Molly McCann’s next opponent is revealed, with ‘Meatball’ aiming to bounce back after consecutive defeats as she drops down to UFC strawweight division

• Molly McCann was last in action against Julija Stoliarenko and suffered a defeat 
• She is looking to bounce back against Romania’s Diana Belbita next February 
• Ruthless teenage prospect Moses Itauma is a star in the making – The Hook

Molly McCann will take on Romania’s Diana Belbita in her next fight in the UFC, with ‘Meatball’ dropping down a weight class. 

She will make her debut in the strawweight division on February 3 next year – the organisation have announced. 

McCann has suffered back-to-back first-round submission defeats in her last couple of encounters and will be desperate for a return to winning ways. 

After being beaten by Julija Stoliarenko in July, McCann announced her plan to cut the pounds and join the strawweights. 

She said: ‘[Being] the smallest in the division makes it tough when the opponents are so much bigger.

Molly McCann will next be in action in February and she is moving down to strawweight

‘Meatball’ has suffered consecutive defeats by submission in the first round

‘So for me it’s time to drop down and face the girls who are the same size!’

And in Belbita, McCann faces a familiar foe having already tasted victory over her at flyweight by decision back in 2019 by unanimous decision. 

Belbita has had four fights at strawweight in the UFC, winning two and losing the other two, while McCann was riding high after two Performance of the Night bonuses before her subsequent losses. 

The event will take place in the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on a card headlined by Roman Dolidze vs Nassourdine Imavov.

McCann will no doubt be all too aware of the perception that her ground game needs improvement after the last two submission losses. 

And she appears to be making great strides, winning in her pro grappling debut at Polaris 26 in Southampton last month. 

McCann has already faced Diana Belbita at flyweight and beat her by decision

‘I’m being a bit emotional because I’ve been rinsed alive because of my last two fights in the UFC,’ McCann said.

‘I’m sorry for being emotional but it’s hard to take on the chin every day and silence [my critics]. 

‘I’ve just come here at the mercy of everyone online to do something I’m not that great at, or people think I’m not that great at. But here we are, I’ve got a win.’ 

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