The co-main event of the upcoming Bellator 302 card in Belfast has been cancelled after Leah McCourt was forced to withdraw from her fight with Sinead Kavanagh due to a serious injury sustained during training.
Bellator 302, set to happen in Belfast, is in a bit of a pickle. Leah McCourt, who was supposed to be part of the co-main event, has had to back out. She was scheduled to fight Sinead Kavanagh, but that’s not happening anymore.
The fight was pulled from the card after McCourt’s withdrawal. This was confirmed by several sources to MMA Fighting on Tuesday. Severe MMA was the first to report this shift.
The cancellation of the fight was followed by a statement from McCourt. She explained why she won’t be able to compete in March. It’s a long one, but it’s worth the read.
McCourt took to Twitter, saying, “Devastated to have to write this and let you know during a sparring accident, I sustained a broken rib and torn oblique.” She can’t get medically cleared to fight and physically, she’s not up for it. She might need surgery and will know more in the next few weeks. She described the pain as excruciating.
She added, “I don’t understand the heartbreak and pain of circumstances of everything that’s happened so far this year, but I trust God’s plan that all these things are part of something big and better ahead.” She’s fought through torn ligaments and blown-out knees, but this is the first time an injury has been too serious to fight. She’s been warned that the break could puncture an organ if she doesn’t rest as advised by the surgeon. She’s committed to returning as soon as possible.
You can read McCourt’s full statement below.
This is a major setback for the first Bellator card under the PFL banner since the promotion was sold in late 2023. It’s even worse for McCourt, who was promised a title shot against Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg before the sale was finalized. There’s been talk of Cyborg facing PFL featherweight champion Larissa Pacheco, but no one knows when that might happen.
The PFL won’t feature a women’s featherweight division in the season-long tournament format in 2024. So, expect to see more of those fighters in Bellator throughout the year.
McCourt is left hanging as she recovers from her injury. There’s no clear sign when she might compete again or what it will take to eventually earn a title shot.
Bellator officials haven’t announced any changes to the upcoming card in Belfast. No word yet on whether Kavanagh might face a new opponent with McCourt sidelined.
Bellator 302 is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight. Corey Anderson is set to clash with Karl Moore. The title fight will crown a new champion at 205 pounds after Vadim Nemkov vacated the belt to move to heavyweight.