Bellator 300 video: Leah McCourt pounds on Sara McMann for first-round TKO win

SAN DIEGO – That’s one way to pick up the biggest win of your career.

Leah McCourt made a statement with her performance at Bellator 300 as she beat up former UFC title challenger Sara McMann to earn a first-round TKO victory Saturday night at Pechanga Arena.

The fight got off to a fast, back-and-forth start, but once McCourt (8-3 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) secured top position late in the first round, she took full advantage of it by raining down punches on McMann (14-7 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) near the fence. With McMann trapped and barely able to defend herself, McCourt switched to some hard elbows, which prompted referee Jason Herzog to step in.

You can watch the finish in the video below:

The victory was a big rebound for McCourt, who was coming off a tough unanimous decision loss to women’s featherweight title challenger Cat Zingano in a five-round main event this past March.

It’s the first loss for McMann in Bellator after she debuted with the promotion this past April by beating former two-time title challenger Arlene Blencowe.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 300 results include:

• Leah McCourt def. Sara McMann via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:30

• Sergio Cossio def. Jesse Roberts via submission (triangle choke) –Round 3, 4:05

• Kai Kamaka def. Henry Corrales via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

• Slim Trabelsi def. Davion Franklin via technical submission – Round 1, 3:09

• Doveltdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Maciej Rozanski via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

• Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Herman Terrado via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

• Grant Neal def. Romero Cotton via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

• Jena Bishop vs. Ilara Joanne submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:45

• Josh Hokit def. Spencer Smith via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 3:12

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

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie