Ross Houston has officially announced his retirement from professional mixed martial arts following the cancellation of his upcoming fight in London. The 33-year-old fighter was scheduled to face Steven Hill at Bellator MMA’s Champions Series event at Wembley Arena on September 14, marking his first return to the cage in almost four years.
Unfortunately, Houston was forced to withdraw from the fight after failing a medical examination. Taking to social media, he expressed his disappointment, explaining that despite his best efforts, the fight would not go ahead. “I did everything I possibly could to make this fight happen,” he wrote. “But sadly, it’s out of my hands now. Apologies to my opponent Steven Hill, but this decision was made for me.”
Houston shared how hard it was to accept this outcome, especially after working so hard to get back into fighting shape after a nearly four-year hiatus. He had dedicated the last 16 weeks to rigorous training, hoping to make one final push in his MMA career. His motivation was to bring something back to his family after years of sacrifice in the sport. “I’ve given so much time, energy, and health over the last 15+ years and just wanted to see some of the rewards of my hard work,” he explained.
Houston made his professional MMA debut in March 2016, winning his first fight at Scottish Fight Challenge 10. He quickly rose through the ranks, eventually capturing the Cage Warriors world championship in 2018 after defeating Stefano Paterno. His first title defence against Nicolas Dalby ended in a no-contest due to excessive blood on the mat, which made it impossible for either fighter to continue.
Although his career seemed destined for even greater heights, Houston’s journey was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. He fought only once under his Bellator contract, losing to Michael “Venom” Page by unanimous decision.
Despite retiring from professional competition, Houston plans to stay involved in combat sports. As the head coach at HMAC Inverness, he remains committed to training and mentoring the next generation of MMA fighters.
Reflecting on his career, Houston expressed gratitude for the experiences and connections he made in the sport. “MMA has given me more ups than downs over the years, and I’ve met some great people on this journey,” he wrote. “I wouldn’t change any of it.”
Ross statement in full
