Bellator Champions Series: Sara Collins stuns Leah McCourt in London

Australia’s Sara Collins stunned Northern Ireland’s Leah McCourt with a first round finish at the Bellator Champions Series in London.

Collins, 34, dropped McCourt with a right hook before submitting the 31-year-old via a rear-naked choke.

The victory, which hushed the crowd at OVO Arena Wembley, sees Collins become the number one contender for Cris Cyborg’s featherweight title.

“Cyborg, I’m coming,” said Collins. “I’m a little scared but we’ll hit the gym and train hard.”

The bout was promoted to the top of the card after Britain’s Fabian Edwards’ rematch with middleweight champion Johnny Eblen was postponed.

McCourt called her opportunity to headline the event a “celebration of women”, just as she did in 2020 when she became the first female to to headline a Bellator Europe show.

The 32-year-old defeated Germany’s Judith Ruis by unanimous decision that night in Dublin but could not repeat her success in London.

Collins’ counters served as an early warning for McCourt as she caught a leg kick before landing an overhand right.

And it was Collins’ right hand which delivered the defining moment shortly after as a right hook dropped McCourt.

Collins followed her to the ground, delivering a number of strikes, before transitioning to back control and securing her bout-winning choke hold.