UFC star Molly McCann reveals Mike Tyson inspiration before brutal Knockout of the Year contender with spinning elbow on Luana Carolina

Molly McCann has revealed she took inspiration from Mike Tyson before her stunning victory over Luana Carolina at UFC London.

The Liverpudlian scored a brutal Knockout of the Year contender at the O2 Arena, elbowing her Brazilian rival out cold.

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'Meatball' Molly celebrated becoming the first British woman on a main card with a spinning reverse elbow which will go down in UFC history.

And reacting to the victory, she revealed the days leading up to the fight were spent reading quotes from legendary boxer Tyson.

Despite standing at 5ft 8ins, Tyson famously became the youngest heavyweight champion in history, striking fear into his opponents and finishing with a record of 50 wins and six defeats, including 44 knockouts.

McCann is no stranger to overcoming physical disadvantage in the octagon and knows a bigger fighting heart can go a long way.

The 31-year-old said: “My coach Joe taught me when she throws a shot she goes back in a straight line with her chin up.

“I want to apologise to him because I should’ve kept it straight or I should’ve followed through with the left hook but it’s a fight and they’re 4oz gloves and she had a strong knee.

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“I’m not sure if you’ve all seen the aura about myself or the self belief but Mike Tyson once said, ‘Self belief will supersede the genius if applied correctly’.

“Me and my coach have ran through Mike Tyson analogies and quotes like all day and all yesterday.

“It’s just something as a fighter where I have to fight the bigger people all the f****** time I have to take that onboard with me.

“I’ve had to overcome a lot in here [points at her head] and I think that has f***** off now and I know who I am.”