Molly McCann’s Strawweight Reset Brought a Win and a Setback
Molly McCann opened her UFC strawweight campaign with a submission victory over Diana Belbita on February 3, 2024. Her second appearance at the lower weight ended differently, with Bruna Brasil taking a unanimous decision at UFC 304 in Manchester on July 27.
An immediate finish at the new weight
McCann submitted Belbita with an armbar at 4:59 of the first round at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The result gave the Liverpool fighter a successful first outing in the 115-pound division after her earlier flyweight campaign.
Before the Manchester bout, McCann described feeling renewed confidence. She said the move had given her a fresh sense of purpose, following a UFC flyweight run that had produced six wins and four defeats.
Brasil disrupted the homecoming
At Co-op Live, Brasil attacked McCann’s lead leg early and forced her to change stance. The Brazilian then targeted the body, hurting McCann during the opening round and establishing the tone of the contest.
McCann continued searching for opportunities, but Brasil maintained the advantage through striking exchanges and periods on the ground. The fight reached the end of three rounds.
Two distinct results
The judges returned 30–27, 30–27 and 29–28, all for Brasil. The decision left McCann with one victory and one defeat in her first two UFC strawweight appearances.
The Belbita finish and Brasil setback together show the competitive start of the weight change: a successful submission debut followed by a difficult home-country assignment against a different style of opponent.
Sources
- UFC: Belbita submission and official finish time
- UFC: McCann’s pre-fight outlook and flyweight record
- UFC: Brasil’s tactics and Manchester scorecards
