ANOTHER FIGHTER FROM Ireland’s Straight Blast Gym camp is set to debut in the UFC.
According to a report from respected Brazilian outlet Combate, John Phillips has been added to the 28 January card for UFC on FOX 23 in Denver, which will be headlined by a bout between women’s bantamweight contenders Valentina Shevchenko and Julianna Pena.
Phillips (21-6-1), a Welsh middleweight who moved to SBG last year, will take on Marcos Pezão (14-4-1). The Brazilian has already competed five times in the UFC — amassing a 3-2 record — having come through The Ultimate Fighter in 2014.
After becoming a team-mate of the likes of Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov at the Naas Road gym, Phillips was crowned BAMMA middleweight champion when he scored a first-round knockout of Cheick Kone in Dublin back in February.
Phillips, who was a member of the Welsh commonwealth boxing team before transitioning to mixed martial arts, was later stripped of the title after missing weight by over 13 pounds for his inaugural title defence against Andy DeVent.
In his most recent outing, Phillips picked up the 18th (T)KO victory of his career when he stopped Jose Otavio dos Santos Lacerda in the first round of a bout in Swansea in September.
The 31-year-old former Cage Warriors title challenger will become the third Welsh fighter to compete in the UFC after Brett Johns and Jack Marshamn both made successful debuts in Belfast last month.
Go on the dubs! Take that, "kingdom", or whatever ye call yerselves…
Well done Dublin great game.
Well done to the Tipperary minors and to the Dubs. Football just got interesting again!! :))
The jacks are back, well done Dublin fantastic team effort and thank fully we just edged a close game with Kerry.
Living as I do approx 3 miles from SAMs ancestral home I much prefer for the cup named after him to be temporarily resident in Dublin rather than Kerry. Well done the Dubs.
Well done to Dublin. They best team on the day & great comeback against us. To be the best, you got to beat the best
Bless the Dubs, O Lord we pray, keep them on their winning way. Bless the colours, worn with pride, from Ballybough to Stepaside. Bless the banners and the flags, not to mention all the gags. Bless Gilroy too, the uncrowned king, let his name around Croke Park sing. Bless Bernard Brogan in the square, kicking points from everywhere. Bless Cluxton too, that agile ace, who guards his goal with style and grace. Bless the man with all the go, the dashing, dauntless, Cullen yoo. Bless the fans, that faithful throng, keep their voices loud and strong. Bless next All-Ireland final day, be sure the Dubs will rule OK
Well done, damn ye!
McMenamin made some impact when he came on! Great performance by the Dubs, fully deserved to win! Coppers will be hopping tonight!
Gutted, but fair play to the dubs.They played to their potential, and we didn’t. Agus sin e.
Kerry will win I’d say, Dublin will be fair disappointed to come away with nothing, not even the minor!
What the hell was wrong with Cluxton? running down the tunnel and not joining in the celebrations and generally looking miserable after the match and in the hotel on the Sunday game…whats up there??
As much as I’d love a Dublin win, I think Kerry will be too clinical towards the end. Conditions have opened it up a bit though.
Gee Adrian!
Even from Kathmandu… I reckon you photo caption needs adjustment!
COME ON THE DUBS GREAT WIN