Molly McCann makes Paddy Pimblett claim ahead of ‘career-defining’ Michael Chandler fight at UFC 314

Molly McCann believes her friend and teammate Paddy Pimblett will thrive under the lights against Michael Chandler next month. Pimblett takes on Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314 in what several MMA fans have described as the biggest of his career. McCann and Pimblett are friends and teammatesGetty McCann fights at UFC London and Pimblett faces Chandler at UFC 314Getty McCann has her own fight to look forward to this weekend at UFC London. She faces Alexia Thainara on the main card at London’s O2 Arena, before Leon Edwards take on Sean Brady in the main event. Thainara stepped in on days’ notice to fight McCann for her UFC debut, after the Liverpudlian’s original opponent, Istela Nunes, pulled out. Speaking to talkSPORT.com at UFC London’s Media Day, McCann had no doubts over how Pimblett vs Chandler will play out and said the UFC 314 fight is something her friend has always ‘dreamed of’. “I love it when we’re in camp together because it always draws us closer,” she said. “I think we set a standard in the gym and energy that everyone thrives off. “Pressure makes diamonds and my boy is a big, big diamond. This is everything he’s dreamed of his whole life. “I don’t think the bright lights are going to get to him. I think he’s learned his lessons in previous fights and especially with Tony Ferguson. “I think that was a big thing having [Donald] Trump in the crowd being there on that card. “He knows the drill. He’s meeting Chandler at the perfect time. he’s levelling up everywhere.” McCann boats a pro MMA record of 14-7Getty Pimblett can move into the top 10 UFC lightweight rankings with a win over ChandlerGetty ‘Meatball’ McCann is a former Cage Warriors champion and has fought in the UFC since May 2018. She shot to fame after racking up wins in Dana White’s promotion and securing back-to-back spinning elbow knockouts in 2022, which both came in London. “Look at his body. He’s a man now. He’s 30 years of age. He’s not green in the sport and he’s just going to go in there and absolutely do the job,” McCann added. The 34-year-old then explained how she has witnessed first hand Pimblett learning from previous bouts with the likes of UFC legend Tony Ferguson when they train together. “Well you look at him, he’s not blowing up anymore, he’s got two little girls… “He knows: ‘Right I’m gonna get the most eyes on us and he’s authentic with the way he’s doing it. McCann doesn’t believe the bright lights will get to Pimblett at UFC 314Getty “The second he’s on that matt, it is 100% until the second. He’s off just seven five-minute rounds with fresh partners every Tuesday every phase. “He doesn’t get out of breath and he’s just an absolute monster. “I really think this is a career defining fight for him, where people get to see who he really is in every part of his game.” McCann then confirmed she would be by Pimblett’s side at UFC 314 in Miami next month. She trains out of Next Generation MMA under the guidance of Paul Rimmer and has made a name for herself with her never-back-down attitude inside the Octagon. ‘Meatball’ first fell in love with her beloved sport after watching Ronda Rousey submit Liz Carmouche in 2013. UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady full card Main card 8pm Welterweight: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady Light heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Gunnar Nelson Women’s strawweight: Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara Lightweight: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere Prelims 5pm Lightweight: Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla Flyweight: Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev Women’s strawweight: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar Bantamweight: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran Lightweight: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes Where to buy UFC London tickets *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue. Please note that Stubhub and Viagogo are ticket resale sites and as such, tickets may be listed at above face value prices. With the UFC only coming to the UK a handful of times per year, the opportunity to see MMA’s biggest stars in action can be limited. However, this month UK-based MMA fans will have the opportunity to see the excitement live as the UFC returns to the 02 arena for UFC Fight Night 254, Edwards vs Brady. See some of the UK’s finest as Leon Edwards, Molly McCann, Nathaniel Wood and more take to the Octagon in what’s set to be a thrilling night of fights. To get tickets to UFC London, follow the links below. UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady (02 Arena, 22 March) UFC London tickets at Ticketmaster, from £308.40 – buy here UFC London tickets at Vivid Seats, from £316 – buy here UFC Londo

Mar 20, 2025 - 16:40

Molly McCann makes Paddy Pimblett claim ahead of ‘career-defining’ Michael Chandler fight at UFC 314

Molly McCann believes her friend and teammate Paddy Pimblett will thrive under the lights against Michael Chandler next month.

Pimblett takes on Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314 in what several MMA fans have described as the biggest of his career.

McCann and Pimblett are friends and teammates

McCann fights at UFC London and Pimblett faces Chandler at UFC 314

McCann has her own fight to look forward to this weekend at UFC London.

She faces Alexia Thainara on the main card at London’s O2 Arena, before Leon Edwards take on Sean Brady in the main event.

Thainara stepped in on days’ notice to fight McCann for her UFC debut, after the Liverpudlian’s original opponent, Istela Nunes, pulled out.

Speaking to talkSPORT.com at UFC London’s Media Day, McCann had no doubts over how Pimblett vs Chandler will play out and said the UFC 314 fight is something her friend has always ‘dreamed of’.

“I love it when we’re in camp together because it always draws us closer,” she said.

“I think we set a standard in the gym and energy that everyone thrives off.

“Pressure makes diamonds and my boy is a big, big diamond. This is everything he’s dreamed of his whole life.

“I don’t think the bright lights are going to get to him. I think he’s learned his lessons in previous fights and especially with Tony Ferguson.

“I think that was a big thing having [Donald] Trump in the crowd being there on that card.

“He knows the drill. He’s meeting Chandler at the perfect time. he’s levelling up everywhere.”

Pimblett can move into the top 10 UFC lightweight rankings with a win over Chandler

‘Meatball’ McCann is a former Cage Warriors champion and has fought in the UFC since May 2018.

She shot to fame after racking up wins in Dana White’s promotion and securing back-to-back spinning elbow knockouts in 2022, which both came in London.

“Look at his body. He’s a man now. He’s 30 years of age. He’s not green in the sport and he’s just going to go in there and absolutely do the job,” McCann added.

The 34-year-old then explained how she has witnessed first hand Pimblett learning from previous bouts with the likes of UFC legend Tony Ferguson when they train together.

“Well you look at him, he’s not blowing up anymore, he’s got two little girls…

“He knows: ‘Right I’m gonna get the most eyes on us and he’s authentic with the way he’s doing it.

McCann doesn’t believe the bright lights will get to Pimblett at UFC 314

“The second he’s on that matt, it is 100% until the second. He’s off just seven five-minute rounds with fresh partners every Tuesday every phase.

“He doesn’t get out of breath and he’s just an absolute monster.

“I really think this is a career defining fight for him, where people get to see who he really is in every part of his game.”

McCann then confirmed she would be by Pimblett’s side at UFC 314 in Miami next month.

She trains out of Next Generation MMA under the guidance of Paul Rimmer and has made a name for herself with her never-back-down attitude inside the Octagon.

‘Meatball’ first fell in love with her beloved sport after watching Ronda Rousey submit Liz Carmouche in 2013.

UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady full card

Main card 8pm

Welterweight: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady
Light heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg
Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Gunnar Nelson
Women’s strawweight: Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara
Lightweight: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan
Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere

Prelims 5pm

Lightweight: Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla
Flyweight: Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos
Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin
Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev
Women’s strawweight: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar
Bantamweight: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran
Lightweight: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes

Where to buy UFC London tickets

*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue. Please note that Stubhub and Viagogo are ticket resale sites and as such, tickets may be listed at above face value prices.

With the UFC only coming to the UK a handful of times per year, the opportunity to see MMA’s biggest stars in action can be limited.

However, this month UK-based MMA fans will have the opportunity to see the excitement live as the UFC returns to the 02 arena for UFC Fight Night 254, Edwards vs Brady.

See some of the UK’s finest as Leon Edwards, Molly McCann, Nathaniel Wood and more take to the Octagon in what’s set to be a thrilling night of fights.

To get tickets to UFC London, follow the links below.

UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady (02 Arena, 22 March)

UFC London tickets at Ticketmaster, from £308.40 – buy here
UFC London tickets at Vivid Seats, from £316 – buy here
UFC London tickets at Stubhub, from £181 – buy here
UFC London tickets at Viagogo, from £209 – buy here

For fans looking for an unrivalled Fight Night experience, Seat Unique offers UFC London hospitality packages complete with floor-level seating, UFC athlete appearances, post-fight Octagon experiences and more.

Get your UFC London hospitality tickets below.

UFC London hospitality tickets (02 Arena, 22 March)