UFC Fight Night Dublin Post Fight Press Conference

UFC Fight Night Dublin Post Fight Press Conference

UFC Dublin: Predictions

by Alex Dillon @_AlexDillon_

By now I am sure that you all know the UFC will be returning to Ireland on Saturday night, if you don't then you must have been locked in a dark room with no internet for the past 4 months. As with all the UFC events we have broken down the card and I have predicted how the event will go. Please read below for a full breakdown of the main card as well as predictions for who will win the prelim fights.

Featherweight: Conor McGregor (14-2, 2-0 UFC) vs Diego Brandao (18-9, 4-2 UFC)

The main event, the return of the notorious one: Conor McGregor. Having not fought since defeating Max Holloway last August in Boston, McGregor has been sitting on the sidelines rehabilitating his knee whilst still creating hype and being talked about by almost everyone.

McGregor burst into the mainstream with a scintillating KO over Marcus Brimage in his debut 17 months ago now and ever since it’s been nothing but maximum exposure for the Dublin man. He received the blackout treatment in Boston fighting on the prelims, dominated Max Holloway despite injuring his knee during the fight and there is a huge belief from himself that its only a matter of time before the featherweight gold is around his waist.

This fight was originally meant to be somewhat of a ‘grudge’ match with Cole Miller before Miller pulled out due to a hand injury so Brandao was drafted in to take his place and offer McGregor a different challenge.

Brandao has had an up and down UFC career since winning The Ultimate Fighter, he had a 3 fight win streak snapped by featherweight contender Dustin Poirier back in December, which to be honest, was an all around bad experience for him as he missed weight and also threatened to stab Poirier so it’s likely a time he’ll want to put behind him. Brandao’s head has been known to get the better of him but when he’s on fire, he is on fire and brings a significant threat to McGregor that Miller probably didn’t. The other problem with Brandao is that he tends to ‘gas’ as the fight goes on and McGregor is a machine so if his cardio isn’t up to scratch, its game over for Brandao. He’s recently moved from Jackson’s MMA to San Antonio to focus more on his BJJ which he says has benefited him and his preparation for this fight. We’ll see come fight night how prepared he is and if he really has put the past behind him.

There are arguments from all sorts of fans regarding Conor McGregor, ‘’McGregor’s the real deal’’ ‘’McGregors overhyped, never winning a title’’ One thing’s for sure though, everyone will tune in Saturday night and rightfully so, I expect McGregor to come out and dictate the fight from the off and put on an excellent performance, he’s said himself that’s what he needs to do and it’ll happen.

Win this in spectacular fashion and he’ll likely face Dustin Poirier next to elevate him further towards a title shot. Wherever this fight ends up it favours McGregor, he’ll be on Brandao from the off his skills are too much for this opponent. McGregor's too slick, too fast, too technical and too good for Brandao and I firmly believe we’ll see an even better Conor McGregor come fight night.

Prediction: McGregor via TKO

 

Welterweight: Gunnar Nelson (12-0-1, 3-0 UFC) vs Zak Cummings (17-3, 2-0 UFC) 

This co-main event was originally meant to feature Ryan LaFlare instead of Zak Cummings but an injury forced LaFlare out so Cummings was drafted in to fill the void. In many fans eyes, highly touted prospect Nelson hasn’t had the opportunity to really put a marker on the Welterweight due to injuries and activity but he is without doubt, a future contender.

Cummings has gone 2-0 since officially signing with the UFC after his stint on TUF 17 and has showed promise of his own with his last win coming as recent as May. Even though Cummings is a late replacement, the fascinating thing about this fight is that they are both legitimate submission fighters, although Cummings has the better wrestling so maybe we will see Nelson’s wrestling tested and subsequently see him go into deep waters.

Nelson may have had a layoff but his last outing at UFC Fight Night in London back in March proved that the time out of the cage didn’t really mean anything as he pulled out an emphatic submission victory in the 1st round. What’s more exciting about this fight is that Nelson trains alongside the main event man Conor McGregor under the tutelage of John Kavanagh at SBGi and is a massive fan favourite in Ireland and rightfully so as so far he’s shown he’s every bit of a contender just like his team mate. Regardless of Cummings wrestling pedigree, I see Nelson getting through this comfortably and with a finish.

Prediction: Nelson via Submission

Flyweight: Brad Pickett (24-8, 4-3 UFC) vs Ian McCall (12-4-1, 1-2-1 UFC)

This flyweight battle was originally scheduled for UFC London back in March but McCall pulled out through injury and was subsequently replaced by newly signed Neil Seery. The fight with Seery was Pickett’s first fight at Flyweight since the cut down from Bantamweight and in many fans eye’s he didn’t impress. Maybe it was because many believed he would steam through Seery and that he had an off day. In my opinion I believe Seery was and still is underrated and gave Pickett as good as he got that night. We’ll soon see in this fight if Pickett can handle the cut at flyweight and impress on Saturday night.

Ian McCall hasn’t had the best career so far in the UFC after coming in as ‘the best flyweight in the world’ he too has failed to live up to the hype when it comes to the big fights so this makes for a really interesting matchup.

Up until the announcement that Mighty Mouse would defend his belt against Chris Cariaso at UFC 177, both of these fighters probably believed the winner of their fight would go on to challenge MM for the title so it remains to be seen how they both treat this fight coming in now knowing that a title shot won’t happen straight away.

My issue with McCall is that he has been quite inactive, last fighting a year ago and has had his own personal issues outside of the octagon and Pickett will be out to prove a point. Personal issues and inactivity aside, Pickett is the better fighter and I expect him to come through this fight with a good performance.

Prediction: Pickett via TKO

Lightweight: Norman Parke (19-2-1, 2-0-1 UFC) vs Naoyuki Kotani (33-10-7, 0-2 UFC)

In his last outing in the UFC, TUF Smashes winner Norman Parke was unlucky to come away with just a draw and really should be 3-0 in what has been a promising UFC career so far. His opponent Kotani, has never won in the UFC but is currently riding a 13-0 win streak and boasts 25 wins via submission. With that in mind, it’s more than likely that Parke will deploy his favoured game plan of grinding down his opponents and using the clinch to his benefit. Kotani poses a risk with his BJJ but Parke should pick up the win here.

Prediction: Parke via Decision

 

Fight Pass Prelims

 

Light Heavyweight: Ilir Latifi (8-3, 1-1 UFC) vs Chris Dempsey (10-1, 0-0 UFC)
Prediction: Latifi via Submission

Flyweight: Neil Seery (13-10, 0-1 UFC) vs Phil Harris (22-11, 1-2 UFC)
Prediction: Seery via TKO 

Middleweight: Cathal Pendred (13-2-1, 0-0 UFC) vs Mike King (5-0, 0-0 UFC)
Prediction: Pendred via Decision

Middleweight: Tor Troeng (16-5-1, 1-1 UFC) vs Trevor Smith (11-5, 1-2 UFC)
Prediction: Troeng via Submission

Light Heavyweight: Cody Donovan (8-4, 1-2 UFC) vs Nikita Krylov (16-4, 1-2 UFC)
Prediction: Krylov via TKO

Flyweight: Patrick Holohan (9-0-1, 0-0 UFC) vs Josh Sampo (11-3, 1-1 UFC)
Prediction: Holohan via Submission

Video: Dan Hardy Previews UFC Fight Night Dublin

Video: Dan Hardy Previews UFC Fight Night Dublin

by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

UFC Welterweight and EMEA commentator Dan Hardy previews UFC Fight Night Dublin.

UFC Fight Night Dublin takes place July 19th. The main card for UFC Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs Brandao can be seen on Setanta and 3e (part of the TV3 network) in the Republic of Ireland, and BT Sports in the UK.The prelim card will be shown live exclusively on UFC Fight Pass, fans can sign up to Fightpass.com to receive a free 7 day trial.

Check out a full schedule of fan events, including weigh-in times, fighter signings and more, here: HERE

Paul Redmond 'Neil is on Another Level to When They Last Fought'

Paul Redmond 'Neil is on Another Level to When They Last Fought'

by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Copyright Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

It's been 5 years in the making but the UFC finally returns to Dublin for what promises to be a memorable night for all the fans in attendance, but none more so than the 4 Irish fighters on the card.

While all the talk will be about Conor McGregor, one of those fighters, Neil Seery, faces one of the toughest challenges in his career in the form of Phil Harris, an English flyweight who already has a win over Seery when the two previously meet in 2010.

Fighting out of Team Ryano MMA in Dublin, 34-year old Seery, a former Cage Warriors flyweight champion was given a shot in the UFC when Ian McCall dropped out of his scheduled bout with Brad Pickett in March. After a huge social media campaign to give Seery the fight against Pickett, Seery got the call and stepped in on late notice to face the British veteran. Seery lost his bout to Pickett by unanimous decision but earned praise from UFC president Dana White for his game performance.

Seery will now fight for the first time in The UFC with a full camp under his belt when he faces Phil Harris at The O2 in Dublin, July 19th and noted Cage Warriors featherweight and Team Ryano MMA teammate Paul Redmond says Seery has made the most of his camp:

'Camp's gone great for him. He's firing on all cylinders and peaking just at the right time. [He's] probably the sharpest I've ever seen him.'

A pro since 2005, Seery first fought Phil Harris at Bamma 3 back in 2010 losing by unanimous decision. Since the lost the Harris, Seery has put together a 6-2 record since the fight with 4 wins inside the distance, including a devastating body kick KO over Paul Marin. Harris on the other hand is 3-2 with 1 NC, and will need to win this bout to save his UFC career. Seery however, has a different plan in mind, wants to celebrate in front of his friends, family and countrymen but more importantly he will want to revenge his loss to Harris, and Redmond sees it coming:

'I think fighting in Dublin in The O2 is gonna be something special for him and all the Irish. Neil really is on another level to the last time they fought. My predictions Seery by KO, 1st / 2nd round all day.'

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Fight Night Dublin

Phil Harris talks to Kingdom MMA ahead of UFC Dublin

by Chris Houten @mrhouts

On Saturday night Phil Harris steps foot back in the octagon. For some, his return may be surprising since it was only a couple of months since he was released. However in MMA the scene changes very quickly and Harris has benefited from this and will return to square off once again against Neil Seery, who Harris previously beat. This time the advantage of the third man is firmly with Seery as the fight is in his own backyard at the O2 Arena, Dublin. Before that fight Harris took time out of his schedule to talk to Kingdom MMA and discuss his last fight, his return to the UFC and of course a look ahead to the fight this weekend.

Chris: So you're back in the UFC fighting Neil Seery, how has your camp gone for this fight?
Harris: It's gone very well, it's been a long camp and I'm more than ready.

Chris: Other than the usual Gym 01 guys who are there week in week out, Brum, Pennington, Caswell etc. who have you worked with for this camp? Has Lee or Grant been down over the last few months?
Harris: Brad Pickett has been down at the start of my camp, also Mark Handley has been down, and Sam Creasy has been down for sparring. I've also been up to Poole martial arts and they've lots of good Thai fighters.

Chris: You were pulled from a fight in the Middle East for Cage Warriors just before you resigned with the UFC, have you essentially been in camp since April?
Harris: I'm always training so I'm never actually out of a camp! After this fight I'll be slowing down my training for a few weeks.

Chris: You originally lost your last fight to Gaudinot, however the bout has now been overturned due to Gaudinot failing a drug test. Was the fact Gaudinot failed a drug test instrumental in you being brought back into the UFC?
Harris: No the UFC asked my manager if he had any UK/ Euro guys at flyweight and he said that I deserve another shot and they listened to him and gave me another shot. A plus side of having an awesome manager (Graham Boylan)

Chris: You were caught early in the Gaudinot fight and you almost looked out of sorts. Talk us through the fight, how did your preparation and build up to the fight go, and where did you feel you went wrong in the fight?
Harris: I had no excuses for that fight I made a mistake rushed a take down and left my neck open. Louis jumped on it!

Chris: With the failed drug test, the loss to Gaudinot has been changed to a no contest. How are you treating this fight, is it bittersweet to have the loss overturned or are you still treating it as a loss?
Harris: It's still a loss in my eyes.

Chris: When the news broke that Ian McCall was out of UFC London in March you were pretty supportive of the UFC signing Neil Seery, it felt like you both seemed friendly. How would you describe your relationship with Neil and what is it like to fight someone you know, respect and maybe even like?
Harris: I've a lot of respect for Neil he's a top guy, he deserved his shot in the UFC so I supported him and was pleased when he got the call up.
We'll definitely have a drink after the fight.

Chris: How much better do you think Neil Seery has become since the first time you fought?
Harris: He's probably going to be more well rounded now but I'm pretty sure his come forward throwing punches style won't change.

Chris: How do you feel about fighting Seery in his back yard? Are you expecting the most hostile environment you've ever fought in?
Harris: Yeah I'm expecting to be the bad guy but it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Chris: There are 2 other flyweight battles on the card along side your bout with Seery. You have Pickett vs McCall, and Holohan vs Sampo, how do you see those fights playing out?
Harris: Pickett has a tough fight but will come through the winner, haven't a clue how. Holohan vs sampo will be a great fight holohan will win via submission in round 1, maybe a triangle.

Chris: Finally we are half way through the year now, what can we expect from the Gym 01 guys in the second part of 2014?
Harris: Brett Caswell will finish the year with a massive win along with a few others Scott Pooley has a big fight in the pipe line
Also the next generation of fighters are coming through, watch out for Ollie Davidson and Alan Talis both big talents!

Chris: Would you like to thank anyone ahead of the fight for helping you prepare?
Harris: I'd like to thank Bri Adams, Head gym01 coach. Mok Rahman, my striking coach/pad man. All of my training partners at gym01.

Also my sponsors Smuggling duds, JY nutrition, Sweet sweat and Funky gums.

Also my lovely wife Debbie.
Thanks again for your time Phil and we wish you all the best for the fight on Saturday night.

5 Things to do in Dublin When not at The UFC

5 Things to do in Dublin When not at The UFC

by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

With fans from all over the UK traveling to Dublin this weekend for UFC Fight Night Dublin, the streets of Ireland will be filled with fight fans.

While the UFC has put on a fantastic schedule of events to keep fight fans entertained this week, here are some of the finest attractions fight fans might want to take in when not at the UFC.

1. Guinness Storehouse 
Located in the heart of Dublin, the Guinness Storehouse is Ireland's number 1 tourist attraction, and is simply unmissable.

Featuring 7 floors of rich Guinness heritage, the Guinness Storehouse tells the story of how the brand grew from humble origins to the global brand it is today. Journey through time as you learn about Guinness' rich history, discover the ingredients to make the perfect craft beer, learn how to pour your own pint of Guinness from a Guinness ambassador, and finish you day with a nice cold beer in the Gravity bar.

Tickets are €18 at the door, or receive a 10% when booking in advance online. For more info see:
https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/TicketSelection.aspx

2. Bulmers Live at Leopardstown
The Ultimate way to start your weekend, enjoy an evening at the races, while you soak up the vibes from one of Ireland's most successful bands.

As part of Bulmers essential summer festival, The Stunning will be performing all of their hits including "Brewing Up A Storm” in between some of the finest horse racing Ireland has to offer.  Tickets start from €15 with gates opening at 4.30pm, the first race begins at 6pm. For More info see:
http://www.bulmersliveatleopardstown.com/

3. The Sporting Emporium Casino
A 2014 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence winner, The Sporting Emporium is Ireland's leading private members’ Casino and Card Club, catering to all types of players, from complete beginners to those who like to play for higher stakes. Located over three floors just off Dublin’s Grafton Street, it is a recent winner of the prestigious 'Best Casino Club' award, and includes over 30 tables offering Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, Brag, Punto Banco, plus 300 online casino games.

Open from 6pm to 6am every night, The Sporting Emporium Casino is excellent way to relax on the evening. Worth noting this casino is a members only casino, therefore you will need €25 membership to enter, however each membership does come with €25 worth of chips for you to play with; register online for a bonus €5 worth of chips to play with. For more info see: http://www.thesportingemporium.com/

4. National Leprechaun Museum
Step into another world, where you will discover the sounds, sights, stories and magic of mythical Ireland, at the National Leprechaun Museum.

Based in the heart of Dublin, the museum is a story telling experience taking you to the heart of Irish cultural identity and imagination.Your journey begins with a look at representations of the leprechaun through the ages. Along the way you will explore the relationship between landscape, folklore, story-telling and magic. Feel what it’s like to journey deep beneath the rocks of the Giant’s Causeway, take a journey to the end of the rainbow to see if the elusive crock of gold really exists, and submerge yourself in the unexpected as you move through the fascinating world of the leprechaun.

Tickets are €12 for adults, book online at receive a free gift at the museum. For more info see: http://www.leprechaunmuseum.ie/tickets/

5. Kylemore Karting
Ireland's largest indoor go-kart track, Kylemore Karting is a 60,000sq ft. karting facility with 3x 360 metre tracks comprised of flyovers, underpasses, hills and banked corners. Enjoy the ultimate Grand Prix experience with Trophies and certificates for race winners.

Kylemore Karting is open daily between 11am and 10pm with sessions starting from €15. For more info visit: http://www.kylemore-karting.com/temp/sessions.htm

UFC Fight Night Dublin Fans Schedule

UFC Fight Night Dublin Fans Schedule

by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

The moment has finally arrived for fans across the UK and Ireland - IT'S FIGHT WEEK!

UFC Fight Night Dublin is finally here, and as many of you will know, a trip to a UFC event starts with pre-fight festivities, giving fans the opportunity to meet some of their favourite fighters, hang out at the open work outs, and go nuts at the live weigh-ins.

With so much taking place on fight week, we bring you a guide of where to be, so you don't miss out on any of the action taking place this week. Be sure to check back as we will keep you up-to-date or any new additions as the week goes.

Tuesday - July 15th
Reddit AMA with Forest Griffin - 8PM BST / 9PM CET / 3PM ET / 12PM PT

Wednesday - July 16th
Ultimate Media & Fan Day - UFC Fight Club Ticket Holders Only
The Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
Map

18:30 – 20:30: UFC FIGHT NIGHT DUBLIN Open workouts and face-offs

Participants:
Conor McGregor – UFC featherweight
Diego Brandao – UFC featherweight
Gunnar Nelson – UFC welterweight
Zak Cummings – UFC welterweight
Brad Pickett – UFC flyweight
Ian McCall – UFC flyweight
Norman Parke – UFC lightweight
Naoyuki Kotani – UFC lightweight
Chris Dempsey – UFC light heavyweight
Ilir Latifi – UFC light heavyweight
Neil Seery – UFC flyweight
Phil Harris – UFC flyweight
Cathal Pendred – UFC middleweight
Mike King – UFC middleweight
Tor Troeng – UFC middleweight
Trevor Smith – UFC middleweight
Cody Donovan – UFC light heavyweight
Nikita Krylov – UFC light heavyweight
Patrick Holohan – UFC flyweight
Josh Sampo – UFC flyweight

Thursday - July 17th
EA Sports Fan Signing with Forrest Griffin & Cub Swanson 6PM BST
HMV, 26 Grafton Street, Dublin
Map

Friday - July 18th 
UFC Fighter Signings, and Weigh-ins
O2 Arena, Dublin
Map

2PM BST / 3PM CET - Fighter signing with Forrest Griffin, Luke Barnatt, Cub Swanson, Jimi Manuwa, & Eddie Gordon - UFC Fight Club Only
4PM BST / 5PM CET - UFC Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs. Brandao Official Weigh In
5PM BST / 6PM CET -  Q&A with guest fighters: Luke Barnatt, Forrest Griffin and Cub Swanson - Ticket Holders Only

UFC Fight Night Pre-party Hosted by Chuck Liddell - 10PM BST / 11 CET
21 Sráid D'Olier, Baile Átha Cliath, Dublin
Map 
 
Saturday - July 19th

UFC Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs. Brandao Fight Night
O2 Arena, Dublin
Map

16:30: Doors open to the public
17:30: Prelim card begins
20:00: Main Card Begins; UFC Fight Night Dublin: Live on BT Sport and 3e.

Conor McGregor Afterparty - Sin Nightclub - Tickets €15
Sin Bar, 17-19 Sycamore St, Dublin 2
Map 

Extra Tickets for UFC Dublin Released July 1st

Extra Tickets for UFC Dublin Released July 1st

Extra tickets to The UFC's highly anticipated Dublin event are to go on sale Tuesday 1st July, following an unprecedented demand which saw the arena sell out in a matter of minutes.

UFC Fight Night Dublin: MCGREGOR vs. BRANDAO will take place at The 02 Arena in Dublin on Saturday 19th July and will see UFC star and local Irishman Conor “The Notorious” McGregor face up against Brazilian Diego “DB” Brandao in the main event.

After reconfiguring the in-house production at the sold-out O2 Arena, the UFC has been able to add extra seating to the event. This increased capacity will ensure UFC Fight Night Dublin shatters the company’s previous records in the capital for attendance and box office sales.

UFC Executive Vice President and Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Garry Cook said:

“We’re ecstatic that this event has captured people’s imagination like it has and sold out in its original plan. The level of support is unbelievable and The O2 will have a blistering atmosphere from the very first horn. UFC Fight Night Dublin is already the most successful UFC event ever in Europe, and we are already planning more events throughout this year and into 2015.”

Tickets to the Dublin event, which is the fourth UFC event to take place across Europe and the Middle East this year, will be available via www.ticketmaster.ie and www.theo2.ie.

Cathal Pendred Signs for The UFC, Meets Mike King in Dublin

Cathal Pendred Signs for The UFC, Meets Mike King in Dublin

by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Fresh off a stint on this season's Ultimate Fighter, Cathal Pendred has signed a contract with the UFC and will join SGB Ireland teammates, Conor McGregor,  and recently signed Paddy Holohan on July's UFC Fight Night card in Dublin.

UFC Officials have today confirmed Cathal Prendred will meet Ultimate Fighter season 19 teammate Mike King at UFC Fight Night 46 at The o2 Arena in Dublin, on July 19. UFC Fight Night 46 will stream live on UFC Fight Pass, and is also expected to be shown on BT Sports in the UK. Irish fans will be able to watch the show on free to air 3e. It is not yet know whether the fight will take place on the events the preliminary portion, or the main card.

One of the hottest prospects in European MMA, Cathal Pendred (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was widely tipped to take a place on the UFC roster at some stage following a series of victories which saw him beat some of the finest welterweight in Europe including Che Mills and Gael Grimaud, however the Irishman opted to join season 19 of The Ultimate Fighter rather than wait for the call from the UFC to come.

In a Ultimate Fighter first, Pendred did not have to fight for his place to get into the house, as other did, after the UFC could not find a fighter to take him on for various reasons.

Picked 3rd by Team Penn, Pendred kick-started the season by defeating Hector Urbina in the quarterfinals via unanimous decision. In the semifinals, he lost a razor-thin split decision to now-finalist Eddie Gordon, a bout which many feel, including Dana White should have gone the other way.

His opponent, Mike King (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) defeated Nordine Taleb to earn a place in The Ultimate Fighter season 19 house, before losing a close decision in the quarterfinals Eddie Gordon,  in a bout where King suffered a gruesome eye poke but continued to fight despite the injury.

A talented wrestler, Mike King has never been the distance in his 5 professional fight career dating back to 2011 with 4 submission - 2 due to strikes, and 1 TKO. When he steps into the octagon to face Pendred it will be 18 months since his last professional bout, excluding his time in TUF. 

With the addition of Pendred vs King UFC Fight Night 46 includes:
Conor McGregor vs. Diego Brandao
Zak Cummings vs. Gunnar Nelson
Ian McCall vs. Brad Pickett
Ilir Latifi vs. Tom Lawlor
Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov
Phil Harris vs. Neil Seery
Trevor Smith vs. Tor Troeng
Naoyuki Kotani vs. Norman Parke
Patrick Holohan vs. Josh Sampo
Mike King vs. Cathal Pendred

Stay tuned to kingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Fight Night 46 Dublin

UFC Partner with 3e in Ireland for UFC Fight Night Dublin

UFC Partner with 3e in Ireland for UFC Fight Night Dublin

The UFC has announced its first ever free-to-air broadcast agreement in Ireland.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT DUBLIN: MCGREGOR VS. BRANDAO, which will take place on 19th July at the O2 Arena in Dublin, will be broadcast on channel 3e in Ireland. 3e, part of the TV3 network, will broadcast the main card on a live basis from 8pm, together with features and enhanced editorial across the TV3 Group in the lead up to the event.

This is the first time a UFC event will be broadcast to a terrestrial audience in Ireland, marking a significant step forward for the organisation in this region.

TV3 reaches in the region of 3.5million individuals each month, equivalent to 85.1% of the available viewing population. It is the largest commercial TV channel in Ireland, and has a bigger market share for adults than BBC1, UTV, Channel 4 or Sky 1 combined.

Garry Cook, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of UFC Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said:

“The popularity of the UFC in Ireland continues to grow at an enormous rate. With a number of talented Irish fighters on the card and the record breaking sell-out audience at the O2 arena, it was only right that we also offered access to this incredible event to audiences in Ireland via a free to air TV agreement. We are incredibly excited to make this announcement and we are confident that this is only the beginning of things to come for our sport in Ireland.”

Interest in the UFC is not only growing in Ireland, but it continues to soar elsewhere across Europe and in the Middle East. Already this year the UFC has delivered live events in London, Abu Dhabi and Berlin, with plans to host two further EMEA events after Fight Night Dublin, before the end of 2014.

The TV3 Group has an impressive track record in bringing major international sporting events in to homes across Ireland. The network has televised more than 150 live UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League games since 2009. TV3 have also secured the live broadcast rights in Ireland for all 48 matches for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

TV3 Group Head of Sport, Kieran Holden, said;

“We are thrilled to be able to broadcast Conor McGregor’s homecoming bout for UFC’s Dublin event on 3e, on 19 July. Conor’s progress through the MMA ranks has been phenomenal and we are delighted that we are able to show this event to his growing fan base here live and for free on 3e.”

 Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Fight Night Dublin

Video: Paddy Holohan 2014 MMA Highlights

Video: Paddy Holohan 2014 MMA Highlights

by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Not too sure who new UFC Flyweight Paddy 'The Hooligan' Holohan is? Don't worry Christopher Hegarty also know as Bloodstream MMA, has got you covered with this exception highlights video, showing you exactly what to expect from the SBG Ireland fighter when his makes is UFC Debut against Josh Sampo next month.


You can check out of of Hegarty's videos on his Youtube channel HERE, and you can also follow him on twitter @BloodstreamMMA

UFC Sign Paddy Holohan, Meets Josh Sampo in Dublin

UFC Sign Paddy Holohan, Meets Josh Sampo in Dublin

by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

UFC officials have today confirmed Irish prospect Paddy Holohan has signed with the promotion and will meet Josh Sampo at UFC Fight Night 46 in Dublin.

UFC Fight Night 46 takes place July 19th at The O2 in Dublin, and is headline by Conor McGregor vs Diego Brandao. The event will stream live on UFC Fight Pass, and will also be broadcasted on BT Sports in the UK. It is not known yet if Holohan vs Sampo will feature on the preliminary card or the main card.

Fighting out of SBG Ireland alongside top Irish fighters such as UFC Fight Night 46 headliner Conor McGregor and TUF 19 stars, Cathal Pendred and Chris Field, 26-year-old Paddy Holohan is currently riding a 10 fight unbeaten streak, enough to earn the Irishman a contract with the UFC.

Formerly a bantamweight, Paddy Holohan (9-0-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) tried out for season 18 of the Ultimate Fighter but was knocked out of the fight to get into the house by Josh Hill. A veteran of top Irish promotion Cage Contenders, it will be 2 years since Holohan last fought professionally when he steps into the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 46.

A pro since 2009, Sampo (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) made his UFC debut at Novembers TUF 18 finale defeating Ryan Benoit by Rear Naked Choke while putting on a fight of the night winning performance. However as Sampo missing weight before the bout, he forfeited his £50,000 bonus cheque to Benoit. Following the victory over Benoit, Sampo then went on to fight former Bellator champion Zak Makovsky, who he lost to by unanimous decision at UFC 170. The lost to Makovsky snapped a five fight win streak for the 29-year-old who has 6 submissions in 11 victories.

With the addition of Holohan vs Sampo, UFC Fight Night 46 card includes:

    Conor McGregor vs. Diego Brandao
    Zak Cummings vs. Gunnar Nelson
    Ian McCall vs. Brad Pickett
    Ilir Latifi vs. Tom Lawlor
    Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov
    Phil Harris vs. Neil Seery
    Trevor Smith vs. Tor Troeng
    Naoyuki Kotani vs. Norman Parke
    Patrick Holohan vs. Josh Sampo

Stay Tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Fight Night 46

Video: UFC Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs Brandao Preview

Video: UFC Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs Brandao Preview

The UFC returns to Dublin, Ireland after five years with an action packed card featuring, Conor McGregor and Diego Brandao.

Cole Miller Out, Conor McGregor Now Meets Diego Brandao

Cole Miller Out, Conor McGregor Now Meets Diego Brandao

Cole Miller will no longer fight at UFC Fight Night 46 due to torn ligaments in his hand which sees the featherweight currently in a full cast.  UFC official today confirmed Conor McGregor will instead face Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner Diego Brandao in the main event in Dublin, with UFC president Dana White saying:

"Diego Brandao is explosive and a well-rounded fighter. This should be a war," said UFC president Dana White.

UFC Dublin takes place July 19th at the The O2 Arena. Tickets for will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday 6th June and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie and www.theo2.ie

McGregor new Opponent Brandao (18-9 MMA, 4-2) enters the bout looking to bounce back from a disappointing first round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 168 where he came in the bout 6lbs overweight; the bout put to bed a 3 fight win streak which sent the Brazilian beat Joey Gambino, Pablo Garza, and Daniel Pineda.

A Black-belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Brandao began his career in his career in his native Brazil before relocating to the states to train under Greg Jackson. Following a fight of the night, and submission of the night victory over Dennis Bermudez to take home the TUF 14 crown, Brandao has been on a 3-2 run which has been good enough to enough a place at 15 in the official UFC featherweight rankings, 2 places below Conor McGregor.

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest of UFC Fight Night 46   

Ryan La Flare out, Zak Cummings meets Gunnar Nelson at UFC Dublin

Undisclosed Injury to La Flare forces a change to UFC Fight Night 46
by Chris Houten @mrhouts

Fresh of his UFC Fight Night 40 victory over Yan Cabral, Zak Cummings (17-3 UFC, 2-0 MMA) meets Gunnar Nelson (12-0-1 UFC, 3-0 MMA) as a replacement for Ryan La Flare who has been removed from the card for unconfirmed reasons.

UFC Fight Night 46 Dublin takes place July 19th at the The O2 Arena. Tickets for will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday 6th June and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie and www.theo2.ie.

Originally scheduled to face Kenny Robertson at UFC Fight Night 45 on July 16 at UFC Fight Night 45 on Atlantic City, Cummings will now fight 3 days later at UFC Fight Night 46, the UFCs 3rd European event of 2014.

A former MFC middleweight champion, Cummings made his UFC debut win a submission of the night D'Arce Choke victory over Ben Alloway at UFC Fight Night 27 this past August, which his followed up with a unanimous decision victory over Yan Cabral at last months Fight Night 40. A winner of 4 straight fight, The welterweight has only lost 3 times in his career, with loses coming to Ryan Jimmo at light heavyweight, as well as Tim Kennedy and Elvis Mutapcic both at Middleweight. a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Cummings has 9 wins by submission and 4 by TKO.

Widely considered one of the hottest prospects in Europe along side SBG teammates Conor McGregor and Cathal Pendrad, Iceland born Renzo Gracie Black belt Gunnar Nelson fights for the 4th time at UFC fight night 46 on the back of an impressive, performance of the night first round victory over Omari Akhmedov. A pro since 2007 Nelson has finished all but one of his opponents inside the distance and holds UFC victories over DaMarques Johnson, former Sengoku champion Jorge Santiago and the aforementioned Omari Akhmedov.

With the addition of Nelson vs Cummings, UFC Fight Night 46 now includes:

Conor McGregor vs. Cole Miller
Zak Cummings vs. Gunnar Nelson
Ian McCall vs. Brad Pickett
Ilir Latifi vs. Tom Lawlor
Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov
Phil Harris vs. Neil Seery
Trevor Smith vs. Tor Troeng

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on Ufc Fight night 46.

UFC Dublin adds Parke vs Kotani

Norman Parke meets Naoyuki Kotani at UFC Fight Night 46 in Dublin

by Chris Houten @mrhouts

Northern Ireland's Norman Parke (20-2-1 MMA, 3-0-1 UFC) will meet returning Japanese lightweight Naoyuki Kotani (33-10-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 46 in Dublin.

UFC Fight Night 46 Dublin takes place July 19th at the The O2 Arena. Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday 6th June and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie and www.theo2.ie.

Undefeated in 10 bouts, Norman Parke returns to fight on more familiar shores hoping to bounce back from a disappointing draw to Leonardo Santos at UFC Fight Night 38  in Brazil; a bout that Parke was docked a point without warning from the referee for grabbing Santos' shorts.

A pro since 2006, Parke burst on to the international scene when he won The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, a version of TUF which pit Australia vs The United Kingdom. Since beating fellow Brit Colin Fletcher in the finals of TUF: smashes, Parke put together impressive decision victories over Kazuki Tokudome and Jon Tuck before the draw to Leonardo Santos.

Currently riding a 4 year, 13 fight wins streak, Japanese lightweight Naoyuki Kotani fights in the UFC for the first time since 2007 where loses to Thiago Tavares and Dennis Siver saw him released from the promotion. A devastating submission artist with 25 of his 30 finishes coming by tap out, the 32 year old Japanese fighter has struggled throughout his career when facing western opposition with previous loses coming to Jorge Masvidal, Rich Clementi, Marcus Aurelio, Yves Edwards, and Roger Huerta.

With the addition of Parke vs Kotani UFC Fight Night 46 now includes:

Conor McGregor vs. Cole Miller
Zak Cummings vs. Gunnar Nelson
Ian McCall vs. Brad Pickett
Ilir Latifi vs. Tom Lawlor
Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov
Phil Harris vs. Neil Seery
Trevor Smith vs. Tor Troeng
Naoyuki Kotani vs. Norman Parke

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Fight Night 46

Tor Troeng Meet Trevor Smith at UFC Dublin

Tor Troeng Meet Trevor Smith at UFC Dublin
by Chris Houten  - @mrhouts

A battle between 2 Middleweights hoping to get back in the win column has been confirmed for UFC Dublin.

Former Utimate Fighter Season 17 cast member Tor Troeng (16-5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) of Sweden will take on American, Trevor Smith (11-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 46 in Dublin. UFC Fight Night 46 Dublin takes place July 19th at the The O2 Arena. Tickets for will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday 6th June and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie and www.theo2.ie.

Fighting for the 3rd time in his UFC career, Troeng enters the bout looking to rebound from a disappointing decision loss to Rafael Natal at this past Septembers UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs Bader, which snapped a 5 fight win streak.

Fighting out of Sweden's Allstair Training Center alongside top Swedish stars such as Alexander Gustaffson and newly signed UFC featherweight Niklas Bakstrom, Troeng, who has taken 12 of his 16 career victories inside the distance, earned a reputation as one of the finest Middleweight in Europe thanks to wins over current UFC Middleweight Mats Nilsson, and Mark Weir before joining the Utimate Fighter, where he was eliminated in opening round, losing to Josh Samman. A pro since 2005, the 31-year old entered the UFC with a win over Adam Cella at UFC on Fuel TV 9 - Mousasi vs. Latifi in his native Sweden.

Trevor Smith enter the octagon in need of a win to change round the fortunes which have seen him go 1-2 since joining the UFC. Fighting out of Ring Demon Jui-Jitsu in Washington, the 33-year old has arguably yet to prove he deserves to fight on the big stage having come up on both sides of two split-decision results to open his UFC career, defeating Brian Houston but falling short against Ed Herman, before being knocked out by Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night 39 in his most recent outing.

A 4-time Strikeforce vet, where he went 2-2, Smith, Nicknamed 'Hot Sauce' Smith, is a strong grappler with a strong college wrestling background. He has taken 9 of his 11 victories by submission.

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Fight Night 46 Berlin.
 

Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov Set For UFC Dublin

Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov Set For UFC Dublin
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Cody Donovan will meet Nikita Krylov at UFC Dublin in a potential loser goes home match up.

UFC Dublin takes place July 19th at the The O2 Arena. Tickets for will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday 6th June and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie and www.theo2.ie

Fighting for the 4th time in his UFC Career, Cody Donovan (8-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will be faced with the prospect of needing a win to save his UFC career when he takes on Nikita Krylov in Dublin in July.

A product of Grudge Training Center, and a Brazilian Jui Jitsu black belt under Nate Marquart, Donovan began his UFC career with a knockout victory over Nick Penner at UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson as a last minute replacement for injured Eddie Mendez. Taking the bout on just 9 days notice, Donovan was able to despatch of Penner in the first round in an entertaining bout which earned Fight of the Night honors.

Following his victory over Penner, Donovan faced Ovince St. Preux on August 17, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26, to whom he lost by first round TKO. In his most recent outing the 33 year old from Iowa, who has previous competed in Bellator, lost to Gian Villante, again by TKO to extending his losing streak to 2, making it vital he picks up a win in his next bout. 

At Just 22-years old former heavyweight Nikita Krylov (16-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC), is one the youngest fighters on the UFC roster. A native of Ukraine, Krylov has not been short of leaving lasting memories - good and bad, since making his UFC debut in 2013.

Joining the UFC on the back of a 15-2 record, with 2 career losses coming to Vladimir Mishchenko, Krylov made his UFC debut at heavyweight against Australia's Soa Palelei, in a bout which Kingdom MMA staff named the worst fight of 2013 with both men gassing badly, and Krylov eventually losing by TKO in the 3rd round.

Krylov returned in January, in the opening bout of UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson, to face Walter Harris, who he defeated with a highlight reel, 25-second headkick TKO. Following the bout Krylov told journalists he would be dropping to Light-heavyweight.

Krylov made his 205lb debut against Ovince St. Preux - a common opponent to Donovan, at UFC 171 however he was unsuccessful in his new weight division losing by Von Flue Choke in first round.

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Dublin

UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs Miller (Fight Card)

UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs Miller
Date: July 19th, 2014
o2 Arena, Dublin, Ireland


Fight Card
Conor McGregor vs Cole Miller
Ryan LaFlare vs Gunnar Nelson
Ian McCall vs Brad Pickett
Ilir Latifi vs Tom Lawlor
Cody Donovan vs Nikita Krylov
Phil Harris vs Neil Seery

Neil Seery Meets Phil Harris at UFC Dublin

Neil Seery Meets Phil Harris at UFC Dublin
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Copyright Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

Irish flyweight Neil Seery has been given a chance at revenge in front of his countrymen when he takes on the UKs Phil Harris at UFC Dublin, who beat Seery by decision at BAMMA 3.

UFC Dublin takes place July 19th at the The O2 Arena. Tickets for will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday 6th June and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie and www.theo2.ie.

Joining the UFC as a last minute replacement when he was defeated by unanimous decision by Brad Pickett at UFC fight Night London in March, Seery fights for the promotion for the first time on the back of a full training camp when he takes on Phil Harris in Dublin.

A former Cage Warrior Champion, Seery (13-10 MMA, 0-1 UFC) who earned praise for his efforts in defeat to Pickett, has put together a 6-2 record since his fight with Harris in 2010, with 4 wins inside the distance, including a devastating body kick KO over Paul Marin. A pro since 2005, the 34 year old has finishes 11 of his 13 victories inside the distance - 6 by TKO, 5 by submission.

Fighting for the 5th time under the UFC banner, Phil Harris (22-12 MMA,  1-3 UFC) returns to the promotion having been briefly released following his loss to Louis Gaurdinot at UFC Fight Night London.

A Judo black belt, Harris who fights out of Gym 01 is on a 2-4 run since he fought Seery at Bamma 3, however he has faced what could be considered a run of death since joining the UFC, facing top 15 guys including Darren Uyenoyama, John Lineker, Louis Gaurdinot, and Ulysses Gomez, the only man Harris has defeated in the UFC. Currently riding a 2 fight losing streak, it's likely Harris will need to defeat Seery to keep his UFC career alive, make the rematch even more intriguing.

Stay tuned to kingdommma.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Dublin.