Money isn’t everything for one UFC veteran.
Over the years, we have seen UFC stars like Conor McGregor and Francis Ngannou go on to make millions of dollars in their boxing debuts.
McGregor and Ngannou cashed in on fighting names like Floyd Mayweather, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua, despite coming up short inside the ring.
While the top boxing paydays are on a different level than the UFC, that doesn’t mean everybody is making more in the ring than in the Octagon…
Molly McCann took pay cut for the love of boxing
Former UFC star ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann is set for her pro boxing debut this Saturday at Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotion.
The 35-year-old McCann will face Kate Radomska in her first bout since losing her UFC retirement fight at UFC London in March to Alexia Thainara.
In an interview with BBC Sport, McCann says money wasn’t the main motivation to step into the ring.
“That’s not the reason. I’m sure the money will come,” McCann said.
“I don’t think people should be in combat sport just to make money,” McCann added.
“I think it’s very dangerous. I’m taking a big cut to come to boxing because I wanted to do it and I love it,” McCann revealed.
Across three fights in 2021-22, McCann made $150,000 in performance bonuses alone.
For McCann, boxing is much more than the money.
“Since I was a little girl, my dream was to be a world champion in boxing,” McCann said.
“I’m not here to believe people can put down my dreams and ambitions and what I want to be.
“I kind of let that happen in the MMA world and now it’s time to take back who little Molly was and why she started fighting.”
Molly McCann’s ‘solidifying moment’ was spinning elbow KO
McCann’s UFC career saw some epic highs and not-so-great lows.
While she may have been a .500 fighter in the UFC with a 7-7 record, McCann produced some spectacular highlights.
At the peak of her career, McCann scored a spinning back elbow knockout of Luana Carolina at UFC London in 2022. She has said in the past this was the most solidifying moment of her career.
McCann jumped out of the cage and celebrated with a UFC replica belt someone let her borrow.
Unfortunately, McCann won’t be able to use her elbows in her pro boxing debut this weekend.