Kingdom MMA speak to Martin "Mr Pink" McDonough ahead of Cage Warriors return

Martin McDonough talks to Kingdom MMA ahead of Cage Warriors 67

by Alex Dillon @_AlexDillon_

Copyright: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

On Wednesday evening Kingdom MMA caught up with Mr Pink ahead of his fight this weekend where he is set to face Shaj Haque at Cage Warriors 67 as Cage Warriors returns to Wales. Cage Warriors 67 is headlined by the bantamweight title clash between the current champ Brett Johns and the challenger James Brum.

Alex: Its been almost a year since your last fight, how excited are you to be finally back in action on Saturday night?
McDonough: I couldn't explain it to you, it's been so long, I'm looking forward to taking that first punch that wakes you up and you realise your in a fight! I'm looking forward to hitting someone as well, that's what it's all about! Maybe you can tell I'm a little excited haha.

Alex: You had to pull out of the Cage Warriors Bantamweight tournament through injury and in that time you’ve decided to drop down to flyweight for your next fight, what’s the reason behind this?
McDonough: Bantamweight wasn't far off my walking about weight. I wouldn't have to diet, go on sweat runs or cut weight in general. A few days not eating chocolate and half hour in the sauna and I was on or under weight. It made sense to drop to 125, now I have the chance to be the bigger guy, taller guy or stronger guy, it's not guaranteed but I was always the smaller fighter at bantamweight.

Alex: Is dropping to 125 the quickest way to a title shot, with the rise of the likes of Ronnie Mann and Cory Tait at 135?
McDonough: No not really, there is nothing saying I will get a title shot soon. I have to pay the game like everyone else. I have to win and perform well, like I said, I was too small for bantamweight, I wasn't struggling but I was always the smaller guy. I'm cutting as I'm doing this interview and I'm not feeling bad, this should have been my fighting weight a long time ago. I was just lazy.

Alex: We are 3 days away from the Cage Warriors 67 weigh-ins, what is you weight looking now?
McDonough: I woke up this morning 132.4 after a decent meal last night and still taking water on. I feel good, I'm still hitting pads with power and I'm still running 3 miles at a decent pace.

Alex: So your opponent Shaj Haque, what do you know about him? Have you studied him at all in the lead up to the fight?
McDonough: I don't spend too much time doing that, I've seen him before, he has fought my team mate Kris Edwards. What I've seen of him, he likes to work the Cage a lot, go for takedowns. He has his game plan, I have mine.

Alex: What would you say are Haque’s strengths and weaknesses?
McDonough: I don't know really, I honestly haven't paid that much attention to him. No disrespect to him, that's just not me. I know my strengths that's all that matters.

Alex: You have taken your last 5 wins by submission, would your biggest advantage in this bout is on the ground?
McDonough: No not at all, I can strike, I prefer to stand and strike it out! It's a fight at the end of the day, we are in there to hit each other, I'd like to work my boxing in this fight. Ex World Champion Gavin Rees is my boxing coach, he is always teaching me new things. I want to work them but if we hit the floor, and I can take your arm home with me or choke you.. I will.

Alex: All of Haque’s professional victories have gone the distance, how is your cardio the same as 125 as it was at 135?
McDonough: My cardio is better now haha. I have never been known for my cardio, ask all the boys at the gym. But for some reason, out of nowhere I have good cardio. I can go 15, 3 minute rounds sparing with 1 minute rest, with a fresh man every 3-4 rounds, and I'm not gassed.

Alex: Haque is ranked in the top 5 in the UK ranking with only Phil Harris ahead of him under the Cage Warriors roster, does a win over Haque put you in a good place for a title shot?
McDonough: Again with the title shot haha. If they offer me a title shot.. Fine. But until then, I'm just going to enjoy myself, fighting top boys, on the biggest show in Europe and get paid for it. As long as I perform well, the title shot will come.

Alex: How do you see yourself winning this bout on Saturday?
McDonough: Stoppage, I don't care how, as long as I stop him. The first fight I win by decision, I will be disappointed.

Alex: Finally Martin, if you could send a message to Haque ahead of your bout what would it be?
McDonough: I wouldn't send him a message, we won't speak before the fight.

Thank you for your time Martin, all the best from the guys at Kingdom MMA and we are all looking forward to seeing you make your return on Saturday night.

Martin McDonough out of Cage Warriors 59 injured, Kris Edwards now part of Bantamweight tournament

McDonough forced out of title tilt

Photo: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

Martin McDonough’s hopes of being crowned CWFC bantamweight champion in Wales on Saturday have unfortunately been dashed, after the Welshman sustained a hand injury during a sparring session last week.

An initial medical examination has revealed that McDonough (11-4) suffered a fracture which will rule him out of Cage Warriors 59‘s four-man bantamweight grand prix, which is now just nine days away. The 24-year-old, who has clocked up a 3-0 Cage Warriors record since making his promotional debut last year, is due to undergo an MRI scan shortly, so an accurate time-frame for his return to action has yet to be given.

McDonough’s place in the CWFC bantamweight tournament, which is set for Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Saturday, September 14, will now be taken by his Tillery Combat team-mate Kris Edwards (pictured).
Edwards (8-5) was scheduled to face Aaron Blackwell in a tournament alternate bout at Cage Warriors 59, but the 23-year-old has now been promoted to fill the void and face James Pennington in the semi-finals, with Brett Johns and David Haggstrom still set to clash on the other side of the draw.

Cage Warriors officials hope to re-match Blackwell on an upcoming card, while the winner of the Cage Warriors 59 prelim between Timur Mercanoglu and Jordan Desborough will be placed on standby should a vacancy arise in the tournament on the night.

Edwards recently made the decision to return to the bantamweight division following a disappointing stint at flyweight, during which he suffered back-to-back losses in his two most recent bouts.

After signing an exclusive contract with the promotion, the Abertillery native made his CWFC debut with an impressive win over Janne Elonen-Kulmala at CWFC Fight Night 5 in Jordan in April of last year, after which he opted to make the move to 125lbs.

Life in his new weight class began well for Edwards, as he submitted Brian Hyslop in the second round of their meeting at Cage Warriors 48 in London in July 2012, a win that saw him jump straight into the top-three in the UK’s flyweight rankings, having previously occupied fifth spot at bantamweight.

Next up for Edwards was Cage Warriors 49 in Cardiff last October, but an injury picked up by opponent Mark Platts just a week out from the fight saw Alan Philpott called in as a replacement, with the bout being contested at 135lbs due to the late notice. But it was Philpott who emerged victorious, as Edwards dropped a loss for the first time since July 2011.

Edwards, who holds wins over CWFC’s James Brum and Spencer Hewitt, returned to action back in May at Cage Warriors 54 in Cardiff, but again he was forced to deal with a late change of opponent, with Shaj Haque drafted in at the eleventh hour to replace the injured Karl Harrison.

After enduring a difficult weight-cut which saw him miss the mark by 0.7lb, an uncharacteristically languid Edwards was edged out by Haque via split decision, leaving him with consecutive defeats for the first time in his career.

As Edwards returns to the bantamweight division a week on Saturday, the Welshman says he’s keen to return to top-form by putting in the type of performance which saw him regarded as one of the top young prospects in Europe last year.

“I’m absolutely gutted for Martin,” said Edwards. “I’ve seen first-hand how hard he’s prepared for this tournament and he’s devastated to have picked up an injury. But I’m thrilled with the chance to replace him and I’ll do my best to bring that title back to Tillery Combat.”

Cage Warriors CEO Graham Boylan added: “Everyone involved with Cage Warriors is extremely disappointed for Martin McDonough. He deserves his place in the tournament but I’m sure he’ll come back stronger and earn another title shot in the near future. I wish him well in his recovery.

“I want to say best of luck to Kris Edwards in the tournament. I know he’s been disappointed with his last couple of performances, but were it not for a difficult cut to flyweight, he probably would have been in contention for this anyway. It’s all set up for a very exciting tournament in Cardiff next week.”

Meanwhile, Owain Parry has also sustained an injury which has ruled him out of his CWFC 59 lightweight prelim against Jamie Rogers, so 21-year-old Englishman Sam Gilbert has been called in as a replacement.
Tickets for Cage Warriors 59 at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Saturday, September 14, are still available, priced from just £25.

MAIN CARD
Edwards/Pennington vs. Haggstrom/Johns (Bantamweight tournament final)
Jim Alers (champion) vs. Martin Svensson (Featherweight title bout)
Mats Nilsson vs. Denniston Sutherland
Lew Long vs. Tommy Maguire
Dave Hill vs. Brian Moore
Lee Caers vs. Aaron Thomas

FACEBOOK PRELIMS
Sam Gilbert vs. Jamie Rogers
David Haggstrom vs. Brett Johns (Bantamweight tournament semi-final)
Kris Edwards vs. James Pennington (Bantamweight tournament semi-final)

NON-STREAMED PRELIMS
Jordan Desborough vs. Timur Mercanoglu
Brett Caswell vs. Paul Rogers

Cage Warriors 59 Bantamweight tournament pairings set

Bantamweight tournament pairings set

Photo: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

A four man tournament will take place at Cage Warriors 59 to determine a new CWFC bantamweight champion, and officials have today revealed details of the semi-final pairings.

Cage Warriors 59, which will also see Jim Alers defend his featherweight title against Martin Svensson, is set for Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Saturday, 14 September, 2013.

To be contested on the night, the bantamweight tournament will feature David Haggstrom, Brett Johns, Martin McDonough and James Pennington (pictured), all of whom will be aiming to pick up the two wins required to clinch the vacant title.

Fighting in their native Wales, Johns and McDonough will feature in separate semi-finals, meaning an all-Welsh final is a distinct possibility. However, Sweden’s Haggstrom and Englishman Pennington will have other ideas.

Johns (7-0) will face Haggstrom (7-1-1) in one semi-final, an intriguing bout given that Haggstrom’s only professional loss came at the hands of Johns’ team-mate Dino Gambatesa back in July 2011.

In the other semi-final, two of the UK’s top-10 bantamweights will collide when McDonough (11-4) takes on Pennington (8-1), a meeting which will also carry added interest in the context that McDonough last tasted defeat in October 2011 against James Brum, a team-mate of Pennington’s.

Each semi-final bout will consist of two five-minute rounds and an additional overtime round will be contested in the event of a draw. Five five-minute rounds will be scheduled for the final.

The semi-finals will feature on the night’s preliminary card, with the final forming part of the co-main event. A reserve bout will also be added to the card in order to facilitate any enforced withdrawals.

Many more fights are still to be announced for Cage Warriors 59.