Bellator Dublin 275: Sinead Kavanagh scores decision win against Leah McCourt
- Published
Bellator Dublin: Sinead Kavanagh claims gritty win over Leah McCourt
The story below contains details of what happened at Bellator 275. You can watch the main card here and the prelims here - all on BBC iPlayer (UK only).
Sinead Kavanagh secured a unanimous decision victory in a pulsating back and forth all-Irish contest with Leah McCourt at Bellator 275 in Dublin on Friday.
Backed by a vociferous home crowd, and with team-mate Conor McGregor cheering her on at cage-side, the 36-year-old got the better of the grappling exchanges to edge all three rounds on the judges' scorecards.
The victory means Kavanagh will have a shot at redemption against featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, who Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed she would fight next.
But despite emerging victorious Kavanagh injured her knee and could now be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after being carried from the cage by her coach John Kavanagh - no relation - and McGregor.
Friday's fight was billed as the biggest all-Irish women's MMA fight in history.
The two fighters are friends, with Belfast's McCourt, 29, having been in Kavanagh's corner in the past and sparred with her rival regularly in the past.
The Dublin crowd got behind both fighters as they made their walks to the cage, but it was Kavanagh who undoubtedly received the bigger reception.
As the bell sounded, UFC star and friend of Kavanagh, McGregor, could be seen bouncing up and down at cage-side in anticipation.
The first round was breathless, with McCourt taking the fight to the ground after a quick level change and takedown following a big right hand.
After grappling on the canvas, Kavanagh gained control before attempting to finish the fight with an armbar.
Sinead Kavanagh spent most of round three on the canvas
As McCourt battled desperately to defend the submission, McGregor stood with his hands on his head, seemingly overwhelmed by the drama.
The pace slowed slightly in the second round, with both fighters looking for takedowns at the cage's perimeter.
It was Kavanagh who dealt the most damage however, landing some vicious ground and pound before McCourt managed to get back to her feet after an up-kick.
It appeared as though McCourt needed a finish in the third round and despite controlling much of the fight on the ground, it was Kavanagh who ended the fight in top position.
As the bell rang, both fighters lay exhausted flat on the their back with the Dublin crowd rising to applaud what they had just witnessed.
'A pure Irish, fighting heart - that's what I have'
Kavanagh was given the decision by all three judges
Kavanagh revealed she fought through a knee injury to claim the victory.
"I couldn't even stand up and punch so I had to go into a dogfight. I told you I had a good ground game," said Kavanagh.
"I thought this is it, bad luck, I thought I was finished and couldn't go on but I ground my teeth and took it.
"A pure Irish heart, a fighting heart, that's what I have."
A title fight awaits her once she has recovered from her injury.
Cyborg won their first encounter in November as she put on a dominant display of striking to secure a first-round knock-out.
For McCourt, the defeat will come as a big disappointment having been on the cusp of a first title shot but at 29, she has plenty of time to fight her way back into contention.