HONOLULU – Sara McMann is totally centered on her Bellator debut, however there may be an finish recreation to this new journey.
McMann (13-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has set her sight on the Bellator ladies’s featherweight title now that she’s on the verge of beginning a profession together with her new promotion after leaving the UFC in late 2022. The Olympic silver medalist in wrestling and former UFC title challenger is about to debut this Friday towards Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 294 at Neal S. Blaisdell Enviornment.
The principle card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Cris Cyborg was the final particular person to carry the Bellator ladies’s featherweight title. She fought out her Bellator contract in April of final yr, however is anticipated to re-sign. McMann hopes that it’s Cyborg who’s champion when she will get to belt.
“I keep fairly narrowly centered as a result of I don’t wish to put the cart earlier than the horse, so all of my focus has actually been on Arlene, however in truth, I believe that I’d like to get it from Chris (Cyborg),” McMann informed reporters at Wednesday’s Bellator 294 media day. “I simply really feel like in case you’re gonna combat, and also you wish to do that, and also you wish to be a champion, such a long-standing champion, prefer it’s somewhat extra particular overcoming the hardest folks. So for me, that’s what I’d need in my coronary heart, however I haven’t put a number of thought into it.”
McMann’s debut towards Blencowe (15-9 MMA, 8-5 BMMA) might be contested at featherweight. Not solely is did she change promotions, but additionally weight courses, as she was beforehand competing at 135 kilos.
McMann expects to point out an improved model on Friday night time with the change in divisions.
“So I by no means felt drained, and I by no means felt too drained (at 135 kilos), however I do know that once I was commanding my physique to execute, I don’t at all times really feel prefer it was executing as nicely or as quick or as crisp as I needed to,” McMann defined. “And I did fear, I’m like, ‘Okay, this needs to be fastened by the point I’ve a 135-pound title combat as a result of it goes within the deeper rounds. However now, being at 145, that weight is lifted off my shoulders and I really feel like extra enthusiastic about even going into the deeper rounds.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for Bellator 294.
