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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Charlie Wilson

Molly McCann reveals plans to return to boxing after UFC career

Liverpudlian UFC fighter Molly McCann has confirmed that she plans to return to boxing once her UFC career is over - hoping to leave the company as a champion.

McCann is coming off the back of a huge statement victory at UFC London - in which she knocked out Luana Carolina in emphatic fashion - leaving Dana White impressed.

McCann came out strong in the first round, dominating her opponent and having her hurt badly on two occasions. Carolina came back well in the second and landed a few shots of her own, but Meatball Molly was able to take her opponent down twice in the round.

The final round saw Carolina come on strong, but McCann set up her opponent and hit her flush with a perfectly executed reverse spinning elbow to close the deal.

The win now means that Everton fan McCann has a 12-4 record, winning five of her eight fights in the UFC. McCann was a fans favourite, with her relentless approach having thousands cheering her on, as she received the biggest applause of the night so far after knocking Carolina out.

ALSO READ: What Wayne Rooney said to Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann after UFC London wins

Still only 31, McCann is now seen as a rising star in the women's flyweight division - and could be in line for a big name opponent in the not-too-distant future after her knock out put the division on notice.

McCann has plans to challenge, and win a title in the UFC - but has admitted that she has admitted that she'd like to return to boxing once that happens.

The Liverpudlian idolises Katie Taylor, who is set to make history next month when she becomes the first woman - alongside her opponent Amanda Serrano - to headline at the famous Madison Square Garden - seen as the mecca of boxing.

Speaking to Sky Sports, McCann said: "I come from amateur boxing and I'll be going back to boxing, I will do the changeover and the crossover after I'm done within MMA. If it's your bread and butter I think people coming from MMA to boxing will be because the boxing wasn't there, the pro scene wasn't there coming up so that's why you would probably have had to go to MMA.

"I think within boxing you talk about 'it's always about money' but there's more money for women in MMA than there is in boxing. It's the other way around for men obviously but it's more down to money really why Claressa Shields would be coming over to MMA."

She added: "It will always be after. I've dedicated the last nine years of my life to MMA and when I win the belt, that's my goal anyway, to retire on top and then go to boxing. If I ever couldn't get the belt or something happened I wasn't able to fight for the belt then I would 100 per cent go to boxing. I just felt robbed of my time within boxing, I want to fight in Liverpool before I'm done."

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