Bellator 267’s co-main event pitted rising featherweight sensation Leah McCourt against American Jessica Borga.
Borga’s status as the only American fighter on the card would put the London crowd firmly behind Northern Ireland’s McCourt, who entered the bout on a five-fight win streak.
It was all of 90 seconds before Leah McCourt got her opponent down to the canvas on Friday. She sat in Borga’s guard as the latter worked on a kimura from the bottom. That was easily avoided by McCourt, who dragged her opponent away from the fence as Borga continued to throw up submissions.
The fight went to the ground even quicker in the second. McCourt wound up on top in half-guard after initially landing in side control. Borga escaped out to her feet, only to be met by McCourt’s jab as she pressed forward. Jessica Borga was throwing labored shots from well outside, with her head down; McCourt in stark contrast was still light and bouncing on her feet. In the final minute of the round, McCourt scored another takedown, though she let Borga right back up.
Round three saw a spent Borga still trying to walk down McCourt, who easily sidestepped her punches, circled, showed stance switches, and worked her jab. Anything short of a Hail Mary was going to be too little, too late from Borga. To her credit, she refused to go quietly, but going to the judges, the result was never in question.
Official Result: Leah McCourt def. Jessica Borga by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
