CWMBRAN fighter Cory McKenna made history at the weekend, becoming the first Welsh woman to fight in the UFC.

It was a debut to remember for McKenna on Saturday night, making her bow with a gritty unanimous decision win over American Kay Hansen at UFC Vegas 14.

McKenna earned her contract and call on the worlds biggest stage with a win on the Dana White Contender Series in August and has resided in California since, whilst training at Team Alpha Male under the watchful eye of UFC Legend Uriah Faber.

Debutant McKenna took her chance to shine Saturday Night when she squared off against Hansen, where the two youngest females on the UFC roster, aged twenty-one, provided a three round strawweight spectacle on the main card.

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The first round was evenly matched as both fighters found a home for their sophisticated combinations, with McKenna getting the slight advantage over Hansen partially with some solid left hooks at the end of them.

McKenna attempted a takedown against the fence later on in the round, but it was stuffed by Hansen who make an attempt for a guillotine, before landing some heavy knees which led to McKenna falling to the ground.

Hansen took back of McKenna and looked for rear naked choke, however McKenna found an opportunity to land punches from the awkward position she found herself in to close round.

The Second round saw Hansen open with more significant strikes, landing a solid right hand and utilising her kicks and reach advantage.

McKenna went on to land a big right hand of her own before being lifted in the air and taken down by her American counterpart, who instantly took the back of McKenna and looked for the rear naked choke once again.

From here, Hansen transitioned to an armbar, but McKenna found a way out to take top position with 90 seconds to go in the round, where she controlled Hansen and fished the round strongly.

It was close to call going into the third where both fighters looked light on their feet and seeking the knockout blow, but Hansen scored big takedown early on, assuming half guard and smothering McKenna.

With blood pouring from Hansen’s head, McKenna continued to work tirelessly from the bottom, landing elbows and looked for the kimura submission from her back.

As the round progressed, Hansen looked for the head and arm choke but was unsuccessful before moving into full guard. McKenna managed reverse and to take top position, where she saw out the round on top with heavy blows.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for the Welsh Debutant who moved to 6-1 and hobbled out of octagon nursing an ankle injury whilst smiling and humble in victory.