Former UFC fighter Molly McCann has signed for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotion, and is aiming for a world title “within eight fights”.
‘Meatball’ McCann, who heralds from Liverpool, retired from Mixed Martial Arts in March this year after she was beaten by Alexia Thainara at UFC London at the O2 Arena.
McCann, 35, was victorious 14 times in her MMA career, which spanned a decade.
She was one of the most successful female MMA fighters in British history, but now, she turns her attention to the ring rather than the Octagon.
McCann had boxed at amateur level before she went professional in MMA.
"I boxed before. My weight didn't get added to the Olympics so the only other option was MMA," McCann said of her previous boxing experience.
"MMA has given me a phenomenal life, one that boxing could never give me.
"I can't wait to fight and show everyone the pedigree of boxing I've got. People probably think I am going to run in and try and take chins off. Which is correct, but in an educated manner.
"The ultimate goal is to be world champion and not for some phoney promotion. I've got to earn my stripes like everyone else. [I want] a world title within eight fights."
McCann revealed that she had had plenty of interest since her departure from the UFC, but Matchroom is the promotion that has won the race for her signature.
Hearn, the Matchroom chief executive, said that he believed that McCann could challenge for a world title belt.
"What's important to know, she really is a boxer first,” Hearn assured.
“You see a lot of fighters try to switch from UFC to boxing because they've already built their brand but they're not actually elite at the discipline.
"It used to be a lot easier to win a world title in women's boxing, now it's a lot harder. We're talking about Molly starting around the bantamweight level, there's some really good fighters there.
"She's not a novice, because she has amateur pedigree. The most important thing is to stay active."
Details on McCann’s return to combat sports are still to be revealed.
