– Paul Dollery reports from Las Vegas
IT’S THE BIGGEST week in the history of Irish mixed martial arts, and not just because Conor McGregor could get his hands on a UFC belt by the end of it.
McGregor takes on Chad Mendes at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, with the interim UFC featherweight title up for grabs.
McGregor’s SBG team-mates Cathal Pendred and Gunnar Nelson are also in action, as is Team Ryano flyweight Neil Seery.
However, Irish involvement this week in Vegas began on Monday when James Gallagher picked up an impressive win in the first round of the IMMAF Amateur MMA World Championships.
Gallagher is hoping to be crowned world champion in Saturday’s finals, with his team-mates Sinead Kavanagh, Frans Mlambo and Kiefer Crosbie aiming to do likewise.
After Monday’s victory we caught up with coach John Kavanagh — who was calling the shots from Gallagher’s corner — to discuss the busy week ahead, which culminates with McGregor versus Mendes.
“I believe at the moment that Conor is the number one mixed martial artist on the planet, so the fact that someone has come in with a wrestling background, that shouldn’t make a difference and it won’t make a difference,” Kavanagh said.
Dublin are on a different level right now, even tho they’re only cruising at 60%. My God, how good will they be come June?
@Stephen Duggan: probably win another All Ireland?
I don’t think Mayo will ever beat Dublin in this era. Aside from being the better team physically. They also have Mayo’s number mentally. Mayo miss opportunities they would normally score and make poor decisions, they normally wouldn’t. They are like a child traumatized by for years who can’t face their abuser.
Ref was atrocious
@John Farrell: I agree, he was blowing for bloody everything
Mayo don’t have the belief to win anything there on a slippery slope to no were
Dublin are the Julian Jackson of GAA. They play around before launching the KO.