DUBLIN – It only took Leah McCourt 134 seconds to pick up her second Bellator victory Friday night.
SBG product McCourt (3-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) submitted opponent Kerry Hughes (3-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in the first round of their Bellator 227 clash.
Bellator 227/Bellator Europe 4 took place Friday at 3Arena in Dublin. The Bellator 227 main card aired on Paramount and streams on DAZN via tape delay following live prelims on MMA Junkie. The Bellator Europe 4 main card streamed on the Bellator app.
McCourt said she felt the calmest she’s ever been inside the cage – despite going through a brutal weight cut.
“I could see things more clearly,” McCourt told MMA Junkie after the fight. “It’s just an experience. It’s so nice. It didn’t feel like it was real.”
Having her “best friend and sister,” UFC flyweight Molly McCann, cage-side was a big benefit, said McCourt. During the action, McCourt could hear McCann’s support.
“She’s my girl,” McCourt said. “God gave her to me as a best friend and a sister. I spar with her. Her boxing and striking is world class. My boxing coaches say she could be a professional boxer.
“Not only her abilities, her mentality and how she is as a person, how she treats people walking down the street, it’s nice to be around someone like her.”
Moments after her victory in Dublin, McCourt called for a bout in London in November. Her preferred opponent? Australia’s Janay Harding (5-3 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), a fighter McCourt indicated she respects greatly.
“Anybody please put me on London,” McCourt said. “I want to keep active. I just get thrown in the deep end and I have to keep fighting to get better. I’m only 3-1 now. I want to keep active.
“… Janay Harding. I’ve seen her fight. She beat Sinead Kavanagh only with elbows and lucky stoppage for Sinead. I’d like to maybe fight her in November. Anywhere. I just want to keep active.”
