Former UFC star McCann announces boxing switch

Former UFC star Molly McCann says she intends to "win a world title within eight fights" after signing with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.

Liverpool's McCann retired from MMA in March following defeat by Alexia Thainara at UFC London.

The 35-year-old won 14 of her 22 fights across a 10-year-career and is one of the most successful and high-profile women's fighters in British MMA history.

McCann says it "was always the dream" to return to boxing after competing in the sport at amateur level before her MMA career.

"I boxed before. My weight didn't get added to the Olympics so the only other option was MMA," said McCann. "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 says she had lots of lucrative offers from different promotions but opted for Matchroom because this is a "pivotal moment" in women's boxing.

During her time in the UFC, McCann won seven of her 14 bouts with her highlights including two spinning elbow knockouts in 2022.

She exited the sport having won six of her bouts by knockout and claiming three performance-of-the-night bonuses, the most in UFC flyweight history.

Matchroom's promotor Hearn says he "truly believes" McCann "will be a world champion" in boxing.

"What's important to know, she really is a boxer first. You see a lot of fighters try switch from UFC to boxing because they've already built their brand but they're not actually elite at the discipline," said Hearn.

"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."

A date and opponent for McCann's first fight under Matchroom is yet to be announced.