Sara McMann expects title shot with Leah McCourt win at Bellator 300: 'I don't know who else I'd have to fight'

SAN DIEGO – Sara McMann thinks a win over Leah McCourt should guarantee her a Bellator title shot.

McMann (14-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) meets McCourt (7-3 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) at Saturday’s Bellator 300 event at Pechanga Arena. The main card, which features three title fights, airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In the night’s co-headliner, featherweight champion Cris Cyborg defends her belt against Cat Zingano, and McMann wants next if she can get past McCourt.

“I would hope so,” McMann told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Thursday. “I mean, I don’t know who else I’d have to fight. It just would seem redundant to fight whoever (loses) between Cat and Cris.”

McMann, a former UFC title challenger, defeated Arlene Blencowe in what was her promotional and featherweight debuts at Bellator 294. Based on her accolades and resume, she believes that should have been enough for a title shot.

“I would assume I’d be next in line,” McMann said. “I just don’t know what else I would have to do. I mean, coming into the promotion – not to take anything away, but I really feel like Arlene was like one of the best fighters in this promotion.

“And to fight her right out of the gates at a new weight class, I shouldn’t have to fight another fight to be a title contender because of my history in the UFC and the way that fight went. She’s really, really tough. She beats 99 percent of the girls at 145, and that was a big win for me.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 300.