Molly McCann kept Katie Taylor family link secret for years

Molly McCann has revealed she deliberately avoided publicising her family connection to Katie Taylor. The UFC flyweight told BBC Sport the bond was combat sport's best-kept secret because she did not want to appear to be trading on Taylor's name.

“It was the best kept secret in combat sport because Katie doesn't speak much and I didn't want to look as if I was riding off her coat-tails”

— Molly McCann, via BBC Sport

What Molly McCann said

McCann, a Liverpool-based mixed martial artist, has fought eleven times in the UFC octagon. Taylor is a two-weight undisputed world champion in professional boxing and an Olympic gold medallist. The pair's family tie had not been widely known in either sport until McCann's disclosure.

What it moves

McCann's decision to keep the relationship quiet reflects the pressures fighters face when connected to established stars. Speaking to BBC Sport, she explained both women's reticence contributed to the silence. The revelation is likely to prompt questions about whether the link influenced either fighter's career trajectory, though McCann's comments suggest she wanted her own reputation built independently.

Source: bbc.co.uk. Full Molly McCann fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.