“Meatball” Molly McCann may be retired from MMA, but she is not done with combat sports, and on Sunday improved to 2-0 as a professional boxer at an event streamed lived on DAZN.
McCann (14-8 MMA) became a popular figure in the UFC as one half of the “Paddy and Molly Show” alongside teammate and friend Paddy Pimblett. Now 35, McCann posted a 7-7 record inside the octagon, with wins that included memorable spinning back elbow knockouts of Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy in back-to-back fights.
McCann announced her retirement from MMA following consecutive losses to Bruna Brasil and Alexia Thainara, the latter coming in March of this year. Following her retirement, she transitioned to boxing, knocking out Kate Radomska in September.
On Sunday in Birmingham, England, McCann went the distance in the ring for the first time, winning a decision at a Matchroom Boxing event. Her opponent, Ebonie Cotton, was also in her second pro bout.
An accidental headbutt did see Cotton cut open in what was generally a competitive bout.
Cracking little fight that as Molly McCann moves to 2-0 with a points win over the game Ebonie Cotton 🥊
Full credit to both girls 👏🏼
🎬 @DAZNBoxing #McCannCotton | #WhittakerGavazi | #FightNight pic.twitter.com/2WbP60Zdle
— IFL TV (@IFLTV) November 29, 2025
McCann is no stranger to the sweet science. She began boxing at an early age, and is a former ABA boxing champ as an amateur, prior to her run in MMA.
Teammate Paddy Pimblett, meanwhile, gets his first shot at UFC gold in January, when he headlines UFC 324 opposite Justin Gaethje for an interim lightweight belt.
