Will Molly McCann find success in the UFC strawweight division?
Molly McCann has announced that she will be competing in the UFC women’s strawweight division. The drop from flyweight to strawweight comes after suffering a first-round submission loss to Julija Stoliarenko at UFC London. Will the change help McCann find success in the UFC or is her career doomed? Let’s find an answer.
The Positives
The most important aspect of McCann’s drop in weight is that she is a natural strawweight. At 5-foot-4, she is fairly undersized in the flyweight division. In nearly every fight, she was staring down a height and reach disadvantage. Now, she should be the bigger fighter in upcoming matchups.
A size advantage will do wonders for McCann based on her aggressive, boxing-oriented style. If she is the bigger fighter, her strengths will be pronounced while her weaknesses are disguised.
On the feet, McCann is a powerful boxer. At strawweight, her power should be impactful. Additionally, she can use raw strength to assist in covering up her grappling deficiencies. Obviously, her BJJ is not UFC-caliber at the moment and that has to improve, but a physicality advantage can help her perform better on the ground.
The Negatives
The first concern regarding McCann’s decision to drop weight is the weight cut itself. The first step to dropping weight is remaining healthy as you enter your new weight class. That is hard to predict. Although, many fighters have accomplished tougher changes. This question should be answered the first time she attempts to make the strawweight limit.
The one important aspect of McCann’s weight class switch is that the strawweight division is the deepest and most talented female division. The overall quality of the fighter that she will compete against will be much better. Essentially, McCann is opting to fight tougher fighters while holding a size advantage.
McCann will also be at a speed disadvantage at strawweight. The speed disparity between the two divisions is massive. That will limit McCann’s ability to land big combinations on the feet.
The Verdict
It is difficult to accurately predict how much success McCann will find at strawweight because it is impossible to know exactly how the UFC will match her up. In the past, I thought McCann would go on a run at flyweight.
Admittedly, I overrated her skills, but I assumed the UFC would provide her with favorable stylistic fights to help her find success. In her next fight, she fought Erin Blanchfield which was an awful matchup. Will she get layups at strawweight or will she be thrown in the gauntlet? That greatly affects her long-term results.
Ultimately, I think McCann will struggle to crack the strawweight rankings. The division features a lot of unranked talent that will give her problems. The one major difference is that she will now have to deal with strikers that can outstrike her and not just grapplers that will submit her. Still, it would not be a surprise to see McCann get a few solid victories over low-tier fighters.
***
CLICK HERE for more of our UFC/MMA content
Check out the Vendetta Shop
Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube
