Observations. Satire. Politics. Interviews.
I do like when I don’t have to come up with a good idea for an article. Much better to find someone elses and steal it. A few weeks ago I happened upon a facebook thread where a group of female martial arts enthusiasts discussed the anxiety they felt the first time they walked into…
The UFC had their seasonal press conference in Atlanta on Friday April 12th, as the UFC showcased some of it’s biggest stars ahead of a busy summer schedule. It was the first opportunity to see Dana White answer questions since TJ Dillashaw was busted for an EPO violation and subsequently banned for two years. Shockingly…
I have been meaning to chat with Paul Cowzer about Rush Fight Academy for quite a while. Anyone that follows the former IMMAA chairman on Facebook will know that he is quite outspoken in his views about the state of Irish MMA. His club is one of 15 or 16 Irish MMA clubs involved with…
On Saturday night Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway face off again. This time for the UFC interim – lightweight title. It is over 7 years since their previous meeting and I am not sure that Dustin Poirier’s win on that occasion via submission (triangle arm-bar) is particular relevant or instructive today. They’re both completely different…
I’ve been sitting on this Interview for about a week. I have no good reason for this as the interview in question was a very enlightening 90 minutes in the company of Ben Davis, head coach of Shaolin MMA in Galway. Corrective action required on my part. About 18 months ago Tuam received the gift…
When you get to a certain vintage only a select number of years in your life jump out in technicolor. For most of us that last year of school is one that is permanently scorched in our brains. A long, slow march to the inevitable examination of our Leaving Cert subjects. In our school there…
I wrote this original piece over a year ago but I think it still has relevance today. Conor McGregor has been in yet another skirmish with the law and surprise, surprise, social media has exploded. Since I originally wrote this article, the fascination with him by all areas of the press has increased even further…
The Battle of the Boyne is still an emotive historical talking point on this island, nearly 320 years after it’s original enactment, when the forces of Prince William of Orange defeated the forces of King James II in 1690. I suppose if I had enough coffee coursing through my veins I could draw up a…
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. …
First things first. The Bellator show in Newcastle last night was an entertaining night of action. Despite some technical glitches, the Bellator app streamed the preliminary fights really well. Sound problems seemed to be an early issue. The preliminaries had a great sprinkling of early finishes which made it exciting for the fans but there…
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…
#observational So the phone rings at 7 pm last Thursday. I’m in bed. The joys of night shift living and all that good stuff. A sibling is on the other end of the bat-phone. ” Mom was taken to hospital in an ambulance. Can you go up? “ ” Yes” I said. Well I thought…