London — Alexia Thainara didn’t just win at UFC London, she did so on all of eight days notice, submitting Molly McCann and sending the Liverpool native, a household name in U.K. MMA, into retirement.
After the fight, Brazil’s Thainara (12-1) spoke to the media about taking the fight on short notice (replacing Istela Nunes), and “Meatball” retiring afterwards.
“My master always tells me that fighters need to stay ready, and ever since I fought on Contender Series, he’s always coming to me saying ‘Alexia you need to train, you need to diet, you need to be ready,'” recalled Thainara, backstage at the O2 Arena. “And that’s what happened.”
“The UFC has the best matchmakers in the world, Sean [Shelby] and Mick [Maynard], and they called me and I delivered.”
McCann was the veteran with over a dozen UFC fights under her belt, competing in her home country. Alexia Thainara, however, was anything but starstruck at UFC London.
“Everyone was asking me about coming and fighting someone who’s a huge star, in her home, but the reality is that we’re all stars in the UFC,” she stated. “And I’m happy that she had a long career, I think she did a lot of things but this is my time, and she can feel comfort that she lost to someone who has a big heart, and someone who’s happy to be here.”
Thainara has practically exuded confidence throughout UFC London’s Fight Week, and seemed to have it in the cage as well. Asked where she gets that confidence from, she quoted her mother.
“My mom says that when I was born, I wasn’t born, I debuted. That’s the fighter you’re going to see. I’m always happy, I’m always radiating, I’m always very positive. That’s what you’re going to see. I’m going to inspire a lot of people with this positivity and with this happiness.”
Watch the full UFC London post-fight press appearance by Alexia Thainara above.
