Leah McCourt will not be fighting on the Bellator Dublin card next February, which feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
McCourt, from Northern Ireland, has turned up in nearby Dublin five times under the Bellator MMA banner, after signing for the promotion at 2-0 in 2019. Now 7-2 overall, “The Curse” is still trying to land her first fight of 2023.
“I was hoping to be on that card [Bellator Dublin], I was told I was on Dublin, and then I think there’s been some changes,” she told Cageside Press at the 14th Annual World MMA Awards in Las Vegas on Friday. “So I’m waiting to get a date confirmed and opponent confirmed; I’m just waiting to hear what’s going to happen.”
Bellator 290 on February 4 was also a no-go. “I think there was plans for me to be on the L.A. card, but again it fell through. So I’m just eagerly waiting to see where I’m fighting. Hopefully it’s going to be shortly after that.”
In fact, McCourt’s next move way come down to what women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg does next. “There’s been talks of fighting top two, I’m just waiting to see who’s available and what can happen, and obviously Cyborg’s boxing, I know she’s doing really well,” McCourt observed. “So I think we’re just kind of waiting around to see what decision she makes and where she wants to go from there.”
Cyborg picked up another win in boxing over the weekend, improving her record to 2-0. She hasn’t fought in MMA since last April, but has been widely rumored to face Cat Zingano next. A lot is riding on whether she returns, or holds up the division while continuing to pursue high profile boxing bouts with the likes of Katie Taylor.
McCourt also spoke to us about the importance of having a friend like Molly McCann — a sister in arms who understands the grind of the fight game. “Me and Molly have been doing this together for six, seven years,” noted McCourt. And from the very start of their careers, the pair “always supported each other and had that friendship. And it’s just very important to me to have someone like her. She’s such a great energy and such a positive energy to have in my life.”
“I think a lot of people see how good of a person she is outside of MMA. She helps so many people. Definitely very special and important to my career.”
Watch our full interview with Leah McCourt from the 14th Annual World MMA Awards above.
