UK and Irish Combat Sports, Interviews and Opinion
As the early part of this week unfolded, my social media timelines were still basking in the afterglow of the successful Bellator 217 card in Dublin. Many of the winners had some iconic imagery to take with them on their journeys forward. The losers, as is often the case in MMA, took their losses on…
BELLATOR 217 – 3Arena Dublin …
In July 2016 Leah McCourt became the World IMMAF Featherweight champion. It marked the pinnacle of a hugely successful amateur career that saw her previously crowned as a European champion. As I was doing some research for the finished article ( yes I occasionally stir myself) I stumbled upon something that may be something and…
We are kicking off our coverage of Bellator 217 in Dublin – with a little bit of fun and a few predictions. We have asked an MMA coach , an MMA fighter and MMA writer to give us some predictions and Feel free to send us on your comments on the accompanying Facebook post. …
I have to confess that I had taken my eyes off all things Bellator the last couple of weeks, so the news that they have finalised a deal with Sky Sports came like a bolt from the blue to me. This is very significant news for Irish and UK fighters. The initial deal seems to…
Richie Smullen is approaching Bellator 217 “100% fit” and at the “lightest weight,” he has been in his career to date. So, it is no surprise that when I spoke to him he sounded relaxed and composed. The SBG athlete holds a professional record of 5-1-1. He is on a four-fight contract with Bellator and…
“There is no glory without sacrifice.” – Filipino Proverb There is a reason every fight movie you have ever seen has some concept of redemption at its core. The ‘against all odds’ ideology is woven into the fabric of the sport – nowhere is this more true than in the murky world of up-and-comer MMA….
Love him or loath him, the influence Conor McGregor has had on the Irish MMA scene is irrefutable. Most young fighters will admit that McGregor’s success and notoriety has been a source of motivation in their own careers. Conor had a direct impact on one such fighter, Dylan Logan, and arguably compelled him to eventually…
With all the hype that surrounded Cris Cyborg versus Amanda Nunes in UFC 232, you would’ve been forgiven for thinking that it was the main event. The fight between these two seasoned veterans captured the imagination of a worldwide audience. The excitement of the build-up left me in no doubt that there is a huge…
Rumors abound that UFC217 at Madison Square Garden hasn’t been selling along expected lines. This is hard to understand given that this is the current main event line up GSP vs Micheal Bisping Cody GarBrandt vs T.J. Dillashaw Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Rose Namajunas Each one of these is arguably a PPV headline act on it’s…
The UFC roadshow sets down in Pittsburgh this Saturday night in what promises to be an excellent nights card in a great fight town. Middleweight Luke Rockhold will be looking to get his career back on track and set up a title shot with the winner of Michael Bisping and George St Pierre. I have…
All the while Conor McGregor is strapped to a Meteorite headed for Jurassic Park….. When I first heard that Floyd Mayweather had agreed to take this fight i have to admit – I was shocked. Shocked the here-to-fore best business man in the history of boxing got duped into taking this fight. Imagine going…