionate) representative for SBG Ireland.

"It was John Kavanagh's gym, and before too long I couldn't go back into the normal world," Holohan said in a 2014 interview with Bleacher Report. "I got addicted to something creative. ... There's just a handful of fighters from Ireland to ever compete in the UFC. It's very rare. I got to join in that gallant band of people."

While some MMA stars seem to sometimes lose sight of their connection with the public, win or lose, Holohan seemed to have a strong affinity for fight fans, particularly those with whom he shared a home country.

"[I'm] sad because I will never make that walk again," Holohan wrote in his retirement statement. "Under those lights, feeling all those uncomfortable yet life-giving feelings as they count and you hear 'walk walk walk,' staring into a camera, knowing millions are watching but most importantly the Irish are watching."