Molly McCann welcomed in the New Year with a new relationship status.
The UFC fighter, known as Meatball Molly, posted to Instagram to announce that she was engaged. The Liverpool born sports star embraced her now-fiancee, tagged as Ellis Clark, and planted a kiss on her cheek as fireworks erupted in the background of the image.
The next picture shared showed a beautiful ring with a green gem, surrounded by sparkling crystals. Molly captioned the post as she wrote: " There’s knowing that if all fails and the ship sails our boat will still survive. Here's to the rest of our days together."
READ MORE: Seven inspiring Liverpool women who made their mark in the world of sport
She added a white love heart before ending the post with "Mo ghràdh" which translates to "my love". Fans and friends flocked to the comments to share their well wishes for the couple.
Former boxer Tony Bellew said: "Congratulations champ". Lionesses Toni Duggan said: "Awwww congratulations to you both."
Everton women's Megan Finnigan said: " Wooooo congrats both of you!" Scouse comedian Paul Smith said: " Ahhhh amazing! Congratulations."
Molly is now at ease with her personal life but it hasn't always been that way. The 31-year-old came out as gay six years ago but before that, by her own admission, she had "ran from" her sexuality with the notions of public perception and a catholic upbringing deterring her from living life as her true authentic self, as reported by The Mirror.
Speaking more about the discrimination she continues to battle, Molly said: "When I was younger I wouldn't even entertain being gay because society wouldn't like it. Look I'm 31 now, I came out when I was 25, imagine what it was like when I was 10. Religion wouldn't let you.
"My religion wouldn't let me. Until I found MMA and had a safe space to be me, then I could be like 'I'm Meatball now'. Imagine how hard it still is for some people to come out now though. I'm from a lucky generation as well, imagine the generation before me and the one before that. In the 1960s when the Stonewall riots happened - it was illegal to be gay."
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