“If they merge the divisions, I think it’s gonna create great match ups, a lot of exciting match ups, but yeah, I’m just concerned about my next fight.”
Times are changing in mixed martial arts (MMA) as 2024 rapidly approaches.
Broken promises are, unfortunately, a part of the game in the sport. Belfast, Northern Ireland’s Leah McCourt may be the next victim of circumstance to start the new year.
Professional Fighters League (PFL) shook up the landscape in late November 2023 when it announced Bellator was merging under the umbrella. This was good news for fighters with uncertain futures or desiring higher fight activity, but for McCourt, her presumed title shot-earning first round technical knockout of Sara McMann at Bellator 300 in September 2023 may be in jeopardy. PFL intends on doing champion vs. champion fights between PFL and Bellator titleholders to start the new regime, meaning, in theory, Bellator Featherweight queenpin, Cris “Cyborg” Justino, will next face Larissa Pacheco (not McCourt).
“It’s a big move in MMA,” McCourt told MMA Mania at the 2023 World MMA Awards in Las Vegas. “If they merge the divisions, I think it’s gonna create great match ups, a lot of exciting match ups, but yeah, I’m just concerned about my next fight (laughs). I look forward to getting the Cyborg fight next. She’s not gonna be fighting for a lot longer and I feel like I’ve earned my way to get that fight and hopefully that comes through.”
McCourt, 31, got back in the win column with her McMann win. Before that, she fought to a competitive unanimous decision loss with Cyborg’s last title challenger, Cat Zingano, at Bellator 293 in March 2023. A win for McMann was essentially a guaranteed title shot thanks to the freshness of a match up between her and Cyborg. However, McCourt remains one of the last Bellator staples yet to challenge for gold.
In the case that McCourt will have to continue waiting for her turn, she doesn’t intend to risk anything in the meantime.
“I don’t feel like I need to. I feel like I’ve earned that position,” McCourt responded when asked about fighting once more before a title shot. “If you look at the PFL girls, if you look at who I’ve fought, it’s like the people I have fought to get there, their accolades speak for themselves. Cat Zingano, Sara McMann, even Manon Fiorot in the UFC. Like, I’ve fought a lot of good girls and I feel like I deserve that shot next.”