Strawweight Molly McCann, one half of the seemingly ever-present “Paddy and Molly” show in the UK, was in action at UFC 304 in Manchester, paired up with Bruna Brasil.
McCann was looking to make it two wins in a row, after picking up a victory over Diana Belbita last time out.
An early Brasil kick nearly took the legs out from under “Meatball” Molly McCann, who immediately closed the distance off the opening bell. McCann looked to get on the inside, at times bullying her way in, while Brasil focused on her kicks. One of those kicks, however, strayed low, and dropped the Brit, leaving her wincing in pain. A brief pause for McCann to recover from the accidental foul. and they got back underway.
Low blow not withstanding, McCann was showing considerable damage a mere two minutes into the fight. A welt on the forehead, redness on her lead leg, and McCann looked downright hurt. She was certainly hurt when a knee doubled her up moments later; somehow she survived, but was forced back up. Another body kick folded her again, but McCann refused to go down! Brasil went on the attack, drilling the body with knees, but McCann tied things up along the fence.
Unfortunately, when they went down, Brasil was quickly in control, threatening to take the back. McCann was able to prevent the back take, and wound up back on the feet, catching a leg and eventually taking Brasil down. Despite that late takedown, the opening frame was an unmitigated disaster for Molly McCann.
After a rough start, McCann looked to regroup in round two. She came out firing, backing Brasil up. Evading more attacks to the body, McCann closed the distance, looking for a single-leg takedown only for Brasil to fight off the initial attempt. McCann stayed on it, locking her hands and finally landing a slam with authority. McCann was too high up the body, however, while allowed Brasil to escape out almost immediately.
Brasil, meanwhile, got her own chance to be on top at the end of the frame, but likewise couldn’t make much happen. A right hand in the final ten seconds, however, dropped an off-balance McCann, coming off a spinning attack, to her back.
Round three saw Molly again come out aggressive, with the pair going to the ground in a heap off a McCann takedown. Brasil came out of that in control, however, taking the back, or at least a three-quarter position. Brasil stepped over into half-guard, getting on top with three and a half minutes left in a fight. McCann, likely in need of a finish, instead found herself on her back. She wouldn’t stay there, however, and once back up connected with a solid combo that got the crowd into it. Brasil, however, took McCann to the mat again, and took the back in a scramble. Hooks went in, and with 90 seconds on the clock, time was running out for McCann.
Not one to go easy, McCann escaped out, climbed the back, and looked for a rear-naked choke. She wound up slipping off, however, finishing the fight in a scramble but ultimately losing a decision.
Official Result: Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
