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.
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.”
