Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann: I want to empower women in MMA | ‘I feel bulletproof despite recent UFC loss’

UFC’s Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann Recounts sky sports she wants to empower women in MMA, even her opponents, adding that she feels “bulletproof” despite losing in November.

Addressed exclusively to sky sports ahead of International Women’s Day, McCann – after recently giving a tactical breakdown of Alexa Grasso’s loss to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285 in which she praised both fighters – admitted that she wanted all female competitors in her sport to be empowered.

“Anything can happen. That’s why we love the sport. Look, a woman in sport always needs a little positivity and a little attention,” McCann said.

“So I think if I can shine a light on anyone to be successful, especially women, I think that’s what we should be doing.

“Try to hold each other accountable, and not just always bullshit, even though I’m good at it! We don’t always need that.”

McCann suffered a loss in her last UFC fight to Erin Blanchfield in mid-November at UFC 281, and while she feels “heartbroken and embarrassed” by the loss, she says that she now feels “bulletproof” ahead of her next potential fight in June.

“Here’s the thing, Erin Blanchfield handed me my a***. And I gave it to other fighters, and whoever gets their game plan first, emotionally, normally wins.

“If I start a fight on my front foot and I give that person the rhythm, I win. If I fight someone and they give me the rhythm and their style beats mine, then they will win. .

“Watching her (Blanchfield) take down Jessica Andrade (in February), a former world champion who knocks everyone out and submits everyone, made me feel so much better about myself.

“I think every flyweight in the UFC will have a new fire under them.

“I have to say after that fight (loss to Blanchfield in November) I was heartbroken and embarrassed.

“And you don’t have to be embarrassed in our sport, but I had never really spoken and said, ‘I’m going to be the champion’, but I’m on this path to greatness, and just because of my finishes and my sponsorship I became this hype train.

“But there’s no hype. I’ve got 10 fights in the UFC with six wins and some of the best knockout finishes in women’s combat sports.

“I was beaten by an absolutely prolific grappler.”

McCann confirms she has faced social media abuse since the loss but is fully focused on coming back to winning ways.

“I can’t wait for my next fight in June because the person I was given, and I’m not free to say until the UFC releases it, is no slouch, black belt in jiu-jitsu, very high ranked, good fighter.

“It’s up to me to get mine back. Maybe you should be a little more apprehensive after losing, but I feel bulletproof.

“The shit I’ve had to take from people since that last fight, and how the dark side of the internet has come to me has really made me grow as a person.

“And to everyone who threw shade at me, I can’t wait to shove it down your throat in June. I’m coming for you all.

“Why is everyone allowed to have an opinion about me or a situation and that’s fine, but if Molly McCann or Paddy The Baddy says anything, everyone’s mad ?

“It is what it is. I don’t read comments and I try to live my truth on social media. If I have a *** day, I have a *** day, if I try to change the world, I’m taking you all on the journey with me.

“I’m always going to be that. And if I have to be that strong person to put up with the *** bulls, and my sanity is questionable at times, just so the youngsters can drop by and see what I’m doing and I inspires them, so that’s what I’m supposed to do.

“That’s how I will achieve my goal.”