Former UFC star Molly McCann is stepping into the boxing ring for the first time, marking a significant transition in her combat sports career. McCann, who retired from MMA earlier this year, will make her boxing debut on the undercard of the highly anticipated world title contest between Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker at Windsor Park in Belfast.

McCann, a 35-year-old from Liverpool, signed with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing earlier this month. She expressed her ambition to "win a world title within eight fights," showcasing her determination and confidence in her new venture. Her opponent for the 13 September fight has yet to be announced.

Throughout her 10-year MMA career, McCann secured 14 victories out of 22 fights, demonstrating her resilience and skill in the octagon. Her transition to boxing is seen as a bold move, and fans are eager to see how her MMA experience translates to the boxing ring.

The Windsor Park event will also feature Irish boxers Caoimhin Agyarko and Tyrone McKenna. Agyarko, an unbeaten middleweight, will face Englishman Ishmael Davis, while McKenna will take on fellow Irishman Dylan Moran in a rematch of their previous welterweight contest.

Matchroom Boxing has confirmed that Patrick Brown, who represented Great Britain at the 2024 Olympics, and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Aaron Bowen will also appear on the bill, with more fights still to be added.

This event marks a significant moment in Irish boxing history, as it will be the first world title bout between two fighters from Ireland. The stadium last hosted a boxing event in August 2018, when two-weight world champion Carl Frampton defeated Australian Luke Jackson.

Donovan and Crocker's rematch is highly anticipated, following their controversial first meeting in March, which ended with Crocker taking the win by disqualification in front of a 8,500 crowd at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

McCann's boxing debut is a testament to her versatility and ambition, and it will be fascinating to see how she fares in this new chapter of her combat sports journey.