Molly McCann and Paddy Pimblett were relative unknowns until the UFC arrived in London on the 19th of March but ever since then, the two Liverpudlians have been the hottest property in MMA. McCann, in particular, has drawn in a large new fanbase following her devastating spinning elbow that knocked out Luana Carolina.
Indeed, the 31-year-old has been chased by the press following that statement win and has even given an exclusive interview to Sky Sports regarding her goals for the remainder of her career. In this entertaining one-on-one with Sky, McCann goes as far as saying that she would like to dominate the flyweight division by winning all the belts on offer but after that, the Liverpudlian intends to make the transition to boxing.
It was a loud statement and a clear signal of intent from the MMA star but is it at all realistic? McCann, will, after all, turn 32 in early May and even the most optimistic timeline wouldn’t allow for the fighter to enter a boxing ring before she reaches 34. As mentioned, McCann still intends on getting to the summit of the flyweight division which would take at least another 18 months, and once that has been achieved, it will be about taking on a boxing training regime that allows her to be competitive. In reality, at least six months would have to be allocated to that endeavor which does leave you wondering if the Liverpudlian is perhaps getting a bit ahead of herself after a fortnight of unprecedented media attention?
In addition to that, the fighting community may also be asking how wise it is to leave the UFC after finally making a name for herself? This, however, is where you have to give McCann a significant amount of credit given that female boxers get paid a considerable amount less than their counterparts in the Octagon. That may come as a surprise given that a lot of the top UFC male athletes are beginning to question how much they earn compared to what male boxers bring in when they do battle
Take a look at the latest Fight Night Odds for a better example of the astonishing disparity in pay between the two. Indeed, you’ll see Justin Gaethje taking on Charles Oliveira on the 8th of May with the Brazilain tipped to win this blockbuster fight at odds of -150.
Despite this being a mega showdown that millions will tune in to, neither fighter will make more than $600,000 which if you compare to the $27 million that Tyson Fury will take home against Dillian Whyte two weeks prior when they meet in London for a heavyweight boxing clash, you begin to understand how far off UFC fighters are in terms of earning potential.
Ultimately, it is the other way around in with female fighters but again, this is why McCann’s decision to leave an industry that pays her more is an admirable one. Granted, there is still a lot of water that needs to pass under this particular bridge but her goals are hugely commendable.
You can understand why both McCann and Pimblett are such a breath of fresh air as it does appear that they both hold a genuine passion for what they do. In McCann’s case, all eyes will be on her to see if she can successfully take up boxing during her second act.
