Leah
McCourt wants the fight she’s already earned and deserved: she
wants Cris
Cyborg. After Cyborg’s last win at
Bellator 300 last year, McCourt, who also won earlier that
night, entered the cage and faced off with the featherweight
champion. However, to start 2024, the fight was not booked and
McCourt is back again to prove herself as the top contender.
At
Bellator Champions Series London this weekend, McCourt returns
to take on undefeated prospect Sara
Collins, while Cyborg prepares for her pay-per-view showdown
with Larissa
Pacheco at
Professional Fighters League’s
“Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” PPV set for Oct. 19.
Talking with the media ahead of Saturday, McCourt reiterated her
desire to fight the Brazilian and how prepared she is to prove her
place after dealing with a serious injury.
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After a scheduled middleweight title fight between Johnny
Eblen and Fabian
Edwards was pulled from Bellator London, McCourt’s bout against
Collins was elevated to the main event. In a year where she was
unsure if she’d be able to compete due to a broken rib and torn
oblique, McCourt says she’s not sure what she has to do to get the
fight with Cyborg, and won’t believe anything until they’re both in
the cage.
“Who knows what I’ll have to do. I’ve already faced off against
her; it was meant to happen so many times. Unless I’m in the cage
with her, then that’s when I’ll believe I’ve got my title
fight.”
Focusing on the task at hand, McCourt also believes that Cyborg
will take care of business against Pacheco, and cautions she would
never bet against the Bellator champion.
“I always say it’s hard to bet against Cyborg. I think Pacheco has
heavy hands, she’s extremely dangerous, but it’s always hard to bet
against Cyborg.”
Taking on the 5-0 Collins, who has fought known veterans Pam
Sorenson and Sinead
Kavanagh in her tenure with Bellator, McCourt recognizes the
toughness level of her upcoming opponent.
“She’s extremely tough, she’s shown she can hang with different
styles of fighters, I think she’s not used to the kind of pace or
pressure that I bring. A lot of my fights are quite high-pace, I
think it’s different to her especially on fight night. I think
there’s a lot of pressure that plays into my hands.”
If she takes care of business against Collins, McCourt did
acknowledge that she would like a title fight to come, if she
returns to the Bellator cage.
“Obviously, ideally, if I was fighting for the title it would be
against Cyborg. She is the best of all-time, she’s the biggest
name, she’s fought everyone, she’s won all the belts. I’ve just
always believed there’s a way to beat anyone you come up against,
no matter their experience or skillset, and I believe in my team
and training partners will find a way to win.”
Now fully recovered and ready to put an end to all the No. 1
contender conversation, future title fights, and everything else
surrounding her, McCourt is just ready to get back into the cage
and compete.
“I’m feeling really good, it’s been such a great camp, so much hard
work has been put in the gym, and that’s where the hard work really
does happen. Getting in the gym every day, leaving my daughter,
leaving my home, going to Liverpool, that’s the sacrifice I make,
and on fight night I’ve just got to go in and get the job done. I
always give 110% in camp. I always leave everything in the cage, so
I don’t have to worry about not doing my best. I just have to show
the best version of myself.”
Since Collins has entered the Bellator promotion she has called for
a fight against McCourt, a challenge that McCourt welcomes
openly.
“Good for her, she’s had some good wins, why not? Why should she
not be given this opportunity? I think she’s a tough opponent and
she’s got a great skillset, so I’m excited to see which way the
fight goes and have a good fight.”
When asked what message she wants to show after finally getting
back to competition, recovered from injury, and ready to silence
any critics, McCourt’s message was simple and to the point.
“I’m coming for that belt.”