Molly McCann 'on cloud nine' after UFC London victory caps remarkable turnaround
- Published
Molly McCann's win over Luana Carolina was the first KO victory of her career
After Molly McCann span to land the crunching spinning back elbow that knocked out Luana Carolina at UFC London last week, her mouth opened in shock.
The Liverpudlian was in disbelief - not only at the stunning manner in which she had won, but also because six months earlier her UFC career could have been over.
After two successive defeats, McCann says she was told she could be cut from the promotion if she did not beat Ji Yeon Kim in September.
"I knew my career was hanging on a thread in the UFC," McCann, 31, tells BBC Sport.
"I was basically told, 'If you win, you catapult back to where you were and if you lose we don't know where you go from here.'"
McCann did win, and following a change of mindset that rekindled her enjoyment of the sport, she was able to deliver a life-changing performance at UFC London.
"Before last September it felt like nothing good was ever going to come but, like a bus, it's steamrolled me this week," says McCann.
"My documentary came out, I met [UFC president] Dana White, I had the best fight of my life and I've had unreal sponsorship opportunities come forward.
"I'm half-waiting for the post-fight blues to come because I'm still floating on cloud nine."
McCann struck with her elbow almost two minutes into the third round
The win in London was the first clean knockout of McCann's career, with her others via decision, technical knockout or submission.
White described the victory as the "best female knockout you're likely to see" and McCann - nicknamed 'Meatball' - says that meant a lot to her.
She says: "We'd never really spoken before this week, and on the Thursday night I said: 'See these hands, lad - they're going to light up the O2 on Saturday.'
"When I won, I jumped out and ran up to him to say: 'I told you, I told you!'"
'Giving back to Liverpool is very important for me'
McCann joined her team-mate Paddy Pimblett inside the octagon to celebrate his win over Rodrigo Vargas
Like team-mate Paddy Pimblett, who also won last week by submitting Rodrigo Vargas in the first round, McCann is fiercely proud of her city.
Her walk-out in London was to the backing of Liverpudlian songwriter Jamie Webster, and she carried a yellow and blue Everton scarf.
"To walk round your city with people working on scaffolding, and window cleaners, bus drivers and taxi drivers saying 'yes, Meatball!' ... I'm savouring the moment.
"I can't believe the city is as proud of me as I am of it. It's surreal. There's no words for it."
Like Pimblett, McCann is committed to using her platform to make positive change in Liverpool.
As this interview takes place over Zoom, she is on her way to a meeting about becoming a youth engagement officer for a charity there.
"Of course I want to give back to the city - it's very important for me," says McCann.
"We're in 2022 and kids in my city and parents still have to go to foodbanks to feed themselves. So when me and Paddy are being vocal about this situation, it's because you should not have to see that.
"How can someone not be so outraged by this kind of thing? We'll always have something to say about it."
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