Hannah Rankin labelled her bare knuckle debut “one of the best nights of her life” after victory in Marbella.
The former boxing world champion, who made history after becoming Scotland’s first female world champion in 2019, secured a dramatic split decision victory against Deborah Melhorn in Marbella earlier this month on her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships (BKFC) debut.
With both fighters almost unrecognisable due to cuts and bruises, judges scored the 49-46, 49-46, 47-48 in Hannah’s favour.
And the former Hermitage Academy pupil, who grew up in Luss, was blown away by the experience.
She said: “Saturday was honestly one of the best nights of my life. The production for the event was off the charts.
“Dazn, BKFC and Conor (McGregor) all went fully in on it. I came out to fireworks and my flag. It was insane.
“I was fighting in a bullfighting arena, which was basically like a mini colosseum. I was getting to fight outdoors and it couldn’t have been more of a buzz.
“It was an incredible learning experience for me. No matter how much training you do, and with 21 professional boxing fights behind me, it’s not like that. You can’t train to throw or take a punch bare knuckle. You just can’t train for.
“It’s a crazy feeling going into something that you don’t know. You don’t know how it’ll go or what it will feel like.”
Rankin and Melhorn were difficult to separate through five rounds of pulsating back-and-forth action in front of combat sports icon Conor McGregor .
The UFC icon and BKFC co-owner heaped praise on both fighters who he repeatedly and loudly branded ‘warrior women’.
And Hannah said the praise meant a lot.
She continued: “The praise from Conor was huge. He’s been really supportive of me all the way through this.
“I intended to come out on top on my debut, but taking nothing away from my opponent we put on a show.
“Women always show out and show up in combat sports. We’re there to put on a great fight for the fans, to entertain people and to give it everything. And we both did that.
“Conor was moving with every punch and watching every fight. He’s really invested in this. “
She is now confident of more success in the ring, and is plotting for a return to action in February.
“I feel like I’m back to being 1 and 0. Which is mental and which I’m absolutely buzzing about,” Hannah explained.
“It re-energised me, I’m really excited and my goal is still to become a two sport world champion.
“It’s a new challenge and everyone knows what I’m like with a challenge. I always want to be the best.
“People might think it’s similar to boxing, but it’s very, very different. And I’m relishing all of those challenges.”