- Sara McMann has signed an exclusive multi-fight deal with Bellator
- The former UFC title contender said it was an offer she couldn’t refuse
Despite coming off an impressive unanimous decision win over Karol Rosa at UFC Columbus in March, former title contender Sara McMann left the promotion for Bellator via a multi-fight deal.
A new home
In a statement released by Bellator PR, the Scott Coker-owned company announced that McMann has become the promotion’s newest addition after signing an exclusive multi-fight contract. The ex-UFC veteran will be competing at Bellator’s vaunted women’s 145-pound division.
“@BellatorMMA has signed former Olympic silver medalist and world title challenger Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) to an exclusive, multi-fight contract. The decorated grappler will be a significant addition to BELLATOR’s industry-leading 145lb division.”
“I am thrilled to have joined @BellatorMMA. Bellator has the deepest roster at women’s featherweight, and I look forward to tough scraps with these ladies. I want to thank the Bellator team, especially Mike Kogan and @ScottCoker, for putting together such an outstanding offer…”
— Bellator Public Relations (@BellatorPR) December 28, 2022
An offer she can’t refuse
Breaking down the news on Instagram, McMann expressed her joy in founding a new lease on life at Bellator. More importantly, the 42-year-old hinted at a massive offer made by her new employer.
“I’m at a very fortunate time in Women’s MMA where other promotions will offer very enticing contracts if you are a top ranked fighter. It’s not easy to leave some of the great people I’ve met or the excellent bantamweight fighters I’ve faced. Bellator made an offer that I simply couldn’t refuse.”
Prior to joining Bellator, McMann was one of UFC women’s bantamweight stalwarts. Under the UFC banner, McMann logged a 7-6 record and shared the Octagon with some of the best bantamweights in the sport, including Julianna Pena, Amanda Nunes, Jessica Eye, and Miesha Tate.
McMann quickly rose to prominence after going unbeaten in her first seven professional MMA fights. The remarkable run earned her a shot at then-UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, who handed her first defeat via first-round TKO at UFC 170 in 2014.
Before pursuing a professional career in MMA, McMann made waves in 2004 by becoming the first American woman in history to win a silver medal in Olympic wrestling.
