Meatball Molly: 'I don't feel like I was out-skilled. I was compromised.'

‘Meatball’ Molly McCann has shared a heartbreaking update after losing her last UFC fight. Molly is recovering after breaking her fibula (calf bone) during her match against Bruna Brasil last month in Manchester.

The fighter was speaking to the ECHO at an event hosted by TNT Sports, where she was joined by former Liverpool FC footballer Joe Cole and Finn Russell, captain of Scotland's Rugby Union team.

The first kick of the first round broke Molly's fibula, which meant she struggled throughout the fight. She was also hit with a brutal knee to her stomach. That meant Molly doesn’t feel like the fight was a reflection of her ability and makes the result tough to take. She said: “I don't feel like I was out-skilled. I was compromised. It's not really going to be anything to overcome.

“It's just heartbreak. It took me five months to get ready for this. I broke my leg in the fight and now it's going to take me five months to get back in there. That's nearly a year off my life.”

Molly is focussing on recovering from her injury and admitted she had “no idea” what the future holds for her after that. She said: “I've got five months it's gonna take to fix this leg and then I'll reassess.

“I think it's just about getting healthy again and then see where I go from there. I haven't been back to the gym to be honest. I've only been able to walk this week.”

Molly is focussing on herself, something she has let fellow UFC fighter and close friend Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett know. She said: “He's my best mate. It's what we do - when one feels down, the other one steps up.

“But I also kind of said to him, if I'm a bit quiet, it’s because I don't want to bring people down. When I'm feeling good, you're going to know.

“When I'm feeling down, you're going to know. This is the toughest loss to take because if I didn't break my leg, I know I would have won.

“I just know I would have won. I wouldn't have lost balance with a broken leg. It's just hard to take when it feels like it's kind of been robbed from you.”

Molly has enjoyed how many of her supporters have reached out to her following the defeat. She said: “It's been unbelievable. If you go on my socials, it's 99.9% love. There's not many people who could take life the way I did and keep coming forward, keep fighting on and keep in the game.

“Lesser people would have just swallowed it in that fight and the fans know that and that I fight for them so, it's been nice. It's lifted me up on the down days and people have got more respect for me for pushing on through the injuries.”

The TNT event was hosted by Lynsey Hipgrave and discussed the power of sport and the emotional journey of each of the panellist’s careers. Molly said: “TNT Sports and I have always had a brilliant relationship. They've always backed me and helped push me towards the forefront of what I'm doing. I've had one hell of a career and I don't think anyone's career probably is more high and low than that.”

Molly argued she had enjoyed showing a different side to herself along with Paddy in the recent BBC documentary, Paddy and Molly: Show No Mersey. She said: "It's nice that people don't just see me screaming at someone in a cage. I'm a decent human being and they get to see every facet of that, so I think it won me a lot more people over.

"There's two kids who are trying to put the city on the map and trying to do the best for themselves and the people around them, so I'm very thankful for the BBC for taking the chance on us and I hope you all enjoyed it."

Molly is also delighted at the success of Scousers like herself, Paddy and musician Jamie Webster. She said: “What I like is when people are authentic, share their truth and have a message. Me, Paddy and Jamie are all much of a muchness in terms of, we've got a message and we're going to use our voice to give it, then we galvanise the city behind us.”

Molly also expressed optimism for Everton next season. Sean Dyche’s side have made several signings but speculation about the takeover of the club remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Molly predicted a “top ten finish” for the Blues in the Premier League this season.

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