Brian Melancon has announced his retirement via a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon.
It has been announced, I am sad to say that my fight career is over. I have been having kidney problems that have gotten much worse recently and just found out that my kidney function has dropped to 47%. If I continue to train, fight, and cut weight then I run the risk of permanent damage. I have been advised by my Specialist to retire and move on and that is what I will be doing. This is not how I wanted to go out, but I have to believe that God has another path for me. Thanks to all of you who supported me throughout my career.
He was expected to face Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Night 33 on Dec. 7.
Melancon was 1-1 in the UFC and 7-3 overall in his MMA career. The welterweight lost via submission (rear-naked choke) to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 27 this past August.
According to UFC officials, Whittaker has been removed from the card.