That’s not to say her focus has drifted away from her task at hand on July 22. She anticipates a fast start from Stoliarenko, who is making her flyweight debut after dropping four of her last five UFC appearances. The former Invicta FC bantamweight champion has won nine of her 10 professional wins via submission (all armbars), so she presents quite the stylistic and physical challenge to McCann.
McCann acknowledges as much and anticipates having to weather an “uncomfortable 30 seconds to a minute of pressure” from the Lithuanian. Should she get past that initial danger, though, she’ll turn on an “onslaught of pressure” that she believes will melt her foe.
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She knows enough, however, to not call her shot. It is fighting, after all, but she has made a promise to herself to get a finish. The last two times she did that in London, we were treated to a pair of now-signature spinning elbows.
Those moments are the product of countless hours of work behind the scenes, and McCann has certainly put in her time. Win or lose on Saturday, McCann knows she has already won. That said, a fourth win in five fights certainly sounds sweet.
“I can look in the mirror and be proud of myself that I broke generational curses,” McCann said. “I’m doing what not many are fortunate to do, and I’m just proud, I suppose.”
