If you were wondering when we’ll see the second meeting between Ana Julaton and Heather Hardy, don’t hold your breath.

Julaton (2-4 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) late Wednesday posted on her Instagram account that she is retiring from combat sports – both MMA and boxing. And that means the boxing match she was supposed to have with Hardy (2-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) after their fight at Bellator 194 is off.

“As a competitor inside the ring and cage, I’m confident in leaving combat sports fully knowing there are so many wonderful, passionate and hardworking women continuing to carry the torch as a guiding light for the bright future of our arena,” Julaton posted. “Moving forward to my next journey, I am officially retiring from professional fighting. Thank you everyone. I’m truly humbled and deeply honored for you all allowing me into your lives and hearts. I’m forever grateful.”

Julaton and Hardy fought in February at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The buildup to that fight brought with it a little bit of bad blood. But the MMA fight itself was perhaps lacking in the thrill factor, at least according to many observers. Hardy won a unanimous decision.

When that fight was booked, since both Julaton and Hardy are highly decorated boxers, there was a plan that they’d box each other at a later date. And while a date hadn’t been set, their boxing promoters no doubt were in the planning stages for getting a timeline in place before Julaton’s announcement.

Julaton became a pro boxer in 2007 and went on to win the WBO and IBA super bantamweight titles. She put together a 14-4-1 record in the ring.

In 2014, she added pro MMA to her resume and went 2-2 in bouts for ONE Championship in Asia. She signed with Bellator in 2017, but dropped a split decision to Lisa Blaine at Bellator 185 in her promotional debut. Then she lost to Hardy in February.

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. 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. 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. As a competitor inside the ring and cage, I'm confident in leaving combat sports fully knowing there are so many wonderful, passionate and hardworking women continuing to carry the torch as a guiding light for the bright future of our arena. For all who have been positive and continue to create a stage for all my sisters in the arts, all the organizations I have fought for…Thank you. I consider myself fortunate to have had my Orion Sports Management family giving me the global stage and opportunities I received to compete at the highest level of Boxing and MMA. So many memories flash through my mind as I write this. Moving forward to my next journey, I am officially retiring from professional fighting. Thank you everyone. I'm truly humbled and deeply honored for you all allowing me into your lives and hearts. I'm forever grateful. Sincerely, Ana "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." – Steve Jobs

A post shared by Ana Julaton (@anajulaton) on

Julaton’s complete retirement statement:

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.

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. 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. As a competitor inside the ring and cage, I’m confident in leaving combat sports fully knowing there are so many wonderful, passionate and hardworking women continuing to carry the torch as a guiding light for the bright future of our arena.

For all who have been positive and continue to create a stage for all my sisters in the arts, all the organizations I have fought for…Thank you. I consider myself fortunate to have had my Orion Sports Management family giving me the global stage and opportunities I received to compete at the highest level of Boxing and MMA. So many memories flash through my mind as I write this.

Moving forward to my next journey, I am officially retiring from professional fighting. Thank you everyone. I’m truly humbled and deeply honored for you all allowing me into your lives and hearts. I’m forever grateful.

Sincerely,
Ana “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs

For complete coverage of Bellator 194, check out the MMA Events section of the site.