Temecula, CA — Like many, including Bellator 293 opponent Cat Zingano, Leah McCourt is wondering where a win this Friday leaves her.
Hopefully, that’s fighting for the title, with Zingano and McCourt the two biggest names not to have fought women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg (who remains in negotiations with the promotion).
“Yes. I think the winner’s going to fight for the title in September or the end of Summer. I heard this fight was meant to be for the title, and then I don’t know what happened, but I’m fighting Cat,” McCourt (7-2) told media outlets including Cageside Press during Wednesday’s media day. “I’m excited.”
Aside from the title question, another move that left many pondering was seeing Marcelo Golm vs. Daniel James headline over Zingano vs. McCourt — which has more potential for title implications than the heavyweight main event.
There was a point McCourt thought her fight was topping the card. “I heard it was as well. I don’t care. It doesn’t really make a difference,” she stated. “I’d rather be first on and get it over and done with. But as always, I’m the main card or co-main event. It’s always a lot of pressure, thrown in the deep end. It’s something I’ve done my whole career, since my first professional [fight]. I’d been thrown in the deep end, and here we are again.”
There’s some suggestion that McCourt has never faced anyone with the wrestling of Zingano, an NCAA Division III wrestler who started out on the mats at the age of 12.
“I’m comfortable everywhere, standing or grappling,” McCourt said on that front. “Grappling is my game, If it goes to that, then I’ll be able to hang there, yeah.”
Watch the full Bellator 293 media day appearance by Leah McCourt above.
