Molly McCann thought about retiring after fracturing her leg in a fight against Bruna Brasil last July, but now she believes she is yet to reach her peak performance.
The popular UFC strawweight, nicknamed ‘Meatball’, sustained the injury at UFC 304 with the very first kick of the match. This injury hindered her ability to fight effectively, leading to a unanimous decision loss to Brasil.
This defeat marked McCann’s third loss in her last four fights, bringing her professional record to 14 wins and 7 losses. However, after dedicating time to recover, McCann has ambitious plans for her future in the sport.
‘I’ve been through a very tough time,’ McCann shared before her fight with Alexia Thainara on Saturday.
“Any serious martial artist with true dedication will always find ways to adapt, overcome challenges, and grow within their sport.”
‘I don’t think we fully understood how serious my injuries were after the last fight. I initially thought I was just badly bruised, but a few days later, the results showed the extent of the damage.’
‘Those three months were long. I couldn’t have any physical contact for about 10 to 12 weeks, which was mentally challenging when fighting is your entire life.’
‘I lost around 30 percent of my hamstring and 20 percent of my calf muscle while in a medical boot.’
‘Going to the gym and seeing the weights or the anti-gravity machine, I questioned if I could truly recover from this.’
‘I Was Probably at My Lowest’
The defeat by Brasil deeply affected McCann, pushing her to a low point. However, the Liverpool native has since pushed herself even harder to make a strong return.
‘I was probably at my lowest point,’ McCann admitted.
‘It hit me hard because I had trained so intensely and given it my all. Even when you give everything, victory isn’t guaranteed, and that was a tough reality to accept.’
‘I was battered, my body was broken, and I was grieving. But I wouldn’t be doing this if I had any doubt that I shouldn’t be here.’
Despite the significant impact of these defeats, McCann insists she wouldn’t change her journey.
‘I need challenges to rise and push forward. Not everyone can overcome as many setbacks as I have and still persevere.’
‘Maya Angelou said, “We must endure defeat but we must never be defeated,” and sometimes it takes defeat to truly understand that.’
‘There were moments in the fight [against Brasil] where I could have been finished, but I managed to continue even on one leg.’
‘Opened a Coffee Shop, Went to Ibiza, Focused’
The severity of McCann’s injury required her to take time away from her beloved sport.
However, this period opened new opportunities as she shifted her focus from MMA to recovery and other ventures.
‘I just got back on track, opened a new coffee shop, enjoyed the summer in Ibiza, and refocused my energy,’ McCann said.
‘I’m now more involved in my businesses. I also spent time in Scotland, reconnecting with nature and enjoying life.’
‘I realized that my support system and friends are even more crucial than I had previously thought.’
Moving down to the strawweight division for the first time has also refreshed her perspective on her career.
‘My entire approach is different at this weight compared to 125kg. I have more patience, and it’s less chaotic,’ McCann explained.
‘I’ve been rediscovering my love for the sport, and I feel like it’s peaking at just the right moment.’
While it might be hard to surpass her spinning elbow knockout, McCann believes her best performances are still ahead.
‘I think you’re going to see something that will surprise you, something unexpected,’ she added.
‘You’ll see a better version of me this Saturday. I may not always get the finish, but in terms of overcoming obstacles, I’m incredibly eager to compete.
‘My best days are definitely yet to come.’
Marcus Bellamy