<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12018217" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="paddy-pimblett" source="Orion">Paddy Pimblett</keyword> and <keyword id="12019694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="molly-mccann" source="Orion">Molly McCann</keyword> stole the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> show Saturday.</li><li>They earned a bonus from the UFC and, perhaps, a gift from <keyword id="11985128" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="drake" source="Orion">Drake</keyword>.</li></ul><p>Rap star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/drake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drake</a> promised to gift <keyword id="12025776" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rolex" source="Orion">Rolex</keyword> watches to combat athletes <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/paddy-pimblett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paddy Pimblett</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/molly-mccann" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly McCann</a> after their respective wins earned him a $3.7 million payout from successful bets.</p><p>Pimblett and McCann are two of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a>'s rising stars in the UK due to their fervent fanbases and signature victories in the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a>.</p><p>The UFC returned to London for a "Fight Night" event Saturday and, true to form, Pimblett and McCann stole the show.</p><div type="image" title="Molly McCann, UFC." height="1333" width="2000" msid="93121357" hostid="261" sizebytes="158652"></div><p>McCann defeated Hannah Goldy with a particularly savage spinning back elbow, with follow-up punches, in the very first round on their main card flyweight fight broadcast from the 02 Arena in London on ESPN+.</p><p>Two bouts later, Pimblett submitted Jordan Leavitt with a rear-naked choke in the second round.</p><div type="image" title="Paddy Pimblett, UFC." height="1434" width="2000" msid="93121358" hostid="261" sizebytes="133610"></div><p>Because of the conclusive nature of their wins, the UFC rewarded both fighters with a "Performance of the Night" bonus check worth $50,000.</p><p>But they'll receive a second bonus should Drake make good on his vow to deliver a luxury watch.</p><p>Drake placed a parlay worth slightly more than $2.2 million, backing both Pimblett and McCann to win.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1550857568020402177">July 23, 2022</a></blockquote><p>As they both were triumphant, Drake's bet would have returned $3.7 million.</p><p>Aware of the musician's winnings, McCann sent Drake a message on Instagram to ask for a Rolex.</p><p>"Rollies for Meatball and the Baddy," Drake replied on the social media platform while tagging the Crypto platform Stake. "Secured the W [win] and the rollie."</p><div type="image" title="Drake is a renowned UFC fan." height="1448" width="2000" msid="93121359" hostid="261" sizebytes="126026"></div><p>Elaborating further on the post-fight UFC show on ESPN, McCann said: "Drake is buying me and Paddy a new Rollie,"</p><p>Pimblett added: "Molly over here sends him a video right after and asked for watches, and he said he's going to give us both a Rolex.</p><p>"We're swimming in it."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1550970615791644672">July 23, 2022</a></blockquote>

Rap star Drake promised to gift Rolex watches to 2 UFC fighters after their wins earned him a $3.7 million bet payout

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12019694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="molly-mccann" source="Orion">Molly McCann</keyword> screamed into the nearest camera lens after scoring a KO of the year contender.</li><li>It was a brutal third-round spinning elbow strike that earned McCann a performance-related bonus.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> flyweight <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/molly-mccann" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly McCann</a> scored the most brutal, brilliant, and beautiful knockout of the year so far.</p><p>It all went down Saturday at <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the UFC Fight Night event</a> in front of a raucous atmosphere at the 02 Arena in London.</p><p>McCann is one of the more popular fighters in Britain and she sent her army of fans home happy after obliterating Luane Caroline with a spinning elbow strike that looks better with every viewing.</p><p>A former Cage Warriors champion, McCann dominated Caroline throughout the contest as she threw an obscene 112 strikes in the opening round and landed 61.</p><p>Though McCann maintained pressure in the second, she threw less but was more accurate before finally getting her highlight-reel stoppage in the third.</p><p>In total, McCann connected with 99 of her 174 strike attempts for an accuracy rate of 57%.</p><p>But, ultimately, only one shot mattered — that spinning elbow that landed so accurate, so hard, that it wrecked Carolina's world and left her on the canvas for approximately 10 minutes.</p><p>It was unclear when Carolina truly recovered as she still didn't seem to have regained her senses even after she was being helped out of the arena.</p><p><strong>Watch the brutal knockout right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1505287953442086915">March 19, 2022</a></blockquote><p>McCann's friend and fellow fighter Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett, who scored a first-round submission win of his own on the same night, was in disbelief at the destructive nature of the elbow strike.</p><p>"She got sent to the shadow realm," he said, <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1505346593968599046" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to ESPN+</a>. "That was exceptional. Oh my Jesus."</p><p><keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> boss Dana White called McCann's finish the "greatest female knockout you'll ever fucking see."</p><p>McCann advanced her pro MMA record to 12 wins (five knockouts and seven decisions) against four losses, and will almost certainly be in the conversation for the knockout of the year gong for 2022.</p><p>Earlier in the evening, mega bantamweight prospect Jack Shore out-pointed Timor Valiev, Paul Craig submitted Nikita Krylov with a triangle choke, and Tom Aspinall appears to be emerging as one of the baddest heavyweights on the planet as he scored a first-round submission win over Alexander Volkov — his toughest opponent to date.</p><p>UFC returns March 26 with another UFC Fight Night event. UFC Fight Night 205 takes place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and features Curtis Blaydes and Chris Daukaus in the main event.</p>

UFC women's flyweight Molly McCann scored the most brutal, brilliant, and beautiful knockout of the year so far

<ul class="summary-list"><li>British fighters stole the show at the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword>'s latest event in Las Vegas.</li><li>Darren Till lost his main event match to Derek Brunson.</li><li>However, <keyword id="12038428" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jack-shore" source="Orion">Jack Shore</keyword>, <keyword id="12019694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="molly-mccann" source="Orion">Molly McCann</keyword>, <keyword id="12018217" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="paddy-pimblett" source="Orion">Paddy Pimblett</keyword>, and <keyword id="12038427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tom-aspinall" source="Orion">Tom Aspinall</keyword> all won stupendously.</li></ul><p>British fighters stole the show at the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a>'s most recent Las Vegas event inside the Apex.</p><p>The country's marquee middleweight Darren Till was upset in Saturday's main event, as he suffered a grotesque swelling on his eye en route to a third-round submission loss to American athlete Derek Brunson.</p><p>But that defeat was offset by the combined performances of high-flying prospect <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/jack-shore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jack Shore</a>, gutsy flyweight <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/molly-mccann" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly McCann</a>, debutant rockstar <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/paddy-pimblett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett</a>, and big-punching big man <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/tom-aspinall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Aspinall</a>.</p><p>Together, this awesome foursome is becoming must-see TV, and will be set to blow the roof off of a venue in England when the UFC finally returns for a post-pandemic event at London's 02 Arena.</p><h2>A potential Georges St. Pierre in-the-making wins again</h2><div type="image" title="Jack Shore smacks Liudvik Sholinian during Saturday's fight." height="1444" width="2000" msid="85978333" hostid="261"></div><p>Often compared to <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> all-timer Georges St. Pierre by UFC commentator and former champion Michael Bisping, Jack Shore, 26, maintained his undefeated record with a decision win against Liudvik Sholinian.</p><p>It was a dominant performance for Shore, who landed 104 of his 168 strikes for a 62% accuracy rate, and succeeded with two of his eight takedown attempts.</p><p>To compare, Shore limited Sholinian to 33 of 108 strikes (30%). Sholinian failed to take Shore to the ground, too, despite trying four times.</p><p>Victory advanced Shore's record to 15 wins (four knockouts, eight submissions, and three decisions), unbeaten.</p><h2>McCann rebounds from losses with a gutsy decision</h2><div type="image" title="Molly McCann celebrates Saturday's win over Ji Yeon Kim." height="1502" width="2000" msid="85978335" hostid="261"></div><p>Molly McCann, 31, was in desperate need of a win after suffering back-to-back losses in her previous two matches.</p><p>Against Ji Yeon Kim, McCann showed what she is about as she earned a decision on points in a fight-of-the-night thriller.</p><p>The UFC was so impressed with McCann and Kim's match, that it distributed a $50,000 performance-related bonus to both combatants.</p><p><strong>This is how McCann reacted when she heard she'd won the bonus:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Molly McCann  (@MeatballMolly) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1434288353554276354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote><p>With victory, McCann advanced her pro MMA record to 11 wins (four knockouts and seven decisions) against four losses.</p><h2>Pimblett scores one of the all-time great UFC debuts</h2><div type="image" title="Paddy Pimblett returned a first-round knockout on his UFC debut." height="1425" width="2000" msid="85978336" hostid="261"></div><p>Paddy Pimblett, 26, entered the UFC Octagon with great hype.</p><p>The man dubbed "The Baddy" left previous promotion Cage Warriors as a two-weight champion, signed for the UFC earlier this year, and quickly told Insider that he wasn't just the signing of the year - but also the decade.</p><p>If debuts are anything to go by, Pimblett did not disappoint as he survived an early onslaught of Luigi Vendramini's power punching to deliver a finishing blow of his own, scoring an awesome first-round knockout.</p><p>After his win, Pimblett declared: "The new king is here." And after a debut like that, it is hard to disagree.</p><p><strong>Watch it right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-UFC on BT Sport  (@btsportufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1434251640249401345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote><p>Pimblett, like McCann, earned a $50,000 performance-related bonus, and advanced his pro MMA record to 17 wins (six knockouts, seven submissions, and four decisions) against three losses.</p><h2>A heavyweight slugger is becoming a heavyweight attraction</h2><div type="image" title="Tom Aspinall needed just 150 seconds to finish Serghei Spivak." height="1333" width="2000" msid="85978337" hostid="261"></div><p>The last but no means least of Britain's winners on the night was Tom Aspinall, 28, who keeps on finishing his opponents with an apparent ease.</p><p>Aspinall is must-see TV for good reason - he can club a man to the floor at will, and that never, no matter how many times you see it, gets boring.</p><p>After beating Jake Collier and Alan Baudot last year, then Andrei Arlovski earlier this year, Aspinall finished his fourth UFC opponent when he beat Sergey Spivak with an elbow and punches in the first round Saturday.</p><p><strong>Watch his knockout right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-UFC on BT Sport  (@btsportufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1434272139385974785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote><p>Aspinall, not to be outdone by Pimblett or McCann, also earned a performance-related check from the UFC.</p><p><strong>This is how he reacted:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-UFC  (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1434284083878588416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote><p>With victory, the powerful 6-foot-5 slugger advanced his pro MMA reocrd to 11 wins (nine knockouts and two submissions) against two losses.</p>

How British fighters stole the show at the UFC's latest event in Las Vegas

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Las Vegas fighting experience remains massive for fighters like <keyword id="12019694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="molly-mccann" source="Orion">Molly McCann</keyword>.</li><li>The former Cage Warriors flyweight champion signed with the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> in 2018.</li><li>She has big wins on her record, but lost her last two. She's looking to rebound in style on Saturday.</li></ul><p>The Las Vegas fighting experience remains massive for <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> competitor <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/molly-mccann" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly McCann</a>, who returns to the Octagon for a Saturday showdown against flyweight opponent Ji Yeon Kim.</p><p>McCann, a former Cage Warriors champion, joined the premier <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> firm in 2018, lost her debut to Gillian Robertson, but rebounded with a hat trick of wins that included a victory over Ariane Lipski.</p><p>The 31-year-old Englishwoman is currently looking to buck a two-fight losing skid, having dropped decisions to Talia Santos on Fight Island in 2020, and Lara Procopio earlier this year in Vegas.</p><p>Returning to the fighting capital of the world is huge, McCann told Insider this week.</p><p>"But it doesn't feel like Las Vegas," she said, noting a British invasion due to the amount of UK competitors at the show. "It feels like home."</p><p>"The first time we came to Vegas, we were like, 'Oh my God, we're at the Performance Institute (PI).' Now, it's like, 'What's happening, team?!' And it feels lovely."</p><p>The experience was more mindblowing in February, McCann said, when she traveled to fight in Vegas for the first time.</p><p>From the McCarran International Airport, which is a short taxi ride to the Strip, McCann saw the lights, the neon, and the iconic cityscape that featured some of the most famous resorts in the country - like the Bellagio, MGM Grand, and New York-New York.</p><p>She stayed at the Excalibur, and though she'd been traveling for 26 hours, she walked with her team to the Bellagio to see the iconic fountains, and look up at Caesar's Palace.</p><p>"I said to the lads, 'Think of how many greats have fought here, and we stayed up to watch them Now we're doing the same thing.' It's mad to feel like you're a part of history," she said.</p><p>The greats that immediately spring to mind for McCann are the popular European prizefighters who seemed to take armies of fans to Vegas.</p><p>"I always think about [Conor] McGregor vs. [Chad] Mendes. That's always the first one that comes to mind. Especially because he did it, the pressure, there was so much riding on it," she said.</p><p>"In boxing fights, you always think of Ricky Hatton - and how he brought all the fans with him, every single time."</p><h2>McCann's eyes now are firmly on Saturday's fight, rather than the city's lights</h2><div type="image" title="Molly McCann gets her hands wrapped ahead of her last UFC match earlier this year." height="1333" width="2000" msid="85900303" hostid="261"></div><p>Though McCann has suffered back-to-back losses in the last 14 months, she said she takes positives from the fact she was never finished in either bout, and had she fought Procopio - a jiu jitsu black belt - earlier in her career, she may have been submitted rather than out-pointed.</p><p>This shows, McCann said, that she's continually improving her skills as a well-rounded mixed martial artist. She added that she's been receiving the best coaching of her career, and that her fighting IQ has never been higher.</p><p>McCann has already been face to face with her opponent Ji Yeon Kim. It was a chance meeting at the UFC's state-of-the-art PI.</p><p>"I came down from the lift, and as the doors opened she was standing right there," McCann said, adding that she waved elaborately, said hello, but was effectively ignored by Kim.</p><p>"It's too early to get a sense of how a person's feeling. But as she lost her last fight, she moved all the way to Las Vegas to make her dream a reality, and I know she's going to bring everything she's got.</p><p>"She's a big girl, and she looks like she has a lot of weight to cut. There's a few advantages and disadvantages to that.</p><p>"Ultimately, it's going to be about who implements their game plan the fastest, and sticks to it."</p><p>McCann continued of Kim: "She's moved to a new gym, they may make her style a little bit different. And come the second round, if I've got it on her the way that we intend to, I predict she'll probably go back to the old ways, because it's what you do when Plan A is not going right."</p><p>In that best-case scenario for McCann, it is a golden opportunity to etch her own history into the rich Vegas fighting culture she grew up watching.</p>

Molly McCann is hyped to rebound in style in Las Vegas: 'It feels like home'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10713345" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="molly-mccann">Molly McCann</keyword> responded to Stephen A. Smith's controversial comment on women fighting.</li><li>The British <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> striker fights a flyweight match against Lara Procopio on Saturday.</li><li>McCann told Insider that once she beats Procopio, she's going to call out Smith.</li></ul><p>UFC fighter Molly McCann said she's going to call-out the ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith when she's in the middle of the Octagon after her next match.</p><p>The British striker fights a Brazilian grappler called Lara Procopio <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the UFC Fight Night show,</a> which takes place behind-closed-doors at the UFC-owned Apex facility in Las Vegas on Saturday.</p><p>The ESPN presenter said earlier this week that <a href="https://www.insider.com/mma-apoplectic-at-stephen-a-smiths-comment-on-womens-fighting-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he doesn't like the thought of women hitting each other in the face, and the incendiary comments drew condemnation</a> from the MMA community.</p><p>"How can you say that when you're on such a platform?" McCann said in a conversation with Insider from her hotel room in Las Vegas this week, just days before her flyweight fight.</p><p>"Could you imagine Serena Williams watching that? It's not just fighters he'll have offended. It's every sportswoman and maybe every sportsman."</p><p>McCann said some people may be conditioned to seeing "women get beat up" as unacceptable.</p><p>"They might not view the technical rulings, a slip, a backhand if you break that person's nose … it's not about breaking a person's nose, it's about the right shot selection at the right time. And how hard that is to do when you're fighting under lights."</p><p>"Stephen Smith needs to give his head a wobble," McCann joked. "When I win on Saturday, I'm going to say something on the microphone: 'I'll see you in the car park!'"</p><h2>McCann said 2020 was the year women in sport finally got 'respect'</h2><div type="image" title="uswnt jersey protest" height="750" width="1500" msid="80712869" hostid="261"></div><p>There were many highlight moments for women in sport throughout last year, McCann said, who marveled at the way the US Women's National Team (USWNT) campaigned for equal pay.</p><p>US Soccer said at the beginning of 2020 that unequal pay for women was fair because "men are bigger, stronger, faster," before the USWNT sued for $67 million, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uswnt-lawsuit-players-suing-equal-pay-2020-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as previously reported by Insider's Meredith Cash</a>.</p><p>The team's stars then began wearing their uniforms inside-out as a means of protest against what the badge stood for at the time.</p><p>"The women's team took a stand against the federation," said McCann. "Wear tops inside out and not representing the badge until there's equal pay.</p><p>"I'm not a feminist in terms of I hate men, but I do like equality just like any minority standing up in a racial discussion or religious conversation.</p><p>It wasn't just the USWNT that inspired McCann in 2020 - she also reveled in the "respect" female fighters got.</p><p>"But I think women in sport got a lot of respect last year. In combat sport, there was the Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk fight, in boxing Katie Taylor did big things, and Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas had a fight of the year.</p><p>"There was a generation before me that got a go at being a professional. They gave the time and effort but were never really given the money.</p><p>"They knocked on the door, but me and the generation now are the ones who, I wouldn't say trail-blaze, but we're knocking the door down for the younger generation to reap the rewards of the adversity that we faced."</p><p>McCann finished by reiterating that she couldn't believe Smith said what he said with the platform he has. "Those are the kind of comments you wouldn't scream when you're on top of a mountain on your own!</p><p>"But it's up to us though to just keep doing what we're doing."</p><h2>What McCann does best is fight and she fights Saturday</h2><div type="image" title="Molly McCann" height="998" width="1500" msid="80712871" hostid="261"></div><p>McCann enters the Procopio bout coming off a loss, having been out-pointed by Talia Santos on Fight Island in her sole bout since the pandemic began.</p><p>It is territory she's successfully navigated before, having rebounded from her only two defeats in her pro MMA career.</p><p>"Certain people can just take a loss, run with it, and it doesn't affect them," McCann said.</p><p>"In MMA, when grapplers lose, it's easy for them to bounce-back because they're so used to competing in jiu-jitsu tournaments every week."</p><p>But McCann is not a grappler by trade. She's a striker and is not used to losses, she said.</p><p>"For strikers, when they lose, it's a really big deal because we're not used to losing as much," something she said inspires her to bounce back.</p><p>"When I lose, I tend to go to a darker place and I draw something deep within and get more power from it. I never want to feel that pain again.</p><p>"History is on my side because when I've lost before, I come back.</p><p>McCann said that after her Fight Island defeat, she asked a photographer to take a picture of her and her team to spur her on for her next bout.</p><p>"I said I wanted to remember how I never want to feel again, and there's been a few times in this camp where I've looked at that picture and it spurred me on when the days are cold, I'm injured, but I still have to train with studs."</p><p>McCann said the pre-bout experience on Fight Island was once-in-a-lifetime because of the bubble experience, leisure activities, and the luxury hotel that fighters and UFC executives stayed in.</p><p>"When you write this down, it might look quite bad … but [the loss] was like a PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder].</p><p>"My face was bad, I had a broken nose, and I had red eyes because I was crying. There's just a lot of emotion in that picture.</p><p>"And it takes you back to that moment of 'never again.' I never give up in a fight, I fight to the last second, but that picture does make me want to dig down a little deeper and push a little bit more."</p><h2>This is not a typical fight week</h2><div type="image" title="Molly McCann" height="1033" width="1500" msid="80712873" hostid="261"></div><p>Though McCann is not experiencing a typical fight week, she is relishing being in Las Vegas to compete.</p><p>It is the dream for many combat athletes to become the best competitor in their city, region, or country, and get the fight of a lifetime in the fight capital of the world.</p><p>Once there, they might cruise down the Las Vegas strip. Before long, they'll start seeing their name in lights everywhere they look.</p><p>McCann, though, is not getting that because the world is in lockdown and the UFC operates is running shows behind-closed-doors, rather than at the state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena like it did pre-pandemic.</p><p>She's locked away in her hotel room, cutting weight, waiting for the big moment. Rarely, she'll make her way to another building within the UFC's safety zone like the Performance Institute.</p><p>"Fighting is lonely as it is, even though you have your team around you," she said. "You're still the one physically and mentally feeling things.</p><p>"[The pandemic-induced quarantine] does take some time getting used to … I don't think I'll call it enjoyable.</p><p>"There are little victories like going to the supermarket for an hour," she laughed.</p><p>"We're from Liverpool, used to Tesco and Asda [two British grocery chains], and we come out of Whole Foods here … I was looking for junk food after the fight, asking my coach where the f--- the Cheetos are, as everything was so healthy. I couldn't even get a chocolate bar. I literally bought hummus."</p><p>Regardless, when she's back in the room, she thinks back to where she's come from, and where she is right now.</p><p>"When you put it into context, we're just off the Vegas strip, in the middle of a pandemic, about to go and fight here.</p><p>"I used to fight in working men's clubs for free, and now I'm fighting in Las Vegas for money.</p><p>"You could sit there, thinking, 'For f---- sake, I'm sitting in this room again.' But when you put it in context, it's quite amazing."</p><p>As far as Procopio goes, McCann said she's not looking past her. She didn't even want to get drawn into her aspirations for the year, focusing only on her weekend opponent.</p><p>"When you get into the UFC, you're an all-rounder with a good [fighting] discipline. And her discipline is grappling so her game-plan will be based around that just like mine is based around striking.</p><p>"We've taken that into consideration. You're going to try and beat me, you're going to try and take me down. She's a good fighter, from Jose Aldo's gym, so I'm expecting a more educated approach to the fight."</p><p>Procopio has a pro MMA record of six wins (one knockout, two submissions, and three decisions) against one loss.</p><p>That one defeat came in her sole UFC fight to date in 2019 against Karol Rosa.</p><p>"I think [her] nerves will kick in," McCann said.</p><p>"I've been where she's been. I lost on my debut and if you lose twice you tend to be cut, and she's coming off a drugs ban as well, so I presume if she lost, she might get cut."</p><p>Procopio was banned for six months after a failed drug test in February 2020.</p><p>"She's fighting for her career, and I'm doing the same."</p><p>McCann expects to win, in style, and though she is thinking of no future opponents right now, Stephen A. Smith of all people should probably run and hide.</p><p>Unless he wants a fight in a Vegas parking lot.</p>

UFC fighter Molly McCann is tempted to challenge ESPN star Stephen A. Smith to a fist-fight in a parking lot

<ul class="summary-list"><li>American underdog Erin Blanchfield wrote a Rocky story of her own on Saturday in Las Vegas.</li><li>The 23-year-old defied the bookmakers to defeat UFC titan Jessica Andrade with ease.</li></ul><p>LAS VEGAS — America has a new combat sports star and her name is <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/erin-blanchfield" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Erin Blanchfield</a>.</p><p>It seems like it was only a few months ago when Insider named the 23-year-old as one of our breakout performers from the last 12 months, after the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt eviscerated JJ Aldrich with a guillotine, before submitting Molly McCann with a kimura, in 2022.</p><p>On Saturday, at the Apex in Las Vegas atop a <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> fight card broadcast on ESPN+, Blanchfield, though, passed the toughest test of her entire career.</p><p>She was originally supposed to fight Talia Santos, but the No. 1 contender at flyweight withdrew from the contest as her coaching team was denied visas.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/jessica-andrade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jessica Andrade</a> then replaced Santos on a week's notice.</p><p>Just think about that — a rising star yet to fight anyone ranked inside the top 10 was tasked with a fight against Andrade, who is a former UFC strawweight champion and has wins over Larissa Pacheco, Rose Namajunas, and Amanda Lemos.</p><p>A testament to Andrade's pedigree is that strength and conditioning coaches at the UFC's Performance Institute told Insider this year that she's arguably the most physically impressive female fighter on the roster.</p><h2>A star is born</h2><div type="image" title="Erin Blanchfield beat Jessica Andrade." height="1414" width="2000" msid="98062771" hostid="261" sizebytes="132436"></div><p>There wasn't a moment in the 125-pound main event that suggested it would be Andrade's night.</p><p>The fighters were statistically inseparable after the opening round of action as the mostly-striking frame showed Andrade land 43 shots from 110 attempted, while Blanchfield returned 46 from 104.</p><p>What was perhaps surprising, though, was how well Blanchfield hung in there against a fighter who had a mastery of Muay Thai.</p><p>Blanchfield's striking was as sharp as it was varied. But it wasn't the only area of the fight game in which she looked comfortable, as she took control as soon as she succeeded with a takedown in the second round.</p><p>From there, she tightened a rear-naked chokehold around Andrade's neck, squeezed, and forced a tap from her experienced opponent.</p><p>It was all over. Brilliant Blanchfield had done it.</p><p><strong>See the moment Blanchfield made Andrade tap right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1627135861367390208">February 19, 2023</a></blockquote><h2>Blanchfield then set her sights on the UFC championship</h2><div type="image" title="Erin Blanchfield beat Jessica Andrade." height="1463" width="2000" msid="98062772" hostid="261" sizebytes="239020"></div><p>"Give me the winner of [Valentina] Shevchenko and [Alexandra] Grasso next," Blanchfield said in her post-fight victory speech. "I'm going to win the title and be the UFC champ."</p><p>Speaking to Insider backstage, she added: "I feel like I had the fight that I wanted to have."</p><p>On the match itself, Blanchfield said, "The first round I knew was competitive and close, and I don't feel I had the fight won completely until I had my arm around her neck."</p><p>The way in which Blanchfield has entered the UFC, set a division ablaze, and slayed big names in a short space of time is reminiscent of the trajectories past superstars Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya had when they first arrived at the big show.</p><p>"You know, I knew I always could. I wouldn't necessarily put those expectations on myself, but I put the expectation of winning the next fight, and I know that doing that is what leads to this.</p><p>"I think keeping the mindset is what's helped me keep doing what I'm doing," she finished.</p><p>The victory advanced Blanchfield's pro-MMA record to 11 wins (two knockouts, four submissions, and five decisions) against one loss.</p>

An American underdog wrote a Rocky story of her own by beating one of the UFC's most respected fighters

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12038427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tom-aspinall" source="Orion">Tom Aspinall</keyword> sealed another win Saturday at the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> Fight Night event in London.</li><li>The British fighter is unbeaten in five UFC fights and may turn into the baddest man on the planet.</li></ul><p>A new <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> heavyweight is emerging as one of the baddest men on the planet.</p><p>Meet <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/tom-aspinall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Aspinall</a>, a British fighter who has been obliterating his <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> opponents left, right, and center in an abundance of ways — by knockout, and by submission.</p><p>Insider has spoken to Aspinall before and he comes across as a humble, friendly giant who is seemingly uninterested in placing himself in the top-10 of the division, and wants to progress gradually.</p><p>But after his recent run — which has seen him score five straight finishes in all his UFC assignments to date — there can be no question … Aspinall is the real deal.</p><p>Aspinall submitted Andrei Arlovski with a rear-naked choke in the second round of a February, 2021 bout before separating Sergey Spivak from his senses after 210 seconds of action later that year.</p><p>But his most recent test against <keyword id="13419838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="alexander-volkov" source="Orion">Alexander Volkov</keyword> at the UFC Fight Night event at the 02 Arena in London was the most impressive of the lot as he submitted the 44-match veteran with a straight armbar with apparent ease.</p><p>Final UFC statistics for the event showed Aspinall landed 35 of his 50 strikes for a 70% strike accuracy, while landing both takedowns he attempted.</p><p><strong>See the aftermath of Aspinall's submission right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1505312183848247303">March 19, 2022</a></blockquote><p><strong>He enjoyed a post-win beer before he'd even left the arena:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1505313979144540168">March 19, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Earlier in the evening, women's flyweight <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-ufc-star-molly-mccann-scored-most-brutal-ko-of-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly McCann scored the most brutal, brilliant, and beautiful knockout of the year</a> so far.</p><p>Even UFC boss Dana White called McCann's finish the "greatest female knockout you'll ever fucking see."</p><p>Earlier in the evening, mega bantamweight prospect Jack Shore out-pointed Timor Valiev, Paul Craig submitted Nikita Krylov with a triangle choke, and Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett scored a submission of his own to maintain his trajectory through his division.</p><p>UFC returns March 26 with another UFC Fight Night event. UFC Fight Night 205 takes place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and features Curtis Blaydes and Chris Daukaus in the main event.</p>

A new UFC heavyweight is emerging as one of the baddest men on the planet

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rising <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> star <keyword id="12038428" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jack-shore" source="Orion">Jack Shore</keyword> would relish a meeting with former two-weight champ Georges St. Pierre.</li><li>The Canadian wrestler was Shore's hero growing up, and he is often compared to him in the Octagon.</li><li>At 26, Shore is one of the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword>'s brightest young talents.</li></ul><p>Rising <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/jack-shore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jack Shore</a>'s dream is to meet <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/georges-st-pierre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Georges St. Pierre</a>, one of the consensus <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mixed martial arts</a> GOATs, and a fighter the 26-year-old is oft-compared to.</p><p>Shore is leading the charge of up-and-coming British fighters making a considerable splash on the world combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> scene.</p><p>He last fought on September 4, defeating his opponent Liudvik Sholinian by decision to <a href="https://www.insider.com/british-fighters-stole-the-show-at-the-ufcs-latest-event-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">join fellow UK combatants Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, and Tom Aspinall in the UFC win column</a> in Las Vegas that night.</p><p>"It was a good performance," Shore modestly told Insider, during a media conference upon his return to the UK last week.</p><p>He said he went into the match injured and "essentially fought him with one arm," so was elated with the result which advanced his unbeaten pro MMA record to 15 wins (four knockouts, eight submissions, and three decisions).</p><p>During the broadcast of the bout, the UFC commentator and former champion Michael Bisping, a fellow Brit, likened Shore's style and skillset to St. Pierre.</p><p>It was not the first time he had done so.</p><h2>GSP is Shore's hero</h2><div type="image" title="Georges St. Pierre" height="1333" width="2000" msid="86227560" hostid="261"></div><p>At a post-match press conference on the UFC's Fight Island last year, Insider saw Shore beam with pride when he heard that Bisping had compared him to the Canadian, and added that St. Pierre was his "hero" growing up.</p><p>Elaborating further to Insider on last week's media call, Shore said it "would be a dream come true" to talk, meet, and even train with the former two-weight UFC champion.</p><p>"Not even to train with him, just to meet with him, pick his brains, have a chat with him," Shore told us.</p><p>"The guy has been there at the highest level in multiple weight classes. He seems to be one of the few fighters who has gone out on top, with a good business mind on him.</p><p>"So, obviously, I'd love to train with him," he said. "But just to meet, chat, would be awesome as well. Fingers crossed we do it in the future having grown up being a big fan, watching him as a kid, it would be an honor to meet him."</p><h2>After recovering from injuries, Shore wants 3 fights in 2022</h2><div type="image" title="Jack Shore speaks to the press at a recent media event." height="1333" width="2000" msid="86227563" hostid="261"></div><p>As for what's next for him, Shore said he has a broken thumb, has his hand in a cast, and, at the time of the interview, was awaiting a scan for his injured shoulder.</p><p>He does not think he'll be able to compete again in 2021, but wants to fight three times in 2022 as he hunts for a ranking in the top-10 of the 135-pound bantamweight division.</p><p>Shore is specifically targeting Cody Stamann, who is ranked 14th, and Raphael Assuncao, ranked 12th, as he believes wins over fighters like that could see himself get a grip on the ladder.</p><p>"It'll be great to have three fights next year and make the push into the top-10," he said.</p>

Rising UFC star Jack Shore's dream is meeting Georges St. Pierre - the fighter he is often compared to

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10721140" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="taylor-starling">Taylor Starling</keyword>, from South Carolina, won by a unanimous decision.</li><li>Starling beat Sigala in a brutal, bloody, bare-knuckle battle at KnuckleMania in Florida.</li><li>Earlier in the week, an ESPN presenter downplayed women's fighting.</li></ul><p>American fighters Taylor Starling and <keyword id="10721139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="charisa-sigala">Charisa Sigala</keyword> received a standing ovation at the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bare-knuckle-fighting-championship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship</a>: KnuckleMania event Friday in Florida.</p><p>The fighters threw more than 500 combined strikes, opening up bloody wounds on each others' faces, through their grueling, five-round war at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.</p><p>Starling, from South Carolina, took the decision with two scores of 50-43 and another of 49-44, having knocked Sigala down twice with more powerful punching.</p><p>However, Californian Sigala fought through the pain and gave a good account of herself in the latter rounds as she bruised Starling's eyes and left one brow leaking blood.</p><p><strong>Watch one of the knockdowns here:</strong></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CK-cwihpfx-" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Taylor "Killa Bee" Starling (@taywstarling)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><div type="image" title="Taylor Starling" height="998" width="1500" msid="80736176" hostid="261"></div><p>The featherweight pair fought in the final preliminary bout ahead of the main KnuckleMania card.</p><p>Britain Hart out-pointed bare-knuckle first-timer Paige VanZant in the main event of a card that put the spotlight on women's fighting.</p><p>A popular ESPN presenter <a href="https://www.insider.com/mma-apoplectic-at-stephen-a-smiths-comment-on-womens-fighting-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen A. Smith had said earlier in the week that he doesn't like women hitting each other</a> in the face.</p><p>His comments were roundly rebuked by the <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> industry with the UFC striker <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-molly-mccann-tempted-challenge-stephen-smith-to-fist-fight-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly McCann chastizing the comments as backward in a statement to Insider</a>.</p><p>Smith better not watch the Starling and Sigala battle.</p>

Two American women received a standing ovation after their Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship bloodbath

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9573839" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mounir-lazzez">Mounir Lazzez</keyword> defeated <keyword id="9573838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="abdul-razak-alhassan">Abdul Razak Alhassan</keyword> in one of the most violent, but fun, striking matches you'll see at "<keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword>" this summer.</li><li>The two athletes were always renowned for their knockout prowess, but on Wednesday they went the three-round decision in an all-action slobberknocker.</li><li>Lazzez made his <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> debut after <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-boss-dana-white-signed-mounir-lazzez-due-to-highlights-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a friend sent Dana White film footage of the fighter, and White was so impressed he signed him</a> in an instant.</li><li>Now, with one UFC win on his record, he'll likely be back for more.</li></ul><p>FIGHT ISLAND — Mounir Lazzez beat Abdul Razak Alhassan in one of the most violent, fun, very good UFC matches you'll see all summer.</p><p>UFC matchmakers knew what they were doing when they paired the two athletes together for Thursday's 'UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige' card, the second of four <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Fight Island" events</a> within the quarantined area of Yas Island on Abu Dhabi.</p><p>Lazzez, who made his debut at the midweek event inside the Flash Forum, had a record of nine wins (eight knockouts) against one loss, while Alhassan had a record of 10 wins (10 knockouts) against one loss.</p><p>Both fighters are renowned for their striking and their punching power, and Wednesday they came to blows in what became a gripping, all-action, slobberknocker.</p><p>The bout began with Alhassan throwing a flurry of punches at Lazzez's guarded head, but because Alhassan was adamant about knocking his block off, there were a number of shots which still landed with aplomb.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC  (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1283585763238711296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2020</a></blockquote><p>Lazzez, though, showed good punch resistance as he absorbed the strikes, before unleashing his own kind of fury — a fury which included slicing elbow strikes through the middle, kicks to the thigh which sounded like a whip echoing through the small arena, and powerful kicks to the head.</p><p>Lesser men would have fallen in an instant, but not Alhassan. He too, like Lazzez, is made of stronger stuff and did not buckle under pressure. And so a good, old, fashioned donnybrook broke out in front of the dozens of enthralled people watching Octagonside at 6.20 a.m., with the Abu Dhabi sun having risen long ago.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC  (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1283587619969028096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2020</a></blockquote><p>While there was little to separate the fighters in round one, with both athletes combining to throw 168 strikes, Lazzez asserted himself more dominantly in the second, a round in which he outlanded Alhassan by a greater ratio than 2:1, while nailing both of his takedowns, too.</p><p>In round three, Lazzez had the edge in strikes thrown and landed, and had done more than enough to earn a comfortable decision on the judges' scorecards with two verdicts of 30-27 and one of 29-28.</p><p>A new star, perhaps, was born.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC  (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1283591631082590208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2020</a></blockquote><p>After Lazzez's victory, he strutted past press row and grabbed a bottle of water which was on Insider's desk.</p><p>We did not try to get it back.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Alan Dawson  (@AlanDawsonSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1283590484116623360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2020</a></blockquote><p style="font-weight: 400;">"I love to be the underdog and to show my skill and that's exactly what happened tonight," Lazzez said. "I came in as the underdog and I enjoy the victory.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"When he put me in the first round against the cage, I said, "What, this is all that you got?" I still have a lot of weapons and just step-by-step I killed his will with the kicks, moving around, high kick, low kick, I showed my wrestling, my takedown defense.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"I kept visualization this over and over as just another fight, don't put pressure on yourself and just go enjoy what you do.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"I love this craft, I loved when I get clipped and I see the will inside the eye of my opponent, that mental game, I love that, I love that deep water stuff.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"My mental game, I've said it before, maybe you can be more technical and maybe you can be more powerful, but my will and my mental game, you can't beat it."</p><p>With the win, Lazzez advances his record to 10 wins (nine knockouts) against one loss.</p><p>Elsewhere on the main card, Taila Santos out-pointed Molly McCann with three scores of 30-27 in a women's flyweight bout.</p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-lerone-murphy-dominates-then-finishes-with-ground-and-pound-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 28-year-old featherweight called Lerone Murphy finished his 'Fight Island' opponent with nasty ground-and-pound</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-jack-shore-ufc-star-in-the-making-wins-submission-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A UFC star-in-the-making continued his flawless run with a technically adept finish on 'Fight Island'</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/abdul-alhassan-cried-during-rape-allegations-cleared-revenge-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 34-year-old UFC fighter cleared of sexual assault charges admitted he thought about 'revenge' against his accusers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-fighters-unfazed-about-fighting-in-pandemic-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC stars say MMA's new normal is 'eerie,' but they're unfazed about fighting in the middle of a pandemic</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-mma-show-contains-horrifying-illegal-kneecap-knockout-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An MMA fighter knocked out his opponent with an 'illegal and vicious' flying knee to the skull when he was already down</a></p>

Mounir Lazzez beat Abdul Alhassan in one of the most violent, fun, very good 'Fight Island' matches you'll see all summer

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e35f2455bc79c7665467d64-2000/molly mccann.jpg" alt="Molly McCann" /><ul class="summary-list"><li>Molly McCann has been called a trailblazer for women looking to get into professional fighting.</li><li>But though she's a former champion in Cage Warriors, the organization which helped create Conor McGregor's star, and is now the first Englishwoman to win in the UFC, McCann is loathe to come across as Hollywood. Instead, she stays humble.</li><li>Speaking to Business Insider with her mother present, McCann spoke about her goal to be crowned UFC champion.</li><li>McCann fights next at the UFC Fight Night 171 show at the 02 Arena in London on March 21.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>LONDON - A popular 29-year-old is quietly refusing to go Hollywood despite being a former champion in the British MMA firm which helped make Conor McGregor a star, before fighting in front of Wayne Rooney at a UFC event in March.</p><p>"[Rooney] wants to come to UFC London, I've been told he's asked for tickets," Molly McCann told Business Insider this week. "That'll be quite cool, won't it? He spoke to the UFC … they said they'd give him them."</p><p>McCann is an athlete who could have probably excelled in many sports having played football before she was a teenager, signing a contract with Liverpool, before taking up boxing.</p><p>McCann liked the combative element of the stand-up martial art, but disliked the lack of opportunity. She then found MMA, a sport which has been her home for almost five years now.</p><p>Like a number of British and Irish fighters, she made her name in Cage Warriors, winning the company's championship in her eighth professional bout - a knockout win in 2018.</p><p>From there, like McGregor, she left Cage Warriors to join the UFC. But in her first UFC bout, she lost, rebounding in March, 2019, to become the first Englishwoman to win in the organization.</p><p>Despite the accolades, her three-fight winning run, and her return to the Octagon on March 21 when she takes on Ashlee Evans-Smith in a flyweight bout at UFC Fight Night 171: London, McCann remains grounded.</p><p>She spoke to Business Insider with her mother present, said she walks her dog to chill out, and listens to vinyl as a form of escapism. She told us that her apparent status as a trailblazer for British women in professional face-punching is "a narrative people [in the media] like to go with because I'm present. I'm now.</p><p>"I know I'm at the forefront but I don't think about it. It's not the top of the ladder. I'm not there yet. When I'm retired, maybe I might think I made a difference for people to have a go. My goal is to win a world title. I've done that, but not in this organization."</p><p>Victory over Evans-Smith would help her achieve that goal, improving her flyweight ranking.</p><p>She has a natural audience, is a popular Liverpudlian, and, as she says, "I've got style, personality, and being the first English woman to win in the UFC has put me in good stead."</p><p>McCann's not the only Liverpudlian fighter making a name in the UFC, as Muay Thai specialist Darren Till is also a good middleweight competitor.</p><p>Considering the rise of northern fighters, and the appeal of stadium fights in Britain, is that something McCann envisages? No, is the short answer. "I'd be just as happy fighting in a car park [than a stadium]," she said.</p><p>"I'd fight anywhere, it doesn't matter."</p><p>But first, she fights in March.</p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-is-ufc-london-leon-edwards-tyron-woodley-fight-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One of Britain's top fighters vows to punch Jorge Masvidal next time he sees him - in the streets, or in the UFC</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-joseph-diaz-suffered-nasty-gash-in-win-over-farmer-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An American boxer was accidentally head-butted in a fight and suffered a gash so wide you could have stuck a nickel in it</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/canelo-and-golovkin-wont-fight-andrade-because-hes-too-good-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin won't fight Demetrius Andrade because he's so good, DAZN analyst says</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/danny-garcias-father-screamed-when-he-was-bitten-during-fight-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An American boxer's father screamed 'f--- him up for that!' when the opponent appeared to bite his son on the shoulder in the middle of a fight</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/videos-cris-cyborg-wins-mma-grand-slam-with-ko-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One of the greatest women's fighters of all time completed a 'Grand Slam' of MMA belts after finishing her Bellator opponent in the 4th round</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/balance-of-power-boxing-to-ufc-conor-mcgregor-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2 of the world's best boxers are desperate to fight Conor McGregor, proving the balance of power has swung wildly towards UFC and Dana White</a></p>

A popular 29-year-old is refusing to go Hollywood despite being a former champion in the MMA firm which helped make Conor McGregor a star

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="3828720" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="President-Donald-Trump">President Donald Trump</keyword> shared a tweet on Thursday that argued the mandated use of face masks represents a "culture of silence, slavery, and social death." </li><li>"Masks aren't about public health but social control," a conservative columnist tweeted, linking to a Federalist piece. "Image of Biden in black mask endorses culture of silence, slavery, and social death." </li><li>Trump retweeted that message to his 80 million followers, remarking, "So many different viewpoints!" </li><li>The president has refused to wear a <keyword id="72066" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="face-mask">face mask</keyword>, even when he's unable to social distance from others, despite the CDC's recommendation and significant evidence that face coverings help contain the spread of COVID-19.</li></ul><p>President Donald Trump shared a tweet on Thursday that argued the mandated use of face masks to control the spread of the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> represents a "culture of silence, slavery, and social death."</p><p>The argument against masks was made by a right-wing columnist in The Federalist, a conservative online publication, and claimed that mandating the safety measure is "anti-American" and signals "indefinite government expansion."</p><p>"Mandatory masks are a critical predicate conditioning us to accept abuses of our liberty," columnist Molly McCann wrote in the Wednesday piece.</p><p>McCann argued that masks aren't actually effective in limiting the spread of the <keyword id="10860" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Virus">virus</keyword>, and pointed out that the government recommended Americans not wear masks in the first weeks of the public health crisis. But she failed to mention that masks were initially in short supply in the United States and officials didn't want to encourage Americans to buy up the critical protective gear and deprive health workers of necessary gear.</p><p>Conservative columnist Lee Smith shared McCann's piece on Twitter and wrote, "Masks aren't about public health but social control. Image of Biden in black mask endorses culture of silence, slavery, and social death." </p><p>Trump retweeted Smith's message to his 80 million followers and commented, "So many different viewpoints!" </p><p>Studies <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200403132345.htm">have shown</a> that surgical face masks slow the spread of COVID-19. And there is <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic">well-documented evidence</a> that even homemade cloth masks help reduce the spread of particles expelled through the nose and mouth and decrease the risk of infecting others. Officials in countries that have better controlled their coronavirus outbreaks say universal mask-wearing <a href="https://twitter.com/lwcalex/status/1235091542219448321">has helped in that effort</a>. </p><p>In early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html">issued new guidance</a> recommended that all Americans wear some form of cloth face mask in public places where social distancing is difficult. Many governors have mandated the use of face coverings in public places, including public transportation.</p><p>Some have gone further. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam <a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2020/05/26/gov-northam-announces-statewide-mask-mandate-begin-friday/">announced</a> that all of his state's residents must wear a face covering in indoor public places beginning on May 29. (Masks aren't required for kids under 10 or those with health conditions and while eating or exercising.)</p><p>But many conservatives, led by President Donald Trump, have refused to follow that guidance and argue that masks are unnecessary and a violation of their civil liberties. Pitting himself against public health experts and lawmakers, Trump has helped churn up a cultural and political clash over the safety measure. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Donald J. Trump  (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1265980172739719170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2020</a></blockquote>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-shares-tweet-that-says-masks-represent-slavery-and-social-death-2020-5">Business Insider</a>

Trump shares tweet that argues face masks represent 'silence, slavery, and social death'

<p>A massive fire destroyed part of the Basilica of Saint Donatien and Saint Rogatien in Nantes, France, this morning, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33134463">according to the BBC</a>.</p><p>The fire may have been started&#xa0;<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">accidentally started by two roof workers, <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/2015-06-15/roofers-believed-to-have-accidentally-set-fire-to-nantes-cathedral/">ITV reports</a>. No injuries are reported. The fire started after the cathedral's morning mass, and everyone was evacuated.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This video shows the roof has been entirely destroyed:</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span></p><div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TM9RXTYYtsE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span></p><p class="embed-spacer">Images <a href="http://www.demotix.com/news/7867501/fire-engulfs-basilica-saint-donatien-nantes-france#media-7867536">on the Demotix news photo web site</a> show the structure of the roof has collapsed.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">People tweeted photos of the blaze:</span></p><div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Pozar bazyliki <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaintDonatien?src=hash">#SaintDonatien</a> w <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nantes?src=hash">#Nantes</a>  ZDJECIA i FILM: <a href="http://t.co/4uFy8q1QRI">http://t.co/4uFy8q1QRI</a> <a href="http://t.co/4JeyfuqyWS">pic.twitter.com/4JeyfuqyWS</a></p>- Radio ZET NEWS  (@RadioZET_NEWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/610397932983058432">June 15, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div></div><p class="embed-spacer">Some live video:</p><div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Incendie à la basilique Saint Donatien <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nantes?src=hash">#nantes</a> <a href="https://t.co/wAlTUzTROI">https://t.co/wAlTUzTROI</a></p>- Maxime CLAVAL  (@MaximeClaval) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/610371204650807296">June 15, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div></div><p class="embed-spacer"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">About 40 firefighters battled the conflagration.</span></p><div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Terriblement affecté, comme tous les habitants de mon quartier, par l'incendie de la Basilique Saint Donatien <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nantes?src=hash">#Nantes</a> <a href="http://t.co/ouaCQrvebk">pic.twitter.com/ouaCQrvebk</a></p>- Jordan Bulteau  (@Jordan_Bulteau) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/610397802326310912">June 15, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div></div><p class="embed-spacer">&#xa0;The fire could be seen across all of Nantes.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span></p><div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Terrible. "<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking">@BBCBreaking</a>: Pictures show fire engulfing roof of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nantes?src=hash">#Nantes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaintDonatien?src=hash">#SaintDonatien</a> basilica <a href="http://t.co/f1vomc8J18">http://t.co/f1vomc8J18</a> <a href="http://t.co/3xanAwo1cK">pic.twitter.com/3xanAwo1cK</a>"</p>- Molly McCann  (@molmccann) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/610400416644239361">June 15, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div></div><p class="embed-spacer">&#xa0;By about midday the fire was under control but much of the cathedral was a blackened shell.</p><div><div><iframe src="//instagram.com/p/38mejnGSVF/embed/" width="658" height="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></div></div><p class="embed-spacer"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&#xa0;</span></p><p class="embed-spacer"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The basilica dates back to the 1800s. Here is what it looked like in happier times:</span></p><p class="embed-spacer"></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/557eb08add089554628b4569-640-853/penniliz_sant-donasian_ha_sant-rogasian.jpg" border="0" alt="Penniliz Sant Donasian nantes fire"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilique_Saint-Donatien-et-Saint-Rogatien#/media/File:Penniliz_Sant-Donasian_ha_Sant-Rogasian.JPG">Wikimedia, CC</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-omega-globemaster-watch-unboxing-2015-5">Forget the Apple Watch - here's the new watch everyone on Wall Street wants</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="5iaDNwdDrYYMm2yipFb14ndbRkPnemqO" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', '5iaDNwdDrYYMm2yipFb14ndbRkPnemqO',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "molly mccann" and got 14 results

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