BACK IN NOVEMBER, we brought you news that the headquarters of Ireland’s most successful MMA team Straight Blast Gym Ireland was moving from the Long Mile Road on Dublin’s southside to a nearby location on the Naas Road.
At the time, the gym’s founder John Kavanagh laid out his ambitious plans to include a number of new additions at the 10,000sq ft premise in the hope of building a state-of-the art facility for all, from beginners to professional athletes, keen to improve their fighting techniques or simply keep fit through MMA.
Six weeks on from getting the keys to his new place, Kavanagh and his team will open their doors for the grand opening this afternoon.
It is sure to be an action-packed day and one not to be missed for fans of the sport as there will be appearances from SBG’s UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Gunnar Nelson as well as Cathal Pendred, Chris Fields and the rest of the team.
Irish rugby international Cian Healy and GAA players Johnny Doyle and Paddy McKeever will be in attendance too while John Connor and Eoin Lacey of the Irish Strength Institute will give a short talk.
Doors open at 10am and the activities go on until 4pm with a short movie about the history of SBG Ireland and a special exhibition bout also on the cards.
While Kavanagh and McGregor were appearing on TV3 yesterday afternoon, we popped down to get a sneak peek at their new home. Here are some of the features:
They have turned their old training cage into the ‘Shoptagon’, where you can buy all your training and fighting gear as well as healthy food and drinks
A large matted area for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes
A gym run by the Irish Strength Institute
Boxing ring
Another matted area for MMA training
Their new full-size Octagon
All are welcome today and parking is available at the Royal Liver Retail Park nearby. For more information, visit SBGIreland.com or their Facebook page
Keane is still our best striker by a mile, even at his age. He could well do what Totti has done and play until he’s 40. Let’s face it, we need him. Look at Doyle, people barely know where he plays now, not to mention he couldn’t even start for Wolves last seas on. Then we’ve Long, God knows the last time he even scored a goal. After that there’s a few more jokers such as Walters, Sammon and Cox. And yet no room for Sheridan. Baffling!
Everybody should have faith!! It’ll be tough but we can definitely get something out of this game…
Nicking a draw will be an absolute result for us.. COYBIG!
I moved to Germany in the summer and I’m going to the match on Tuesday. Can’t wait for it. Hopefully the lads can get a result, it will be tough but Germany are not up to speed yet after their WC win so no reason we can’t go out and do a job
Apart from maybe the German players, and their tactics!!
Yeah kev that’s the way Poland saw it too…..
I’d be fearful of a German backlash…!! If we could sneak a draw it’d be great.
I fear it will be the same as last time if we have ward on the pitch as a full back and mcgeady lacking the defensive capabilitirs to save his arse. . People looking for solace in the germans other games are stretching credulity. The scots had a tricky pacy striker who did the damage and the poles had a similar threat with the quality of lewandoski. I hope i am very wrong and lads stand up and play at a level they have not shown thus far .
Of course we wont have exactly the same scenario as at lansdowne 2 years ago but i think we will have enough of it to be worried against an angry german outfit.