Melancon (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

After making his UFC debut earlier his year and going 1-1 in the Octagon thus far, welterweight Brian Melancon has announced he’s retiring at the age of 31.

The Texas fighter, who also competed for Strikeforce and Bellator during his 10 fight career, has announced that kidney issues have prompted him to hang up the gloves. Melancon relayed via his official Facebook page that:

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.

Melancon made his way to the UFC in July, and after knocking out Seth Baczynski at UFC 162, he was submitted by Kelvin Gastelum at UFC FN 27 in August. The welterweight also went 1-1 under the Strikeforce banner, as he lost by split decision to Isaac Vallie-Flagg but decisioned Felipe Portela in 2011.

Melancon was scheduled to fight Robert Whittaker at UFC FN 33 on December 7th.