This week, fight fans were surprised by the news that Bellator MMA bantamweight contender Michael McDonald was forced to retire from the sport at the age of 27 as a result of chronic injuries.
“Mayday” was an early bloomer in MMA. After turning pro in 2007 at the age of 16, he was signed by Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting at 19, absorbed with the rest of that organization into the Ultimate Fighting Championship at 20 and earned a shot at the interim bantamweight belt against Renan Barao shortly after his 22nd birthday.