The42 recently paid a visit to the SBG Tallaght gym, where Holohan is now focusing his attentions on coaching. The facility, which opened in June, has already proven to be hugely successful, with the 28-year-old former flyweight keen to provide an outlet for those interested in the sport of MMA in the area where he grew up.
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“Not fighting is hard,” admitted Holohan, who was one of Ireland’s most successful fighters, having competed five times in the UFC before retiring with an overall professional record of 12-2-1.
“To be honest, I’m going to sit down one day and I’m going to watch all my fights, and I’m going to probably drink six bottles of Budweiser and then maybe cry at the end of it all.”
Although the result didn’t go his way, one of the highlights of Holohan’s career was his final fight, which took place last October. Holohan ended up taking on Louis Smolka in the main event at UFC Dublin in the 3Arena.
Paddy Holohan with his coach, John Kavanagh, after his defeat to Louis Smolka in October 2015. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
“I would fight that fight every single day until I got that result right,” Holohan insisted. “When I was watching Louis’ last fight, I was a little bit more impressed with myself [Note: Interview took place just prior to Louis Smolka's loss to Brandon Moreno].”
Holohan added: “There was a lot of pressure on a little kid to go out and take that main-event spot in one day. This is the UFC. The last person that did do that was Conor McGregor, in a way. I’m the second ever Irishman to do a main event in a UFC.
“And the pressure was on because when you’re in the UFC, it’s not just about doing the main event. It’s not just about you winning. It’s about entertaining everybody.”
'Not fighting is hard' - Paddy Holohan on adjusting to life as a former UFC star
BACK IN APRIL, a rare blood disorder forced Paddy Holohan to bring a premature end to his career as a professional mixed martial artist.
The42 recently paid a visit to the SBG Tallaght gym, where Holohan is now focusing his attentions on coaching. The facility, which opened in June, has already proven to be hugely successful, with the 28-year-old former flyweight keen to provide an outlet for those interested in the sport of MMA in the area where he grew up.
“Not fighting is hard,” admitted Holohan, who was one of Ireland’s most successful fighters, having competed five times in the UFC before retiring with an overall professional record of 12-2-1.
“To be honest, I’m going to sit down one day and I’m going to watch all my fights, and I’m going to probably drink six bottles of Budweiser and then maybe cry at the end of it all.”
Although the result didn’t go his way, one of the highlights of Holohan’s career was his final fight, which took place last October. Holohan ended up taking on Louis Smolka in the main event at UFC Dublin in the 3Arena.
“I would fight that fight every single day until I got that result right,” Holohan insisted. “When I was watching Louis’ last fight, I was a little bit more impressed with myself [Note: Interview took place just prior to Louis Smolka's loss to Brandon Moreno].”
Holohan added: “There was a lot of pressure on a little kid to go out and take that main-event spot in one day. This is the UFC. The last person that did do that was Conor McGregor, in a way. I’m the second ever Irishman to do a main event in a UFC.
“And the pressure was on because when you’re in the UFC, it’s not just about doing the main event. It’s not just about you winning. It’s about entertaining everybody.”
Watch the video above to see the full interview.
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