AT THE BEGINNING of what should be another memorable week for mixed martial arts in Ireland, there’s probably not a better time to kick off my new exclusive TheScore.ie column.
This Sunday night — or the early hours of Monday morning as it will be in Ireland — three of my SBG athletes will fight at UFC Fight Night 59 at the TD Garden in Boston.
Having that many guys competing on the same event might seem like a huge logistical challenge for some, but it’s something I’m accustomed to by now.
I’ve had plenty of practice at smaller promotions on the European circuit. In fact, I’ve had nine fighters on the same card on one night before, so three won’t be any problem whatsoever.
We arrived in Boston last Thursday, and it’s good to be back in this fine city. When we were last here for a UFC event in August 2013, the atmosphere for Conor McGregor’s win against Max Holloway actually caught me off guard.
But I’ve mentally prepared myself for it this time and I’ll allow myself to take it in when it’s over. From what I understand there were around 14,000 people in the arena for that last Boston show, but I believe this time there will be 18,000. And 10% of the tickets have gone to Ireland!
There were 10,000 people in the O2 for UFC Dublin last year, and the energy was crazy. Everyone knows how strong the Irish presence in Boston is, so I can only imagine what it’s going to be like this weekend with almost double that figure.
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Conor features in another main event on Sunday night, but we also have very important bouts for Cathal Pendred and Paddy Holohan. They’ve been matched with interesting opponents who we expect to come forward and engage, so even as a fan I’m excited about both contests.
Cathal is now 2-0 in the UFC. I’d like to see him get at least three fights in this year and put guys away like I know he can. I want to see him transfer the skillset he has in training into competition, then break into the top ten and start on that road to the title.
Cathal Pendred takes on Sean Spencer at UFC Boston. Rodrigo Romos / INPHO
Rodrigo Romos / INPHO / INPHO
Paddy suffered the first loss of his career in his most recent fight, but maybe it was what he needed in the long-run. He had that undefeated record hanging over him, and that can be a burden for fighters if it’s something people constantly talk about before each fight.
Because he was on a good run, he was doing things a certain way and never really changed. This has made him re-evaluate and maybe look at doing certain things other ways. He’s got a few new tricks up his sleeve as well.
And as for Conor, a win against Dennis Siver will set him up for a shot at that UFC title. Given what’s at stake, is there anything different this time? Not at all. Being one win away from a title shot won’t change anything about our approach to this fight.
I’m often asked — aside from the fact that he entertains — about why has Conor become this popular so quickly. It’s hard to answer that question. My own take is that he speaks his mind without worrying about the consequences, but another thing is that he’s very grateful for what he has and positive about what he does. They’re qualities any person would like.
People also like to listen to somebody who’s so devoted to what they’re doing. We all like to be around passionate people, whether their passion is MMA, art or something else completely.
It’s no fun hanging out with someone who’s constantly moaning about their job or their life in general. It’s energising for you to observe or be around someone who’s so positive and animated, and that makes you want more.
Of course, it also helps that he’s from our small island and is dominating on the world stage, so when you put all that together it’s easy to see why so many people have taken to Conor.
A UFC title shot is Conor McGregor's incentive this weekend. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Dennis Siver has some good physical attributes and he’s a decent kickboxer, but I think his biggest strength is that he’s extremely experienced. He has faced all different types of opponents so he’s not going to be easy to rattle.
However, he’s too slow at closing distance and he doesn’t have range, so I think he’ll struggle against Conor. As I’ve said many times, being hit by Conor is not like being hit by anybody else.
As happened against Dustin Poirier, when Conor lands those first one or two shots, the opponent will start walking backwards. And from there it’s over. I find it very hard to visualise the fight going beyond that two-minute mark, but don’t take that as a sign of complacency.
As Conor always says, there is no opponent, so his preparations don’t change no matter who he’s fighting. He wants to put on a performance that, in the eyes of the UFC, will be worthy of a title fight in a football stadium.
Right now he looks by far the best I’ve ever seen him — even a big leap forward since the Poirier fight. Even if it does happen to go the distance, people are going to see him looking sharper than he ever has.
'I can't see it going beyond 2 minutes' - John Kavanagh writes exclusively for TheScore.ie
AT THE BEGINNING of what should be another memorable week for mixed martial arts in Ireland, there’s probably not a better time to kick off my new exclusive TheScore.ie column.
This Sunday night — or the early hours of Monday morning as it will be in Ireland — three of my SBG athletes will fight at UFC Fight Night 59 at the TD Garden in Boston.
Having that many guys competing on the same event might seem like a huge logistical challenge for some, but it’s something I’m accustomed to by now.
I’ve had plenty of practice at smaller promotions on the European circuit. In fact, I’ve had nine fighters on the same card on one night before, so three won’t be any problem whatsoever.
We arrived in Boston last Thursday, and it’s good to be back in this fine city. When we were last here for a UFC event in August 2013, the atmosphere for Conor McGregor’s win against Max Holloway actually caught me off guard.
But I’ve mentally prepared myself for it this time and I’ll allow myself to take it in when it’s over. From what I understand there were around 14,000 people in the arena for that last Boston show, but I believe this time there will be 18,000. And 10% of the tickets have gone to Ireland!
There were 10,000 people in the O2 for UFC Dublin last year, and the energy was crazy. Everyone knows how strong the Irish presence in Boston is, so I can only imagine what it’s going to be like this weekend with almost double that figure.
Conor features in another main event on Sunday night, but we also have very important bouts for Cathal Pendred and Paddy Holohan. They’ve been matched with interesting opponents who we expect to come forward and engage, so even as a fan I’m excited about both contests.
Cathal is now 2-0 in the UFC. I’d like to see him get at least three fights in this year and put guys away like I know he can. I want to see him transfer the skillset he has in training into competition, then break into the top ten and start on that road to the title.
Paddy suffered the first loss of his career in his most recent fight, but maybe it was what he needed in the long-run. He had that undefeated record hanging over him, and that can be a burden for fighters if it’s something people constantly talk about before each fight.
Because he was on a good run, he was doing things a certain way and never really changed. This has made him re-evaluate and maybe look at doing certain things other ways. He’s got a few new tricks up his sleeve as well.
And as for Conor, a win against Dennis Siver will set him up for a shot at that UFC title. Given what’s at stake, is there anything different this time? Not at all. Being one win away from a title shot won’t change anything about our approach to this fight.
I’m often asked — aside from the fact that he entertains — about why has Conor become this popular so quickly. It’s hard to answer that question. My own take is that he speaks his mind without worrying about the consequences, but another thing is that he’s very grateful for what he has and positive about what he does. They’re qualities any person would like.
People also like to listen to somebody who’s so devoted to what they’re doing. We all like to be around passionate people, whether their passion is MMA, art or something else completely.
It’s no fun hanging out with someone who’s constantly moaning about their job or their life in general. It’s energising for you to observe or be around someone who’s so positive and animated, and that makes you want more.
Of course, it also helps that he’s from our small island and is dominating on the world stage, so when you put all that together it’s easy to see why so many people have taken to Conor.
Dennis Siver has some good physical attributes and he’s a decent kickboxer, but I think his biggest strength is that he’s extremely experienced. He has faced all different types of opponents so he’s not going to be easy to rattle.
However, he’s too slow at closing distance and he doesn’t have range, so I think he’ll struggle against Conor. As I’ve said many times, being hit by Conor is not like being hit by anybody else.
As happened against Dustin Poirier, when Conor lands those first one or two shots, the opponent will start walking backwards. And from there it’s over. I find it very hard to visualise the fight going beyond that two-minute mark, but don’t take that as a sign of complacency.
As Conor always says, there is no opponent, so his preparations don’t change no matter who he’s fighting. He wants to put on a performance that, in the eyes of the UFC, will be worthy of a title fight in a football stadium.
Right now he looks by far the best I’ve ever seen him — even a big leap forward since the Poirier fight. Even if it does happen to go the distance, people are going to see him looking sharper than he ever has.
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