Alexia Thainara reacts to submitting Molly McCann in retirement bout

LONDON – Alexia Thainara thinks her UFC debut signaled a changing of the guard in the women’s strawweight division.

Thainara (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) took a short-notice fight Saturday at UFC Fight Night 255 (ESPN+) at The O2 in London following a contract-winning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series this past September. Although it came with a little more than a week’s notice, and against a U.K. fan favorite in Molly McCann, Thainara had no trouble showing out, quickly submitting McCann (14-8 MMA, 7-7 UFC) in the first round.

After the fight, McCann, 34, announced her retirement.

“Everyone was asking me about coming in and fighting someone who’s a huge star in her home, but the reality is that we’re all stars in the UFC,” Thainara said at the UFC Fight Night 255 post-fight press conference. “I’m happy that she had a long career. I think she did a lot of things. But this is my time, and she can feel comfort that she lost to someone who has a big heart and someone who’s happy to be here.”

Thainara enjoyed every step of her debut, even dancing as she walked out to the octagon as the visitor in London. She had no problem taking the short-notice opportunity, as she’s been standing by for whenever the UFC calls.

“My (manager) tells me that fighters need to stay ready, and ever since I fought at Contender Series, he’s been saying, ‘Alexia, you need to train. You need to diet. You need to be ready.’ And that’s what happened,” Thainara said. “UFC has the best matchmakers in the world – Sean (Shelby) and Mick (Maynard) – they called me and I delivered.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.