Sinead Kavanagh v Leah McCourt: Queen of Irish MMA set to be crowned

When Bellator first visited Dublin in December 2016, the most optimistic of their employees would not have believed the events would become the showcases they have.

In November 2021, the fight world marvelled as the US promotion welcomed Irish MMA fans back to the 3Arena, marking the beginning of the end of Covid-19 restrictions. It was not a great night of sporting success for the Irish, but the images beamed around the world of the passionate sold-out crowd underlined that the scene is still thriving.

This Friday sees Bellator return to the Irish capital for the seventh time since their maiden voyage in 2016. They've brought a star-studded cast in tow with one of the greatest European fighters ever, Gegard Mousasi, set to defend his title against Austin Vanderford.

Mousasi v Vanderford is certainly interesting, but it's not the bout that has captured the imagination of the Irish fans.

Instead, it's a meeting of mothers, both of whom were born on the island, and their opportunity to take a significant step to title contention, that's the talk of the town. So let's talk Leah McCourt v Sinead Kavanagh.

Bellator is impossible to ignore when it docks in Dublin.

An advertisement greets you at arrivals in Dublin Airport. Billboards carry effigies of the protagonists in the city. They're on the bus stops and the buses themselves. National broadcasts blurt advertisements, and most of all, there is lively debate surrounding one fight in particular.

Dubliner Kavanagh has to navigate the city everyday between training sessions before her co-main event meeting with 29-year-old McCourt, and is fully aware of the level of curiosity their meeting has garnered.

«The buzz around the fight is crazy,» said 36-year-old Kavanagh, en route to