Leah McCourt
Leah McCourt (born June 21, 1992) is a British-born Irish mixed martial artist. She is competing in the Featherweight division of Bellator MMA. McCourt is a former IMMAF World and European Amateur champion and International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation gold medalist. She is also a black belt in Judo. As of March 1, 2022, she is #5 in the Bellator Women's Featherweight Rankings. Background. McCourt, who grew up on a council estate in Belfast, was put into Judo as a child by her father. From the age of 11, she quit judo and all her spare  time was spent riding ponies and horses, competing around Northern Ireland and at places like Balmoral and the Dublin Horseshow. Due to her families financial troubles, she had to ride troubled horses who others were unwilling to own. When she was a teenager, McCourt developed an allergy towards horses, leading her to giving up on her horse riding hobby. She first started training at a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym at the aged of 18, after giving birth to her daughter, Isabella, and becoming a single mother. McCourt signed an exclusive multi-year fight sports equipment and sports apparel agreement  with Everlast is the first female athlete to be placed on an apparel deal from the UK. Amateur MMA career. McCourt started her MMA career in Clan Wars MMA, debuting on June 7, 2014, at Clan Wars 19, winning the fight versus Sarah Louise Scott by armbar submission. On November 1, 2014, McCourt lost from Aoife Murphy at Clan Wars 20 by TKO (punches). In November 2015, she won the IMMAF - European Open Championships versus Sini Koivunen (by armbar submission) and Mia Isola (by unanimous decision). In November 2016, McCourt won the IMMAF - 2016 IMMAF World Championships versus Yvonne Chow  (by Kimura submission), Taryn Conklin (by Kimura submission), and Julia Dorny (by TKO). Professional MMA career. McCourt made her professional MMA debut on at "CWFC 85 - Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 85", losing by Rizlen Zouak via TKO (Punches) in Round 2. On June 16, 2018, "Leah McCourt" took part at "CW 94 - Cage Warriors 94" and won the fight versus Manon Fiorot by split decision. After this win, McCourt signed a six-fight deal with Bellator MMA. McCourt made her Bellator debut against Hatice Özyurt at Bellator 217 on February 23, 2019. At weigh-ins, Ozyurt came in at 148lbs  and was fined 20 per cent of her fight purse. She won the bout via doctor stoppage after the doctor stopped the fight at the end of the first round due to a cut under Hatice's eye. McCourt won her sophomore performance on September 27, 2019 at Bellator 227 versus Kerry Hughes by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke). McCourt faced Judith Ruis at Bellator 240 on February 22, 2020. However, on February 4, it was announced that James Gallagher pulled out of the event due to a back injury, thus a McCourt's bout was bumped to the main event . In the process, she became the first woman to headline a MMA event in Europe. McCourt won the bout via unanimous decision. After her win against Ruis, McCourt had surgery in two places on her right shoulder, which prevented her from fighting again in 2020. McCourt faced Janay Harding on May 21, 2021 at Bellator 259. At the weigh-ins, McCourt weighed in at 149.4 pounds, three and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and McCourt was fined a percentage of her purse, which went to her opponent Harding. After McCourt  caught Harding with an upkick, McCourt locked in the triangle choke and won the bout in the second round. McCourt faced Jessica Borga on October 1, 2021 at Bellator 267. She won the one-sided bout via unanimous decision. McCourt faced Sinead Kavanagh on February 25, 2022 at Bellator 275. McCourt lost the bout via unanimous decision.