Tag Archives: exploring irish mma

SBG middleweight Will Fleury returns to the cage this month after the biggest win of his career to date at Bellator Dublin in February. I sat cage-side that night as the intensity within the 3Arena began to build fight-by-fight. Looking back on it now, when Will made his walk, in many ways, it was the first major pop of the …

Will Fleury is set to make his return to the Bellator cage to face Antonio Jones on July 12’s Bellator 224 in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Fleury was able to turn in a crowd-pleasing effort in his dominant victory over Shaun Taylor at Bellator Dublin in February – submitting the Scottish fighter in the second-round to earn himself his first win as …

SBG Ireland bantamweight Frans Mlambo spoke to Pundit Arena ahead of his debut in the Bellator cage at tonight’s Bellator London.  Mlambo has managed to make this huge step into the spotlight on the back of a glittering run in the IMMAF’s as an amateur where he took home a gold medal in the 145lb weight-class. Earning a Bellator contract …

SBG’s Brian Moore spoke to us here at Pundit Arena ahead of his showdown against Son Le Binh at Bellator Birmingham tonight. Moore’s run in the promotion to date has been a funny one. Despite posting a 2-3 record, short-notice matchups, unfortunate circumstances, and a constant desire to take on the very best of the best has seen Moore prove …

In this, the eighth entry to the series Exploring Irish MMA, I had the opportunity to speak to one of this country’s most promising prospects, Sam Slater. Those who have been close to the Irish mixed martial arts scene and its growth were no doubt delighted by February’s Bellator Dublin and the manner in which it played out. A card …

Bellator London promises to continue the promotion’s strong start to their new plans for the European scene, as a host of talented Irish and UK fighters appear alongside some revered veterans. After the incredible success of Bellator Dublin in the Irish capital in February, several of those who made appearances on that night are set to return to the Bellator …

Cian Cowley picked up a split decision loss at the hands of John Brewin in the BRAVE CF 22 co-main event, moving to 2-2 as a professional. The leg-kicks of the muay-thai fighter Cowley were the story of round 1, as Brewin well and truly found himself playing the Irishman’s game. Overall, the SBG lightweight looked sharp, composed, and lethal …

Despite talk of him riding off into the sunset with a huge wad of cash in his bag, Conor McGregor owes a debt to the Irish people that must be honoured. The year was 2013 and for most of those outside of the hardcores of the European MMA scene, the lanky, mohawk-sporting featherweight who walked out in the Ericsson Globe …

Blaine O’Driscoll spoke to us here at Pundit Arena MMA ahead of his WWFC flyweight title showdown in Kiev, Ukraine this weekend. After O’Driscoll had earned a shot at the Cage Warriors flyweight title last year, the reigning champion Nathan Greyson confirmed that he was unable to make weight for the bout just days before the fight’s date – which …

Bellator Dublin fight day is now finally upon us and all of the signs are there that it is going to be a pivotal night for the sport of MMA in this country. I arrived to Dublin’s 3Arena yesterday at about 4:55pm, minutes before the Bellator 217 ceremonial weigh-ins took place. It was almost strange to visit tonight’s battleground before …

Richie Smullen spoke to us here at Pundit Arena about his upcoming Bellator debut and how he is relishing the opportunity to rebound after a rollercoaster year in 2018. Bellator Dublin is now just a matter of hours away and with that in mind, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to everything you’ll need to know ahead of what should be …

One of the landmark events in the history of Irish MMA is upon us and with that in mind, we’ve made up a list of everything you’ll need to know going in. Who’s fighting? The entire fight-card, as it was made available to the media from Bellator, will read as follows: Main card Bantamweight Main Event: James Gallagher (7-1) vs. …

Bellator Dublin is now just under a week away and as time has gone on, it has become increasingly clear that we are about to witness something special. Cast your minds back to the summer of 2014. In the week that led up to the UFC’s second trip to the Irish capital, those looking on the outside looking in could have …

The fourth fighter to be featured as part our ongoing preview of Bellator Dublin next weekend is a prospect who fights like a man with ten-times his experience, unbeaten SBG standout, Sam Slater. The idea here is to shine a spotlight on some of the Irish athletes competing in the 3Arena on February 23 – giving you a quick glimpse …

A week has passed since the news broke that Bellator are returning to Dublin next year and in the time since, it has become increasingly clear that Scott Coker and co. have crafted an opportunity to do something incredible on February 23. Cast your minds back to the summer of 2014. In the week that led up to the UFC’s second trip …

Bellator grabbed quite a few European headlines after they signed a large number of Irish fighters in one quick swoop earlier this year and with a return to Dublin set for February 2019, it looks as though they are gearing up for something special. Memories of 2014’s UFC Dublin passed through my mind upon hearing the original announcement in the …

In this, the seventh edition of Exploring Irish MMA, we speak to SBG Ireland featherweight Brian ‘The Pikeman’ Moore as he prepares for perhaps the biggest fight of his career to date. Moore’s only setbacks since signing for Bellator two years ago have come against the former two-time Bellator title-challenger Daniel Weichel and one of the brightest 145lb up-and-comers in …

Ireland managed to take home the second-largest medal tally during this year’s IMMAFs and the inspirational performances from those who won has left many of the country’s mixed martial artists inspired, according to SBG’s Brian Moore. Moore spoke to us here at Pundit Arena MMA about how the medal haul by the Irish amateurs has sent a real buzz throughout the country’s …