Hannah Rankin came upon simply how exhausting bare-knuckle boxing is on Saturday evening.
The 13-8 skilled boxer beforehand gained the IBO super-welterweight title in 2019, and in doing so turned the primary Scottish lady to change into a world champion.
Rankin added to her epic legacy when she gained the WBA feminine super-welterweight belt two years later – however now she’s determined to strive a brand new sport.
‘The Classical Warrior’ was anticipated to make use of her boxing expertise to dominate K1 fighter Deborah Melhorn, however issues didn’t go precisely to plan on the Marbella Enviornment.
Hannah Rankin battered, bloody and bruised after her BKFC debut
Rankin and Melhorn had been tough to separate by way of 5 rounds of pulsating back-and-forth motion that had Conor McGregor raving when the ultimate bell sounded.
The UFC legend and BKFC co-owner instantly stormed the ring to reward each fighters who he repeatedly and loudly branded ‘warrior girls’ earlier than the scorecards had been confirmed.
In the end, Rankin was declared the winner by way of a 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 break up determination earlier than celebrating wildly as her disillusioned opponent headed backstage to evaluate a troublesome loss.
The victory got here at a price. Rankin was virtually unrecognizable on the last bell as she was lined in blood from cuts that had opened up through the bout.
Each her eyes and her head had been swollen in a approach that warped the face and made Rankin look nothing just like the fighter who had entered the ring half-hour earlier.
After taking time to heal up, Rankin is nearly actually set to hold on along with her bare-knuckle boxing profession that has seen her strike up a friendship with the promotion’s well-known co-owner.
Conor McGregor took Hannah Rankin underneath his wing forward of her profession change
Rankin not too long ago opened up about her shut relationship with McGregor, who has achieved all the things he can to make her transition from boxing to bare-knuckle as simple as doable.
The Scot has completely loved being across the UFC icon and getting ideas from among the finest MMA fighters to have ever stepped foot contained in the Octagon.
“I’ve been concerned in a number of press conferences however being concerned in a press convention with Conor McGregor is in a totally totally different league. He has severe star energy,” Rankin instructed The National.
“However he’s taken me underneath his wing and he and his crew are actually supporting me – we’ve bought one another’s cellphone numbers, so he’ll message me which is sort of loopy.
“It’s been insane listening to him speaking me up publicly however after I chat to him alone, with nobody else round, you’ll be able to simply converse to him like a standard particular person.
“He’s obsessive about combating and fight sports activities – he’s an actual nerd about all of it so truly, after we’re speaking fighter to fighter, it feels actually regular.”
Rankin desires to win one other belt underneath McGregor’s BKFC banner.
She added: “In the end, the purpose is to change into a two-sport world champion.
“I’m not going into this simply to have a go, I need to be nice.
“I by no means do issues by half and it’s the identical with this. All through my complete profession, I’ve by no means shied away from a problem – I’ve all the time wished to go up towards the perfect on the earth so truly, I’d have been disillusioned if I’d been going up towards a delicate contact
“I’m a two-time world champion myself and I’m happy with that so I need to go in towards robust opposition. That provides me additional motivation figuring out it’ll be a tough struggle.
“I do really feel some nerves however I’m glad to have them as a result of it makes me additional targeted.”
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