Bellator, One Championship Vet Ana Julaton Announces Sudden Retirement from MMA, Boxing

Any sort of rematch, boxing or otherwise, between Heather Hardy and Ana Julaton is ostensibly off the table, as the latter has announced her sudden retirement.

On Thursday, Julaton made a surprise post to her Instagram account, announcing her departure from MMA and combat sports on the whole. Julaton, 37, last competed at Bellator 194 on Feb. 16, losing a close unanimous verdict to the aforementioned fellow former boxer-turned-MMA fighter Hardy.

“Earlier today, I spoke to my long time promoter/advisor Mr. Allan Tremblay who has been a father, a friend and mentor throughout my entire professional sports journey. I told him it was time for me to move on from fighting,” Julaton wrote.

“After that very deep and emotional conversation, I spoke to Mr. Scott Coker next and thanked him for allowing me to be a part of @BellatorMMA. I'd like to thank Mr. @LouDibella and his Team @DibellaEnt for all their efforts to putting together a boxing match for me” the post continued. “I'd like to thank @HeatherTheHeat for sharing the cage with me and I wish her all the very best in her combat sports career both boxing and MMA. 

The 37-year-old California native made her pro boxing debut in November 2007, eventually claiming the WBO world super featherweight title by beating Donna Biggers in December 2009, then transitioning to MMA under the One Championship banner in May 2014 with a knockout of Aya Saber, eventually debuting for Bellator last October. Prior to her fight with Hardy and its nip-tuck nature, the pair of pugilistic crossovers had already discussed possibly doing a second fight under boxing rules.

If the Hardy bout is “The Hurrcane’s” last, she ends her career 14-4-3 as a pro boxer and 2-4 as a mixed martial artist.