Injured McCourt withdraws from Kavanagh rematch

Leah McCourt has withdrawn from her rematch with Sinead Kavanagh in Belfast because of an injury.

The Belfast fighter was due to face Dubliner Kavanagh at Bellator 302 on 22 March.

But McCourt announced she had suffered a "broken rib and torn oblique" in a sparring accident and may now require surgery on her abdominal muscle.

"All I ever wanted to do was have the chance to fight in Belfast so this is especially devastating," McCourt said.

McCourt, 31, was aiming to gain revenge over Kavanagh, who beat her on points in their first fight in Dublin in 2022.

The featherweight has fought three times since then, losing once.

Bellator 302 is the first event since the MMA promotion was acquired by the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

The PFL will continue to stage one-off Bellator events through 2024, but some of Bellator's best stars have decided to move to the PFL's American and European competitions.

Ireland's Karl Moore headlines Bellator 302, in a light-heavyweight title bout against American Corey Anderson as he bids to become the promotion's first Irish world champion.

Irish featherweight James Gallagher and British middleweight Fabian Edwards are also set to compete.