Leah McCourt says her big-fight experience could be a major factor when she faces undefeated Sara Collins in the new main event of Bellator Champions Series: London this weekend.
Women’s featherweight contender McCourt is probably as little as one impressive win away from a shot at championship gold, and she’ll look to deliver a statement at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday night in her bout with Collins, which was promoted to the headline slot after the original main event title fight between Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards was postponed.
“I had just finished training. I was in my apartment in Liverpool, and Mike (Kogan) sent me the press release and said that I’ve been moved to the main event. That was how I found out,” she told reporters during media day in London this week.
“It’s obviously an honour, because two females are headlining the card in Wembley. I was the main event at Bellator Europe, and it was history as the first female, to represent as a woman and get that call. So it’s nice to just have that again here in London. I love fighting in London – I was co-main event at an MVP fight a few years ago, and it was exciting, so I’m glad to be back.”
Earlier in the day, Collins had told reporters that she was still getting used to dealing with the spotlight and the additional media obligations that come with being a main card, and now main event, fighter. But while Collins is still trying to adjust, McCourt said she’s right at home with the cameras facing her.
“I don’t think anybody likes doing this when they’re cutting weight and exhausted and fed up,” she said.
“But I think the experience of always being thrown into the deep end, or always being pushed up the card, or made main event, definitely helps.
“I don’t know how she deals with pressure, how she handles it, but I definitely feel the benefit this week, because it just feels like business as usual.”
McCourt has always been something of a poster girl for women’s MMA under the Bellator banner, with the former amateur standout having to quickly get used to the additional attention when she turned pro and started picking up wins. Now she’s one of the faces of the PFL/Bellator’s women’s divisions, she’s used to that added pressure.
“It probably puts an extra target (on me) for people,” she admitted.
“Obviously, it’s a big opportunity for Sara, isn’t it? She’s coming in and it’s a big opportunity for her to kind of shine. But I think I’m used to that from the start of my career. I’ve always had extra pressure, extra expectation. I just am kind of used to it by now.”
As for the matchup itself, McCourt said she knows she’s in for a stern test against a fighter who is yet to taste defeat in her professional career. The Aussie arrives in London with a 5-0 record, including submission finishes via armbar and scarf hold armlock. Most recently, she outpointed McCourt’s former nemesis Sinead Kavanagh via split decision at Bellator 299 to announce herself as a serious contender at 145 pounds.
Bellator MMAMcCourt knows she’s got a tricky test on her hands, but thinks the main event spotlight will give her an added advantage on fight night, where the experience of fighting at the sharp end of major fight cards is firmly in “The Curse’s” corner.
“Yeah, she’s extremely tough. She’s shown that she can hang with different styles of fighters,” she said.
“I think that she’s not used to the kind of pace or pressure that I bring. A lot of my fights are quite high paced, and I think it’s different to her, especially on fight night, when you’re waiting around, you’re gonna be the main event. It’s kind of like extra pressure. I think that’ll play into my hands.”
Victory over Collins would put McCourt in prime position to challenge for the Bellator women’s featherweight title, which is currently held by women’s MMA icon Cris Cyborg. But, with Cyborg set to face former PFL champ Larissa Pacheco for the newly-minted PFL Superfights title, McCourt would love nothing more than to challenge the winner. And, given Cyborg’s storied career and status as one of the greatest female fighters of all time, McCourt would love to face the Brazilian for the belt somewhere down the line.
“I think obviously, ideally, if I was fighting for the title, it would be against Cyborg,” she said.
“She is the best of all time. She’s the biggest name. She’s fought everyone. She’s won all the belts.
“I just always believe that there’s a way to beat anyone you come up against, no matter their experience or skillset. And I believe in my team and my training partners, and we will find a way to win.
And, as if chasing her world title dreams under the PFL/Bellator banner isn’t enough, McCourt revealed that there won’t be time for celebrations or afterparties if she’s victorious on Saturday night.
View this post on Instagram
“I wish! I’m actually flying to Boston at 9:00am the next day. I have to be in a class in Harvard Business School for 3:00pm.
“They have a crossover to business course for athletes. So like, the NBA or NFL. And I’ve been accepted onto this course. It’s like a semester long at Harvard Business School.
“So I literally have to be in class at 3:00pm the next day at Harvard. So I really hope I don’t have black eyes or injuries!”
Bellator Champions Series: London – Fight card
- Leah McCourt vs. Sara Collins – women’s featherweight
- Simeon Powell vs. Rafael Xavier – light heavyweight
- Luke Trainer vs. Laurynas Urbonavicius – light heavyweight
- Marc Diakiese vs. Tim Wilde – lightweight
- Archie Colgan vs. Manoel Sousa – lightweight
- Mike Shipman vs. Eslam Abdul Baset – middleweight
- Joseph Luciano vs. Steven Hill – 175-pound catchweight
- Ciaran Clarke vs. Zebenzui Ruiz – bantamweight
- Darragh Kelly vs. Dmytrii Hrytsenko – lightweight
- Eman Almudhaf vs. Daiane Silva – women’s featherweight
