Nicknames in the UFC can have a lot of different origins and meanings behind them, but Molly McCann’s in-ring moniker has a particularly unique story behind it! The Liverpool native made her way to the UFC after competing in various regional organizations in England and even held the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship Women’s Flyweight title in 2018, showcasing her potential.

In the same year, she made her UFC debut against Gillian Robertson but the fight ended in disappointment as she was submitted by Robertson in the second round. However, she bounced back in her second fight by beating Priscila Cachoeira and becoming the first English woman to secure a win in the UFC. But how did she come to be known as “Meatball”? The story behind this nickname is rooted in her past and adds another layer to her compelling journey in the world of mixed martial arts.

How did Molly McCann get her nickname??

While fighters like Israel Adesanya chose their nicknames like ‘The Last Stylebender’ to reflect his love for ‘The Last Airbender’ TV show and his unique fighting style, Molly McCann’s nickname was bestowed upon her due to her job at Subway! In an interview with BBC, McCann shared that early in her MMA journey, she was juggling training and working 18-22 hours a week. Some of her gigs included personal training, and working in call centers but it was her job working for ‘Subway’ that gave her the nickname which has stuck with her throughout her MMA career.

During her appearance on ‘The A-Side Live Chat’ for MMA Fighting, McCann shared that while she enjoys Swedish meatballs, the ‘Subway’ version of the dish doesn’t appeal to her despite being named after it. McCann stated, “If that’s like when you walk into something, you’re like, woah, it’s meatballs. Just imagine that on a hangover…. I did 3 shifts a week for, like, 4 years.”

How did Molly McCann start fighting?

Molly McCann’s inspiration to start fighting stemmed from other female fighters that she looked up to and felt the same calling. According to an interview with MMA Fighting from 2018, McCann’s love for boxing began when she saw Irish Olympic gold medalist, Katie Taylor selling out arenas and she wanted to do the same.

McCann stated, “The craziest thing is, I got into boxing because I love Katie Taylor… She’s not doing it for any other reason but to compete. She doesn’t care about money or fame or anything else that comes along with it. I really admire her, I think she’s great.”

However, it was Ronda Rousey who made McCann fall in love with MMA as in her UFC.com bio, the Liverpool native revealed that watching ‘Rowdy’ face off against Liz Carmouche in the first-ever women’s fight at UFC 157 in 2013 made her walk into an MMA gym the very next day!  McCann is currently scheduled to take on Bruna Brasil at the UFC 304 event on July 27, and ‘Meatball’ will be looking to continue her rise and add another victory to her record. Her journey from a Subway worker to a UFC star is a testament to her resilience, determination, and passion for fighting which has made her a must-watch for the MMA fandom!