Molly McCann: A Hard Days Life

Molly McCann: A Hard Days Life

In a recent interview with Fight Disciples Molly McCann said she was too blessed to be stressed, those words highlight just how much the Liverpool fighter feels about her career of choice, and indeed her life at this current time.

For mere mortals fighting for a living would be the most stressful job in the world, not to mention the most painful, but for McCann it’s anything but.

Long tortuous hours in the gym, and because of the need to make weight, that torture made even worse by not being allowed to consume the fuel required to properly power the body to it’s objective.

Even McCann’s perverse and passionate love for the sport must be severely tested during the final day’s of camp, especially with her ever increasing media obligations on top of everything else, the more success, the greater the demand for her time.

McCann (9-2) chose sport because she struggled academically, surprising when you hear how articulate she is, every word spoken is precise and with thought.

After any thoughts of a career in football were ended by injury, she found MMA. In the excellent BBC documentary Inside the Cage, she said MMA made her feel comfortable in her own skin, in many ways they are the perfect match.

McCann has been fighting her whole life, a tough upbringing, over-coming her own mental illness issues, grappling for acceptance in the toughest sport out there, life hasn’t been easy, an understatement if there ever was one.

Inspired by her mums successful battle with substance addiction, McCann doesn’t just fight for herself, she wants her mum to benefit from her success, repay her for helping and supporting her on her journey, a clear sign that she remembers where she came from and what brought her to where she is now.

After a tough start to her UFC career, McCann has rebounded and evolved and is now on the verge of a top 15 ranking. Many would have made excuses after her defeat in Liverpool last May and pointed the finger at others, but McCann knew everything started with her.

Now on a two-fight win streak, McCann has big plans for 2020, targeting a fight with the reigning UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. But this weekend in Boston, McCann has to get past UFC newcomer Diana Belbita before thoughts turn to what lies ahead.

Belbita (11-4) will look to use her debut to launch her own career to another level, but McCann is heavily favoured to go 3-1 in the UFC. Some would fall to the temptation of over confidence in such circumstances, but McCann says she has left no stone unturned in her arduous preparations for her latest trip to America.

Fortunes can change in a split second, and a career trajectory can be forever damaged by one solitary defeat. Often defeat comes when a fighter fails to prepare mind and body, McCann is highly unlikely to make the same mistake others have. When she says nothing else matters, we should believe her.