Molly McCann has had a chunk of {hardware} wrapped round her waist earlier than, and he or she’d love to recollect what it appears like.
To do it on the highest degree within the UFC, versus the belt she received for Cage Warriors in 2018, the Liverpudlian suspects she’s acquired a bit of work forward of her – work she mentioned she’s ready to begin subsequent week with a house recreation at UFC 304.
McCann (14-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC), a former flyweight, may have her second UFC bout at strawweight towards Bruna Brasil (9-4-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, subsequent Saturday. Her divisional debut couldn’t have gone significantly better – she tapped Diana Belbita with one second left within the opening spherical with a bonus-winning armbar.
McCann is a few 3-1 betting favourite, however mentioned she is aware of Brasil is harmful primarily based on her win a 12 months in the past over McCann teammate Shauna Bannon.
“She’s harmful. She’s acquired good finishes. She’s an all-’rounder. Hanging is her recreation,” McCann just lately instructed MMA Junkie. “I’ve skilled for her like she’s the toughest opponent I’ve ever confronted. She’s evasive. I wish to combat Brazilians, and so they wish to combat me.
“A combat is a combat and it may go any which manner. If the combat goes the best way that we’ve ready and deliberate for, and if I execute the sport plan, it’s an excellent night time for Molly McCann. If Bruna Brasil exhibits up a bit of bit completely different, it’d take a bit of bit extra time to determine. I ready for 3 (rounds) of struggle, and if I can get it carried out inside that point, blissful f*cking days.”
These “blissful f*cking days” finally will flip into title competition if McCann has her manner. After back-to-back spinning again elbow bonus-winning finishes in 2022, McCann hit a skid with consecutive submission losses to Erin Blanchfield and Julija Stoliarenko.
The sting of two straight setbacks helped usher in a stay-busy grappling match at Polaris 26, and the armbar there was predictive of her February submission of Belbita.
“I keep energetic outdoors of combat camps,” McCann mentioned. “I do jiu-jitsu competitions. I hold evolving. I can get to the highest 5 now, however my grappling and my MMA model has to maintain evolving to beat the highest 5 women. A combat’s a combat – I may nonetheless chin one in all them; they may chin me. I may sub one in all them; they may sub me.”
Now that she’s at 115 kilos, McCann has to place a proverbial goal on the again of Chinese language champion Zhang Weili, however the weight class is a luxurious of riches with regards to top-shelf ladies’s fighters.
To wit, McCann has finishes in her most up-to-date three wins, all for post-fight bonuses, and he or she and Brasil each sit outdoors the highest 15.
“The strawweight division’s sensible. Even watching Tecia (Pennington towards Tabatha Ricci) the opposite month – you’ve acquired an OG there who’s been out of the sport, had a baby. You’ve acquired an up-and-coming prospect. I like each women. I feel the choice was unsuitable. However you take a look at that and also you suppose, ‘Oh my God, it’s honest recreation. Anybody who desires to deliver it – you watch Gillian Robertson and Michelle Waterson – anybody who desires to deliver it’s bringing it.
“I adore it. I like how respectful this division is. I feel this division is a extremely respectful division. I don’t suppose there’s a lot bravado right here. It’s like Assassin’s Row. Head down. I’ve solely acquired a couple of hours left, a fights left, and I really feel like I’m actually coming into my (preventing) IQ prime.”
McCann mentioned she’s halfway via her present UFC deal. At 34, she may not be enthusiastic about retirement but, however seemingly is nearer to hanging up the gloves than she is to the beginning of her profession.
And like just about everybody in her career, she’s acquired these title aspirations nonetheless, and in addition aspirations for when she walks away.
“I’ve acquired an eight-fight deal. There’ are 4 fights left,” McCann mentioned. “I’d wish to stand up there in them, after which the dream would to be win a world title after which simply retire and have youngsters. My journey’s not f*cking like that, however we’ll see.”
UFC 304 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place July 27 at Co-op Dwell in Manchester.
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