Molly McCann might step back into combat sports following her retirement from the UFC, potentially pursuing boxing rather than mixed martial arts.
The Liverpool fighter announced her departure from the sport last month at UFC London, after submitting to Alexia Thainara. This marked the end of a decade-long career in MMA.
Although the 34-year-old intends to compete again, she made it clear she would not participate in `influencer` boxing.
“I`m sure in a few weeks we`ll know what I`m doing, there`ll be a big announcement somewhere I imagine,” she revealed in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.
“[I`ll do] competition in some sport. Whether it be football, Hyrox or, I don`t know, pickleball, paddleball. I wouldn`t rule anything out,” she added.
When specifically questioned about boxing, McCann stated confidently: “I wouldn`t rule anything out.”
“If I was offered boxing, I wouldn`t want to do Misfits [boxing with social media influencers], and that`s not a disrespect to the people that do it,” she explained.
“I feel we`ve all been young and we`ve had the limelight on us and all acted a bit idiotic at times,” McCann reflected.
“But I don`t think I have ever disrespected the sport of MMA or boxing and when I watch Misfits stuff, you`re just teaching the younger generation, `yeah, I`ll throw a microphone at your head. I want to have a face-off just to try and go viral.` We`re just teaching the wrong things.”
“I`ve not been the greatest role model because I`ve always liked a bevvy and got fat and all that kind of thing after fights,” she admitted.
“But I have always tried to have decent integrity, and I just don`t see that there. I have never gone somewhere for money. I`m still waiting for offers, so we`ll see,” she concluded.
Since announcing her retirement, McCann has taken time to reflect on her career and its impact.
Career highlights include winning alongside her close friend Paddy Pimblett in Las Vegas, getting signed to the UFC, meeting Stormzy, and receiving a Rolex watch from Drake.
“Whether people want to admit it or not, I changed the game,” McCann asserted. “I might not have won the world titles, but I have absolutely had a knock-on effect.”
“Coming up and coming through with Patrick [Pimblett] for the eyes to be on me and him,” she noted.
“For women in this sport and the legacy is just there. More people will do this now because of me stepping foot in it.”
“I see it a lot every day when I pop into gyms and there`s girls in there, I know I`ve done my job and left the sport in a better place than when I came,” McCann said, reflecting on her influence.
McCann`s path to MMA was unique. She signed for Liverpool FC at just 16 and worked in a sandwich shop to support herself, which led to her famous nickname, `Meatball` Molly.
She didn`t consider herself naturally gifted but dedicated herself entirely to the sport.
“This was a girl who was making sandwiches and found something she was half alright at and gave her whole self to it,” McCann shared.
“That`s just a message to anyone in life, whether you want to run a business, start a family, or you just want to be a better person in general,” she advised.
“You don`t have to be the best at that, you just have to work at it and give yourself to it,” she concluded.
