KIERAN MCGEENEY SEES mixed martial arts as the perfect way to unwind from the pressures inter-county management brings.
The Armagh senior football boss is a regular at Straight Blast Gym headquarters on Dublin’s Naas Road having been introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu four-and-a-half years ago and in that time has struck up relationships with UFC fighters such as Conor McGregor and Cathal Pendred as well as Ireland’s top MMA coach John Kavanagh.
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“I just wanted fellas to do something different in the pre-season that keeps them out of the field because nine or 10 months on the football field can get to anybody so it’s good to do something different that tries different things,” said McGeeney.
“A lot of people get enjoyment — some people like it, some people don’t like it so it’s the same as other parts of pre-season. I got a grá for it then just took at it myself.
“The gym itself, run by John, is a great experience for me just in terms of seeing somebody at a high level of coaching somewhere else and picking up different things from them.”
McGeeney (left) training with UFC fighter Cathal Pendred at SBG. Twitter / Coach KavanaghTwitter / Coach Kavanagh / Coach Kavanagh
It has been a busy couple of weeks for Kavanagh and his fighters. Saturday night saw SBG’s biggest name McGregor earn his fourth UFC win in some style with a first-round TKO of Dustin Poirier while Pendred, Gunnar Nelson (both in Stockholm) and Paddy Holohan (Canada) are all in action this weekend.
McGregor has taken one step closer to a title shot with his latest victory and McGeeney sees no reason why the featherweight can’t go all the way and become Ireland’s first UFC champion.
I think he’s brilliant in what he does and he trains exceptionally hard” he said. “He has a fantastic attitude to training and that so, personally I hope he does because I think it would be great just to see an Irish champion at any sport.
“He’s definitely got the ability, he’s definitely got the right attitude so I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be. But the fighting game, you make a mistake and you’re goosed. He knows that but I think he’s got the mental aptitude for it.”
McGregor has got the ability to be world champion - Kieran McGeeney
KIERAN MCGEENEY SEES mixed martial arts as the perfect way to unwind from the pressures inter-county management brings.
The Armagh senior football boss is a regular at Straight Blast Gym headquarters on Dublin’s Naas Road having been introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu four-and-a-half years ago and in that time has struck up relationships with UFC fighters such as Conor McGregor and Cathal Pendred as well as Ireland’s top MMA coach John Kavanagh.
“I just wanted fellas to do something different in the pre-season that keeps them out of the field because nine or 10 months on the football field can get to anybody so it’s good to do something different that tries different things,” said McGeeney.
“A lot of people get enjoyment — some people like it, some people don’t like it so it’s the same as other parts of pre-season. I got a grá for it then just took at it myself.
“The gym itself, run by John, is a great experience for me just in terms of seeing somebody at a high level of coaching somewhere else and picking up different things from them.”
It has been a busy couple of weeks for Kavanagh and his fighters. Saturday night saw SBG’s biggest name McGregor earn his fourth UFC win in some style with a first-round TKO of Dustin Poirier while Pendred, Gunnar Nelson (both in Stockholm) and Paddy Holohan (Canada) are all in action this weekend.
McGregor has taken one step closer to a title shot with his latest victory and McGeeney sees no reason why the featherweight can’t go all the way and become Ireland’s first UFC champion.
“He’s definitely got the ability, he’s definitely got the right attitude so I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be. But the fighting game, you make a mistake and you’re goosed. He knows that but I think he’s got the mental aptitude for it.”
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Irish MMA Kieran McGeeney MMA SBG