There are still several people out there that still need convincing, and converting.
John Kavanagh was invited along to RTÉ, this morning, to talk Mixed Martial Arts with the joyfully oblivious Marian Finucane and 15 memorable minutes of radio unfolded.
The veteran radio host gave Kavanagh a slightly incredulous introduction as she listed out the mix of sports permitted in the UFC, including Moo-ey Thai [Muay Thai].
“I haven’t a clue what it is,” Finucane joked.
Like most of Ireland, up until 2013, Marian.
Kavanagh, who coaches UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, had to argue his corner when he told Finucane that the sport was one of the biggest ones across the globe.
Interestingly, Kavanagh spoke about how getting asked along by RTÉ to speak about the sport was a big sign that MMA was beginning to be recognised by a wider spectrum in Ireland.
There was still time for a couple of irate text messages about the “barbaric” sport and McGregor’s ‘monumental ego’. Kavanagh parried and fended the accusations like a pro:
“All I would say for kids is that, if you were to look for somebody that has dedicated himself to something, has kept their body in incredible shape their whole life, has worked extremely hard for something and has reached a goal [UFC champion] that no-one in Ireland has reached before.
“If that work ethic is not something to admire, I’m not too sure what is. But I fully concede that this sport is not for everyone.”
Well said.
‘Flapjacks’
The Dubliner took five years to earn an engineering degree but decided to follow the MMA path after becoming enthralled with UFC 1, some 14 years ago. Kavanagh admitted his parents needed some convincing:
“My mam and dad were not fans when they came down to see my first gym – I say gym but it was a converted, two-car garage in Phibsboro… Imagine 14 years ago, nobody had a clue about this sport. There was no career path. My mother was visibly upset that it looked like I was throwing away a degree.
“Now, they’re my biggest fans. They come to all the shows, the 3 Arena, they come to my gym. My mother brings flapjacks on Wednesday and meets all the guys.”
Kavanagh then had to answer a question he must be well used to at this stage – violence.
“I get into debates with people about that word, violence. I would say it is very competitive.
“Violence, to me, is the soccer players beating each other up… that’s not the sport they are playing. They are hitting each other without agreeance.”
After describing how he met McGregor for the first time, when The Notorious was a green 16-year-old, Kavanagh was then asked if he analysed opponents like Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt would.
Kavanagh replied that he is more focused on improving McGregor’s own skills rather than obsessing about the man facing him across the octagon.
Asked how McGregor would get on against UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos, Kavanagh predicted a win but felt the fight would last ‘slightly longer’ than the 13 seconds it took to dethrone Jose Aldo at UFC 194.
