WE PROBABLY WON’T be seeing them in the UFC in 2016, but expect these professional fighters to take significant steps towards the top over the next 12 months…
Ayo Daly
An all-rounder who put together a solid ledger of wins as an amateur, Daly made a successful professional debut back in March. The 28-year-old welterweight courageously stepped in on short notice to fight home favourite Martin Van Staden in South Africa just three weeks later, and despite losing the bout against a fighter who had already competed 21 times as a professional, Daly will have benefited from the experience. Training at Team Ryano in Finglas alongside Paul Redmond and UFC flyweight Neil Seery, the Dubliner will hope that a busy and injury-free 2016 can help him to develop a reputation as a fighter with the ability to make an impact in the professional ranks.
James Gallagher
As you’d expect from someone described as the main protégé of Straight Blast Gym head coach John Kavanagh, Gallagher’s jiu-jitsu is extremely smooth for such a young fighter. However, as one of the new breed of complete mixed martial artists, the 19-year-old Strabane native — who’s now based in Dublin — has got the lot. Gallagher has already won his first two professional bouts. Earlier this year he became a member of the KHK MMA team, which is lucratively funded by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the fifth son of the King of Bahrain. Gallagher spent most of the summer in Las Vegas as one of Conor McGregor’s main sparring partners ahead of his UFC 189 fight against Chad Mendes, while the young SBG featherweight also prepared for the IMMAF Amateur World Championships. Gallagher looked excellent as he defeated the USA’s Sam Agushi in the opening round, before being forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
Sinéad Kavanagh
Having been a five-time national boxing champion, as well as competing alongside Katie Taylor on the Irish team that went to the World Championships in 2012, Kavanagh is now focusing on MMA. She won a silver medal at this year’s IMMAF Amateur World Championships, before taking just 17 seconds to win her professional debut in September. The Dublin bantamweight brings an elite level of striking into the cage, but now training at Straight Blast Gym, Kavanagh is certainly in the right place to sharpen the rest of her tools.
Frans Mlambo
Another high-level striker from Straight Blast Gym, the South African-born fighter won gold at the IMMAF Amateur World Championships in July. Mlambo is one of Conor McGregor’s most trusted sparring partners and, having made a successful professional debut in September, the 24-year-old’s journey to the top is now well underway. He’s far from the finished article but the Dublin-based bantamweight has the potential to carve out a very successful career. Always entertaining, if Mlambo is shadow-boxing while waiting for the bus, you won’t want to miss it.
Kieran O’Brien
It’s two years since O’Brien had his first professional fight but the Corkman’s progress in the meantime has been hampered by injuries. After kicking off with a 28-second KO of Fabio Lage, O’Brien submitted Mick Brennan at Cage Warriors 63 on New Year’s Eve in 2013. He’s been inactive in MMA competition ever since, but if O’Brien can have a busy 2016, it will give him an opportunity to remind fans that he’s one of the most talented fighters the country has to offer. O’Brien possesses spectacular stand-up skills, solid grappling and — at 6’3″ — a significant height advantage over most fighters in the 145lbs division.
Darren O’Gorman
Although his progress was temporarily halted by Frans Mlambo in September, O’Gorman remains one of the most exciting prospects in the country. The Cork native embarked on a 3-0 run in his professional career before coming unstuck against Mlambo. However, expect the exciting bantamweight to bounce back next year. O’Gorman boasts a wide-ranging arsenal but his ground-game is particularly impressive, as evidenced by his audacious triangle-choke submission of Gavin Kelly last June.
Dylan Tuke
Another one from the new generation of all-round martial artists, Tuke stormed through the amateur scene before submitting Adam Caffrey in his professional debut in September. Under the guidance of coaches like John Kavanagh, Owen Roddy and Paddy Holohan at Straight Blast Gym, the potential is limitless for this young bantamweight from Dublin.
Every little scrote thinks he’s a MMA fighter now.
Except for these lads mentioned in the article who put in full time hours mixed with jobs/family & other commitments with the hope of someday earning good pay. Friend of mine does jui jitsu in sbg and they say the likes of tuke, mlambo & Gallagher put their life into this sport. And no my friend doesn’t claim to be an mma fighter just loves jiu jitsu
You’re telling us people who do mixed martial arts think they’re mixed martial artists? Please do go on…..
They just happen to be scrotes as well NO 2.
Sick comment joe, they are lovely people if you ever bothered to meet them.
Saw that Dylan guy on an RTE doc a few weeks ago and he came across like a right tool – trying to banter like Mcgregor. The guy from Applewood in swords was by far the worst though – like the David Brent of mma.
He’s trying to be heard. Can’t blame him mouthing off. Seems to be the way to go. As long as you can back up the talk.
I agree it’s good to be heard – but not if you’ve nothing interesting or original to say.
This is it here:
http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/fighting-irish-reality-bites-30003780/10503811/
The most cringeworthy scene was when the guy from Applewood in Swords (can’t remember his name) was showing the camera crew around Swords village, and he spotted his barber across the road. He said: “There’s me barber – keeps me looking sharp”. Then in a David Brent moment, he shouted “howaya Mick! Wha? Yeah, it’s just RTE following me around”.
Not only did the barber not ask anything about who was following him around – he didn’t even recognise him. *shudders*
jaysus lol. Morto.
Gladiatorial 21st century bloodsport that is truly brilliant to observe.
Gladiatorial? Bloodsport? Calm down, it’s unarmed for a start and they are not trying to kill each other.
I used to train with Kieran O’Brien years ago. Lovely fella, didn’t realise he had gone pro. I also didn’t realise he was a full 8 inches talker than me! We used to grapple a lot so I guess on the ground you don’t notice the height difference as much. I wish him the best in his career!
Jesus mind your back when your picking up that name you dropped
Would that be James ‘Conor Mcgregor wannabe with same tattoos and big mouth’ Gallagher? What a numpty….but don’t worry, these scrotes will soon fade into obscurity.
James Gallagher is on the up, will be dominating in bamma before you get off the couch
Has never uttered a bad word to anyone and you’re already willing to put him down? Shame
It’s the whole Mcgregor imitation that bugs me with this fella……same tattoos now and full of arrogance and cocksure of himself like mcgregor (who backs it up).
He’s only an 18 yr old young fella dedicating himself to a sport, last thing he needs is keyboard warriors bad mouthing him, give him a break!!
To be fair Dylan came across genuine and no bulls hit with him, he was a gent as far as I could see not many people would be willing to open their homes as he did the future of irish mma is there so why do people try to put them down calling them mouth pieces they sell their attitude and persona what’s wrong with that ?
I dunno the kieran o brien fella but you’d have to be worried about a lad that tall fighting at 145? Corey Hill anyone??
Suprised not to see he likes of Brian Moore and Peter queally here!
Those guys have been pro for a while and lost fights already, those on the list are newly turned pro and undefeated. I’m guessing that’s how he came up with the list
Surprised Patrick Wixted and Paul Byrne are not on the list.