More often than not, all it takes is a foot in the door.
Middleweight Jack Marshman jammed his size 11s in the UFC’s entrance and he’s beaming on the threshold as the first Welshman to have signed a contract with the world’s preeminent mixed martial arts organisation.
Marshman (20-5) makes his UFC debut this weekend, when he clashes with Magnus Cedenblad at UFC Belfast, and while less self-aware fighters would have dismissed the significance of being the first representative of a country to make his way to the brightest stage in his industry, the occasion is not lost on the 26-year-old from Gwent.
“It means a lot to me, I’m not going to lie. I’m really happy and it’s an honour to be the first man to represent Wales in the UFC,” Marshman said.
A fun MW scrap between @JackMarshman & @MagnusCedenblad goes down at #UFCBelfast! https://t.co/22ZZVDIqfn
— UFC (@ufc) November 18, 2016
“We haven’t got as many of the bigger names through just yet but, don’t be fooled, there’s a strong amateur following back home and a lot of guys breaking on to the professional scene right now will start making a lot more noise in the next few years.
“Obviously, I’m still very young but I want to be like Conor McGregor in that sense. I’m a proud Welshman and a massive lover of all Welsh sports.
“I’d love to be the guy to open the door for the guys to follow me in to the UFC because that’s where we’re all striving to be.”
It didn’t take all that long for Marshman, who vacated his Cage Warriors title after getting the nod, to get some company as mere weeks after he was announced, fellow countryman Brett Johns was confirmed as the latest UFC acquisition.
And the fact that Marshman is fighting a Swede and Johns a South Korean, Kwan Ho Kwak, leads the former to believe that the Belfast crowd will be behind the Welshmen.
“We’ve all got the Celtic blood, haven’t we?” Marshman said. “I’d class the Swedish guy in that he’s coming into my hometown even though I had to travel too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BM6IwmiDZm2/
“I’ll have friends and family there and I’m expecting a bit of noise.”
Marshman, who was still serving in the army when speaking to SportsJOE, admits that he is taking inspiration from fellow European fighters who, like himself, starred on the Cage Warriors platform before the UFC came calling.
“I’ll be forever grateful to Cage Warriors for how they dealt with my leaving,” Marshman said.
“I was looking forward to fighting at home and defending my belt but the UFC is the goal for every fighter and Cage Warriors didn’t make it difficult. I got offered a shot in the UFC and within five minutes, they gave me the go-ahead.
“I think Cage Warriors are happy to be known as that feeder show that provides the fighters who go on to star in the UFC.
“It’s unbelievable how much the likes of Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping and Joanna Jedrzejczyk have gone on to achieve and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take inspiration from it.
“With Conor, it’s also ridiculous how quickly he did it. And the same with Joanna.
“I take a lot from it. It’s known that if you’re fighting in Cage Warriors, you’re fighting at the elite level but you’re not getting paid as much as those in the UFC.
“I’ve earned my stripes and I’m going to show everybody I belong right here.”
Aaron Kernan joins Colm Parkinson on The GAA Hour to explain the work he’s doing for the Club Players Association. Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue talks Slaughtneil and a Dublin club advertising for hurlers gets a sore touch. Subscribe here on iTunes.
