– Paul Dollery reports from Glasgow
Redmond deserves another opportunity
Paul Redmond had no excuses for his defeat to Robert Whiteford but he was slightly unlucky to be caught by Whiteford’s big left hook as the pair traded shots. Both were landing but Whiteford’s precision made the difference.
Redmond was concerned beforehand that another defeat in his second outing might spell the end of his time with the organisation. Should that prove to be the case, it’ll be a harsh cut for the Team Ryano man.
He shed an enormous amount of weight in the space of a fortnight for his short-notice debut against Mirsad Bektic — a highly-regarded American prospect who failed to put a below-par Redmond away.
He may not have made it out of the first round against Whiteford but Redmond did enough to show that he’s a fighter who comes to entertain. Winning is the priority, but he won’t hold back in the pursuit of doing so.
The UFC will be in Redmond’s hometown of Dublin on 24 October — the perfect opportunity for him to show that he’s worthy of a place on the UFC roster. An opportunity he deserves.
Holohan wants Smolka next
After a dominant win over Vaughan Lee, Paddy Holohan sent out a message to Louis Smolka — the American flyweight who overcame Holohan’s fellow Dubliner Neil Seery last weekend at UFC 189 in Las Vegas. Holohan wants his next outing to be against Smolka when the UFC returns to Dublin’s 3Arena on 24 October. Smolka also seems keen on the bout. He took to Twitter almost immediately to let Holohan know just as much too.
If the pair do square off, Smolka will present an interesting test of Holohan’s credentials as a serious contender in the flyweight division. The 24-year-old Hawaiian looks an extremely promising prospect and his grappling was very smooth against Seery seven days ago.
It’s in the grappling stakes where Holohan is most comfortable too, although it’ll be a concern that he gave up his back to Vaughan Lee a little too easily, which saw the Tallaght native caught in a rear-naked choke towards the end of first round.
Holohan is now 3-1 as a UFC fighter — a very solid record in the 125lbs division — so he’s on the cusp of the rankings. A win over an opponent like Smolka might be just what’s required to nudge him into the upper echelons of the division.
Holohan versus Smolka is a match-up that we’re certainly in favour of. Let’s hope UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby feels the same.
Is there any room left on the Joseph Duffy hype train?
Tougher tests await this man in the octagon but it’s difficult not to get carried away by his potential. This time in 2014, Duffy hadn’t competed in an MMA bout for three years. This evening at UFC Glasgow, he scored his fourth win in the space of a year and the third on the trot in the first round.
There’s no escaping the fact that Duffy’s status as the last man to beat Conor McGregor has raised his profile, but the Donegal native continues to prove that he deserves recognition regardless of his connection to the interim UFC featherweight champion.
Duffy returned to MMA last year after an unbeaten seven-fight spell as a professional boxer, which simply added to his already-extensive arsenal. In his second coming, the 27-year-old has earned a reputation as a striker. However, the majority of his career wins have come by submission and he got another one against Ivan Jorge.
With Duffy dominant on the feet, Jorge — a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt — tried to take the fight to the ground. No problem for Joseph Duffy, who immediately locked in a triangle choke to secure the win.
Duffy can expect a tougher test at UFC Dublin in October. Perhaps it’s too soon for him to be paired with a ranked opponent but he’s certainly capable of making a significant step-up on what he’s faced so far. Training at Tristar in Montreal is clearly helping an extremely talented fighter to improve. The future is very bright.
Bisping isn’t giving up hope of a title shot just yet
Thales Leites didn’t make it easy for Michael Bisping in tonight’s main event, but one judge’s decision to give the fight to the Brazilian was a little unusual. It looked like a 49-46 — 48-47 at best — in favour of Bisping, but the key point from the English veteran’s perspective is that he has now won back-to-back fights for the first time since 2011.
After 10 years with the organsisation, is he likely to ever become the UFC’s middleweight champion? It’s difficult to see it happening. However, by no means has he given up hope. Next up in the middleweight title picture is champion Chris Weidman versus Luke Rockhold, but Yoel Romero and Jacare Souza are also waiting patiently ahead of Bisping in the queue.
Bisping called all four of them out after tonight’s win. He’s had so many setbacks on his route to the top of the middleweight division which ultimately may cost him. If he never manages to get there, it won’t be for the want of trying.
Scotland was worth the wait
The UFC’s inaugural visit to Scotland was a long time coming but for a first dip into the market, the promotion couldn’t have asked for much more. In truth, the card was far from exceptional but that mattered little in the end.
An electric atmosphere in a superb arena that was made for MMA. Spectacular first-round finishes. Well-matched battles that went the distance. And, of course, an undefeated 3-0 run for the home fighters. It was a perfect start for the UFC in Scotland.
Robert Whiteford won courtesy of a tasty left hook, Joanne Calderwood rallied after a difficult start and Stevie Ray took his UFC record to 2-0 by dismantling Leonardo Mafra. The Irish invasion at the summit of the UFC could be about to get some back-up from its celtic cousins.
Robbie Keane has nothing to prove.
Has been a flat track bully over the last half-a-dozen years.
We won’t be playing Faroe Islands in June.
Add Darron Gibson to that list….. Can’t even make the Everton bench now others are back from injury. (Unlike many others who seem to think he got better while injured), dont think he’s good enough to start for us, but would like to see him back playing regular club football.
If – and it’s a big if – Gibson can secure first team football between now and June he deserves to go. He’s a proven commodity at this level unlike Arter.
Everton were in fantastic form when he got a run of games.
Yeah to be honest (and I don’t like saying this because I had high hopes) I’m not sure he is proven at international level – not sure he was ever massively convincing for us. We always had that hope that ‘once he got a run of games’ he’d be better for us, but when they did come (I) it was down to others being injured and (2) he got injured playing for us before he could show anything. It’s a real pity. Arter has been playing first team football, when fit, for two seasons now and has impressed in a way I’m not sure Gibson ever did. I’d take him if it’s between the two.
Rob Elliot has to start in goal, Newcastle No.1 playing week in week out and playing really well, pulled off some top saves against Arsenal at the weekend. No brainier for me.
Couple of those saves were because of strange decisions to punch rather than catch though – ended up leading to further chances (that he admittedly saved). Give him a chance, but Randolph inspires more confidence for me.
Arter and judge are far better options than mcgeady.
I want to know what Keiran Westwood has to do to be considered, the best goalkeeper in the championship last year and consistently starting games every week
He fell out with MON at Sunderland.
What else does Robbie Keane have to do?
Score against teams that aren’t bottom seeds and contribute in overall play like Murphy, Long and Walters do?
I wouldn’t worry about anything Ronny Delia says about McGeady.. Delia is one bad result away from the sack.. O’Neill and Dermot Desmond are good mates, guaranteed McGeady will be a Celtic player come the end of January..
Are related to MON or DD which used be known as Double Diamond years ago ? ?.Some of the comments on articles are so amusing
Sorry Nick could you write that in English please?
The problem is that Deila isn’t one game away from the sack! Celtic are still persisting with him even though the team gets worse every week.
Anyway, to McGeady. The most naturally gifted player we have in the squad but his confidence is shot to feck. McGeady is too inconsistent, he’ll pop up with a piece of brilliance then will be complete muck for the next 5 games.
McGeadys big problem is that he is not a winger but ever since MON brought him through at Celtic that’s where he has played. McGeady was a number 10 through his entire youth. Unfortunately MON didn’t really understand how to use a creative midfielder at Celtic so he was shunted to the wing and has pretty much been there ever since. He doesn’t have the attributes to be a winger other than being able to dribble. Can’t cross and isn’t particularly quick.
McGeady has the same issues he had a 18, glimpses of class but with no end product. I’d love O’Neill to give him a run in midfield but O’Neill has the same issue he had at Celtic he doesn’t know how to effectively use a creative midfielder.
Point taken ! As I belong to a category of the population that is now officially known as “Seniors” I tend to get my fingers crossed, not my wires dare I say, from time on the “ould” smartphone. I also might have been intertupted by one of the grand kids wishing to engage in a blast of Trivial Pursuits.I suppose one could say thats what Im doing right now as I have a little free time on my hands !! What triggered my original post I cannot really recall right now – It obviously didnt engage my brain very well ! Again apologies for the misuse and the abuse of the “ould” English. Its very remiss of me particularly since I used it, albeit in a more cliched format,very extensively in a previous life. I better quit now a I am an avuncular kind of individual prone to a little causticism ! To quote the old Hill Street Blues (before your time I reckon) Bí Curamach out there Níoclás PS; At the risk of being a name dropper I did meet the main man from Kilrea on a few occasions
Keane should not be selected. Huge fan of his, but his time is over.
I am not sure Randolph or Keane have anything to prove. They will make the squad unless injured. The other lads are probably more at risk or have less chance of a call up anyway.
Darren Randolph has nothing to prove. Less of the hate
Darren Randolph has nothing to prove. Stop hating on him