Molly McCann, known as "Meatball," is set to return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC Vegas 85 after contemplating retirement. In an interview with UFC.com, McCann revealed that she had almost decided to hang up her gloves following a disappointing loss in front of her hometown crowd at UFC London.

McCann admitted, "I'll be deadly serious with you, last fight I was in the changing room and that was me done, the gloves were up." She described feeling crushed by the defeat, considering her dedication to the sport. However, after reflecting on the situation, she decided to give it another shot.

It was her coach's guidance and support that helped change her mind. McCann shared, "On the train, my coach just said, 'Look, I'll tell you when enough is enough, I won't let you get hit, I won't let you take shots, or more shame or embarrassment than you feel you need to take.' He said, 'But, give me one fight at 115.'"

Taking her coach's advice, McCann will now make her women's Strawweight debut against Diana Belbita at UFC Vegas 85, which will be held at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. This fight is a rematch of their previous encounter at UFC on ESPN 6 in 2019, where McCann emerged victorious with a unanimous decision.

According to the odds, McCann is a solid favorite in this bout, and a win is crucial for her to regain confidence following the backlash she faced from UK fans after her submission loss to Julija Stoliarenko in July 2023. McCann expressed how she felt the weight of the criticism, stating, "I felt like I was at the mercy of the world because of the backlash I received after UFC London."

Despite the setback, McCann has shown resilience and an improvement in her ground game. After her loss to Stoliarenko, she competed in Polaris grappling debut and won via armbar, followed by a victory in the British ADCC tournament. McCann humorously remarked, "What a Molly way to win a professional jiu-jitsu match by the submission that I lost by, and then go on to win the British ADCC Open through a footlock made me laugh my head off."

Now, mentally and physically prepared at 115 pounds, McCann is determined to turn her fortunes around in 2024. She shared, "As you get older, you learn how to deal with the adversities. I've been to the moon and back in this game a few times, and through experience, those moments are opportunities for learning or mastership."

With her retirement contemplation behind her, McCann aims to master the art of winning and showcase her skills in the Strawweight division. Fans eagerly await her return at UFC Vegas 85 and hope to witness a victorious performance from the resilient "Meatball."