Tina Lahdemaki, Part of UFC’s First-Ever Female Strawweight Bout, Announces Retirement

Tina Lahdemaki, who competed in the first-ever women’s strawweight bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has officially announced her retirement from mixed martial arts.

The Finland native hasn’t competed since that bout, a unanimous decision loss to Claudia Gadelha at UFC Fight Night 45 on July 16, 2014. After that, “Jelly Bean” was sidelined by shoulder injuries that forced her to undergo three separate surgeries. Lahdemkai didn’t make a final decision on her fighting career until after getting married and giving birth to her first child.

“After several injuries and not being able to fight or even train properly, I have been forced to make the tough decision to quit fighting for now,” Lahdemaki said in a release. “I wish this wasn't the way I have to end my career and it was not an easy decision to make, but overall it has been a good run and I met lots of great people and had great experiences and now it's just time to move on.”

Now 30 years old, Lahdemaki, compiled a 5-0 record on the regional circuit before he loss to Gadelha in the Octagon.