As the study of the human brain continues, more athletes are becoming aware of the potential harm that can come from competing in the sport of martial artUs. Just recently, we saw a longtime veteran welterweight in Jon Fitch who has said he might have to reluctantly retire from the sport due to brain issues. Today, an Irish pioneer was forced to make the same choice.

UFC women’s strawweight fighter Aisling Daly, who was a competitor on TUF 20 and went 2-1 in three fights with the promotion, announced her retirement on social media due to an abnormality that arose during a recent brain scan:

Here is her full statement from the post:

“I will be officially retiring from the sport of MMA.

This past year a routine brain scan showed up evidence of an abnormality, the remnant of a small haemorrhage that had taken place at some point in the months previous. It would be unlikely I would be medically cleared to compete again, even in the event I could find a doctor who would clear me it would be very unwise for me to continue to compete with the risks involved.

My career has ended prematurely but I’m very grateful for my long list of achievements, I am and will always be ‘Ais the first’ for so many things, my legacy set in stone in the history of Irish mixed martial arts. I am the countries first ever world champion, the first and only female to ever do it. I have and always will give back to the sport which has given me so much.

I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the fans who have supported me tirelessly through various parts of the journey. Without this support there is no sport of MMA as we know it.

I would like to thank my good friends and close team mates, there is no substitute for the genuine loyalty built between people over years of blood, sweat and tears.

I am truly most grateful for my wonderful family, who were there to pick up the pieces throughout my entire career and especially now when my dream fell apart. This would have been intolerable without their help, emotionally and financially. They say you can’t choose family but I would want no other.

Now starts the next chapter of my life. I’m very fortunate to have grown up within such an outstanding organisation as SBG. I am equipped with the skills to be an exceptional coach and member of the martial arts community and I look forward to seeing what challenges lie ahead for me. “New Beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.”― Lao Tzu”

Daly (16-6) has been fighting since 2007, and has competed in Bellator and Cage Warriors along with her Octagon appearances. Her last bout came in October 2015 in Dublin, where she defeated Ericka Almeida by decision. The BJJ black belt has been a member of SBG for many years, and will continue to coach there. We wish her good luck with her future endeavors.