Report - Leah McCourt vs. Janay Harding Reworked For Bellator 259 On May 21st.

Mandatory Credit: Bellator MMA

A featherweight matchup between Leah 'The Curse' McCourt and Janay 'Hollowpoint' Harding has been rebooked for Bellator 259 on May 21st. from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. 

Originally scheduled to meet at Bellator London back in May of last year, the pairing of McCourt and Harding, as well as the entire event was shelved amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Headlining on short notice in her most recent walk under the Scott Coker-led banner, Northern Ireland upstart, McCourt took home a unanimous decision triumph over Judith Ruis at Bellator 240 in Dublin in February of last year.

Rebounding to the winner's enclosure in November last, Christchurch, New Zealand native, Harding managed a unanimous decision victory of her own over Jessy Miele at Bellator 251. News of the rescheduled pairing of McCourt and Harding was first reported by, Gareth A. Davies. 

4-1 as a professional, McCourt, who plys her trade at Straight Blast Gym Charlestown under renowned striking coach, Owen Roddy has featured three times under the Bellator banner, scoring three consecutive victories, adding to a previous win under the Graham Boylan-led Cage Warriors banner.

Debuting at Bellator 217 in February of 2019, McCourt managed a first-round doctor's stoppage win over 

Hatice Ozyurt. Returning to action in September, McCourt scored her second victory via an opening frame rear-naked choke stoppage of Kerry Hughes. With her judging success over Ruis, McCourt debuted at #8 in the official featherweight rankings last month. 

Sitting at #6 in the official pile, Syndey-based puncher, Harding holds a 6-4 professional record, with six outings coming under Bellator's scrutiny.

Making her amateur debut against recent UFC featherweight title challenger, Megan Anderson, Harding has managed to take home notable career successes against McCourt's Straight Blast Gym stablemate, Sinead Kavanagh, Marina Mokhnatkina, and the above-mentioned, 9-4, Miele. 

Bellator 259 takes place on May 21st. from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut -- with a featherweight title rematch between Cris Cyborg and Leslie Smith taking main event honors. Also, of note, UFC alum, Brett Johns makes his promotional bow as he tackles Matheus Mattos, and an eye-catching middleweight pairing of Fabian Edwards and Austin Vanderford features.