McCormack on Path to the UFC: 'I'm 34 now, it's my last chance'

Mullingar’s Danni McCormack will be fighting in Las Vegas tonight as part of the Path to the UFC TV show, which could earn her a multi-fight deal with the world’s largest MMA promotion.

A two-time world strawweight champion with Invicta FC, Danni recently relinquished her belt in the hopes of being picked up by the UFC.

She accepted a lightweight fight in the current series of Path to the UFC, a show available to stream on Fight Pass, and will square off against China’s Qihui Yan at the UFC Apex arena in Las Vegas on Friday, August 23.

Danni said she’s been told that if she stops her opponent during the fight, she will receive a deal with the UFC.

“They think I'm a decision fighter, and they told me specifically that I have to finish this fight for me to get a contract,” she told the Westmeath Examiner.

“At the moment, there are two ways of getting into the UFC.

“One, you get offered a four- or five-fight contract - they contact your management and say, ‘We want to sign you up.’

“But that’s not happening anymore, maybe with 20% of the fighters, so everyone else has to either go through the Contender Series or Path to the UFC, which I am taking part in.”

Danni said this is her last shot at the UFC.

“You know, I'm 34 now, and I’ve done everything I needed to do to get this opportunity,” she said.

“But there are a lot of girls around the world trying to get into the UFC, so I have a job to do - I need to show my worth.

“Because I’m 34, I won’t get an opportunity like this next year, so this is my only chance. If it doesn’t happen now, it won’t happen.”

Danni, who trains with coach John Kavanagh out of SBG in Dublin, a former coach of Conor McGregor, said training for the fight has been going well.

“It’s going good - training basically finishes up a week beforehand,” she said.

“My weight is good too; I haven’t had to cut really because all of my fights up to now have been at strawweight, while this one is going to be at lightweight.

“Usually, at this stage, I’d be dieting like crazy trying to cut, so it’s definitely been a bonus.”