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.
He’s a goner! Still its his own fault and he hasn’t been anywhere near as good as he was last year, so its not as bad of a loss.
@Coner Willis: it’s a terrible shame but it was a stupid thing to do.
However, I doubt you’ll find a flood of texts into the Sunday game like there was last week from WD supporters about Galways Adrian Touhy. It was a bit sad really
@Seamus McSpud: although his goal was top class, it was still very selfish and should have been passed off earlier. You wouldn’t see a Shefflin or Canning do it, if he had missed it he’d be crucified
G’lad!!
A stonewall red. What was he doing? Not his first time to commit this crime either. Last years Munster final on the bonner maher , he did the same.
@t: pity it wasn’t caught during the game. Result would have been different I think. Hard to take a team playing sweeper winning. First half was like two half decent junior sides playing one another.
@Paul O Mahony: sorry we scored 4-19. Ultra defensive stuff. Clown!
@Sean Healy: i wanted waterford to win and im delighted for ye but ye cant say youre not a defensive team…waterford scored 3-8 AFTER the sending off. And listening to that arseh0le donal og after the match was more of the same scutter
@Sean Healy: Waterford only managed 1-11 before man was sent off. Not exactly shooting the lights out!
@Lord Clanricarde: Oh please give the negativity a rest. Waterford scored 4-23 against Kilkenny with all 15 Kilkenny players on the field… Another 4 goals against Cork today. When teams are reduced to 14 players they don’t always lose and the opposition don’t always score 3-9 against them. In 2004 when Mullane was sent off, I seem to remember Waterford won with 14 men.
@Tom O’Brien: Give it a rest Tom. U do know the score with Kilkenny included an extra 20 minutes?? I was there today and they deserved to win but are a horrid team to watch as a neutral!
@James Quinn: i was there today also and throughly enjoyed the game and I was there for the entire Kilkenny game including the additional 20 minutes. Not all teams score 4-23 when extra time is played either as you know. You are all so negative, jumping on the bandwagon with pundits like Shefflin. Remember Kilkenny didn’t do tactics like dropping half forwards back crowding the area under the dropping ball. Where were you all back then when that was going on. The media weren’t talking about it so you didn’t have any independent thoughts of your own. Or maybe you don’t think teams like Kilkenny do tactics and believe Cody when he says he expects every man to win his own ball. Ya right…
@Tom O’Brien: Give it a rest. You’d swear the likes of Eoin Larkin never scored from what you’re saying. Galway will have no problem beating ye in the final. Hopefully it will be a repeat of 2008 and 3-30 on the scoreboard and Gleeson this time looking on from the sideline after his stupidity but sure nothing new been from Waterford. Ye are the most deluded fans iv ever come across!
@James Quinn: Galway might beat us and if they do they’ll deserve it I’m sure, they look a serious team and I wouldn’t begrudge them. Most of the pundits on here said Cork would win also and they got that spectacularly wrong so I won’t write us completely off just yet. If Gleason isn’t playing, it serves him right, a stupid thing to do when the ball was dead. No excuse there. I rather him not play the final than do something stupid like that in the final and get sent off. I thought it was a fabulous game of hurling today, roll on the final… How much would Waterford have scored against Cork, Kilkenny and Wexford if they didn’t play so negatively in your view?
@Tom O’Brien: not sure what you mean about Eoin Larkin. I don’t recall saying Eoin Larkin had a problem scoring. He scored plenty in his time. Kilkenny played tactics and he scored. Simples. It’s a secret though about the tactics, don’t tell anyone
@Tom O’Brien: Waterford had the stronger bench they would of pulled away regardless of the sending off, real hurling people could see that including the cork manager
Zero sympathy especially with all the focus on the issue at the moment. Deserves to be suspended. Different game had officials not bottled it. How Donal Óg can go on the radio and say there’s no way to prove intent is baffling. Clear intent in this case.
@Jack Ronan: Donal Og is a clown. The best thing they can do is say nothing and hope it blows over.
What a stupid thing to do. When I seen it it’s like, there you go GAA, in your face. He’s screwed up royally
I’d be sceptical about anything happening. He’s the golden boy of hurling and has already been let away with it twice last year and once this year.
Definite red card if it had been seen. Far worse than anything de Búrca or Tuohy did. If his fingers had moved a bit, he wouldn’t have been far off gouging Meade. Gleeson had a great game but that was just incredibly stupid.
GAA have no real choice here.
Well done Waterford, best of luck in the final. The sending off changed the game. Cork looked to be control until then.
I didn’t see the Austin Gleeson incident, but the photo on this site looks damming. Looks like he’ll miss the final. Why he would get involved in this is baffling, especially after the De Burca and Bennett incidents. #braindead!
@Joe Kennefick: How far were Cork in control,just curious?
As a neutral, I’ll be so so disappointed if Gleeson doesn’t play in the final.Such a mindless thing to do. His goal was exceptional, just magic..
@Dave Fingleton: he shouldn’t have been on the field to score it.
@Paul O Mahony: you’re seriously miserable about waterford doing well aren’t you? Sad
An 8 team 60/1 accy let down by Callahan, Cork were a joke.. seemed to go from the backs launching to the forwards for Waterford to mop up, Waterford were easily the worthy winners, quarter final in hurling.. anyones game. The final is Galways!
Using the Galway analogy that he’s not looking at the player, then he’ll got off! Can’t have it every way people.
@Sean Healy: the irony! You were screaming for Tuohy to get banned last week! In any event my analogy of the de burca still stands. Ref didn’t take action which mean Austin should be ok. The other Gleeson is certain to miss out though. It would actually be embarrassing for Waterford if they appeal that!
@Sean Healy: huge difference Sean the ball was dead in Austin’s incident. Tuohy was mid play and running backwards. But just let him play. We won’t have to listen to the moaning for three weeks.
@Sean Healy: Tuohy put he’s hand back an clipped helmet strap. Gleeson put he’s hand into helmet and pulled it clean off Meades head!..He deserves a ban, not his first time!..
@Sean Healy: Sean Gleeson did this deliberately, Touhys was a pure accident in a tussle. Gleeson will be very lucky not to miss the final
@Lord Clanricarde: it’s a stupid rule anyway,very dangerous to take a players helmet off yeah ,what used to happen years ago . Oh yeah no one wore helmets..if ye tolerate this then rubber Hurleys could be next.
If Gleeson had got a red card at the time he or waterford would not have to worry the Final, swings and roundabouts .
Ye four are in for it when the Waterford crowd get home !!
@Gerry Campbell: let them text into the Sunday game.
The GAA worse than golf now for post match video analysis catching foul play after the fact….
@Colm: well done waterford, no sour grapes, but if gleeson plays in the final that rule may as well be torn up.
Probably the single most stupid act I’ve seen a player commit in quite a while. Deserves zero sympathy and he has done his county no favours….
Is he not likely to get away with it?? I thought the incident has to be mentioned in the refs report in order to get a suspension
@Ruairi Kinsella: You’re spot on. This incident was seen by officials and deemed a nothing incident. As a result, unless it features in the referees report the CCCC cannot act on it.
No, I’m 100% he can play the final, you can pull the helmet off your man, just don’t let the ref or linesmen see you! Cork had zero plan for sweeper , no excuse they had plenty of time to think about it.
Cork were hit hard, not in a dirty way but weren’t able to handle that. Every shot was rushed because they where under so much pressure. Cork had no plan B like a lot of teams that play Waterford. They all think they can beat them with their A plan but doesn’t always work. Waterford had some serious homework done. As for Gleason he should miss the final it’s in the rules. It is a pity tho.
Go away ye bitter shower of fools. We’re in the final and that’s it. Hope we go on to win it now. Serious team we have this year. HOW BOU DAH???⚪
@Darragh Kelly: waterfords second team gave Galway a bit of a fright in the league so maybe their first team could go 1 step further
I want to see both Galway and Waterford at full strength in the All Ireland Final. I want to see Austin Gleeson play against the Galway boys and I want to see the top exponents of our glorious game contest this All-Ireland final. I am a neutral who hasn’t missed an All-Ireland final for 37 years and I want to see both teams at full strength, apart from.Conor Gleeson. We need to get rid of those bloody helmets!!!