Nathan Kelly | Bellator Dubai, Ireland Vs Dagestan & Energized MMA Awards | The Energized Show

Summary

What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode SBG Ireland's Nathan Kelly joins us to discuss his fight at Bellator Dubai, Ireland Vs Dagestan & The 2024 Energized MMA Awards. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the notification bell for more Energized Shows! Youtube…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

[Music] by day energize show by night okay here we go time okay what's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of energize brought to you boy or Kings competitions Russ are you intoxicated or something in introduce the guest man today we have two time energized Pro fighter of the year it is the one and only it is the fighting Pride of the north side it's Nathan Kelly what's up boys thanks for having me on yet again that was abely epic man and like you're actually you're over there in Dubai you're about to share the Card unfortunately he didn't win for of the Year this year Paul us Shar the card with him so you you can have a hard Spar on Testament over there and then let us know who who's the real fighter of the year I I want I won back to back titles I can't be I can't be complaining I've already uh I've already achieved a lot under the energized Banner you know yeah you you really have and you're you're riding this 11 fight win streak you're on a massive spot over in Dubai H you're been in Dubai since November life looks pretty good for you over there at the m is it yeah life's pretty good like um training away um have good lads around me you know John Mitchell sing CLE H working with Aussie he's a very good coach and he's uh leving all leving us all up giving us a lot of insight to different you know approaches and methods and ways of thinking towards grappling and stuff like that so um yeah it's it's gone really well um life is life is pretty good I'm I'm happy at the minute I'm I'm over here living with me misses me first time ever ever getting a taste of living away from home and your parents and what way to to to test that out and to try yourself into deepend living with board so that's that's a challenge as well this isn't a comedy show n but no it's great it's great to have her with me I missed her when she was gone so um you know I was uh yeah I was I was happy to see her and uh yeah just good weather you know different lifestyle um I feel like I'm I'm more on the ball over here personally like at the minute I feel like but maybe it's because the event that that's in it I'm very switched on um you know like just being away from like me friends and me family it's it's different like you're you tune in a different way and you don't really have you know influences or other people's kind of stresses or something like that kind of hanging over you every on your daytoday life and yeah it's a different feeling from me but I'm really really enjoying it and uh yeah I'm uh just trying to make the most out me time over here while I'm here cool yeah and like the the train looks very intense there and uh we love the way you left Paul Bley out of the out of those names that you dropped because we hate M cork on this on this podcast that's uh that's what we're saying and that's what we're sticking with that's what that's what the M cork lad tells we hate cork we do hate you be trans as well I can't leave it Paul Paul Paul's good lad I uh he's all right for a cork fell same with John Boy all right for a cork fell you know if anyone from Cork is watching this turn off right now thank you and also happy New Year to everyone tuning in as well Nate from Cork EX for from Cork he was he was just reing the are let me coming for now yeah it's like it's like uh enero versus cork is the same as this uh pfl battle tour Champion series card Ireland versus dagistan you know well obviously like you went over in November and then we were talking about how like spending Christmas over there like you meant to drink and and party and socializing that goes on around Christmas time like what how was that be just uh spending it away abroad and uh just training it yeah obviously it was different because I feel like Christmas is actually the one time of the year that I normally switch off like and there's one day of the year that I I guaranteed to go out for drinks with me mates and that's Stevens's day it's the one day of the year that I I a schedule in regardless of you know what's going on I always go out with me m on Stevens day have a few drinks do a few bets or whatever and uh so that was different being away from my family not having Christmas dinner with my family was different but you know I wasn't something that like I didn't it didn't hit me in the heart or it didn't hit me in the fields or like that wasn't something that like I was like Longing To to experience again or something that I really missed out on you know what I mean like it is what it is I have a task at hand I have a goal set I have a purpose and you know I've I've never had to you know be in a fight Camp over the Christmas so I was doing you know I'm fighting I'm fighting since I'm seven day I've never had to do it or discipline myself over the Christmas period once so i' I've got this far I think I was J to kick up the hall and and you know Force to do H the night shift we'll call it in MMA you know what I mean okay and Nate also you posted on your Instagram recently saying you are that guy can you tell us what that feels like and what EX exctly what you mean by that yeah at the minute I just feel like I am that guy I feel like I'm the guy who's getting in you know fighting Lads getting pull outs getting L missing way staring everyone down the the end of me barrel and still firing J I mean and and and I'm taking heads off or or you know choking L out like I'm doing I'm doing exactly what's needed of me I'm preparing to the best of my ability regardless of who steps in with me on the night if they miss way or if they pull out or whoever like I'm I'm there to fight I'm there to fight whoever's in front of me I show up every single time I perform every single time I've been in highly stressful you know like main card Main Event you know what I mean sold out crows a lot you know what I mean M Square card and like you know you know positions where people might crumble mentally like oh I'm taking all in I'm destroyed and still and still you know coming out with me with me smelling a Rouses so like I'm I feel like I'm really that go now you know what I mean and you know I'm F by F opponent by opponent I'm starting to make such an name for myself and you know there's only matter of time before I'm challenging for titles and you know if I keep winning the way I'm winning hopefully by the end of this year early next year I can be you know in somewhat of a contention for a title of some sort whether that be on the champion series thing or that be me getting a shot with the pfl in the million dollar season whatever out they want to send me I'll be ready for it and you know like I said I'm going to be that guy and I'm going to make sure I get that win absolutely epic isn't it Ross yeah absolutely and and to be honest I think um from day one we've said you know ever since You' signed for the pfl you've sort of been one of their guys you know your main event to Dublin you you've got a main card spot on on a a card in Dubai this is the first time a major promotion has come to the buy put on an event they've given you this spot uh as you said there I suppose the the bit of breaking news from that this show is probably going to be magad Sher p is actually out of the card and now you're actually going to fight aked magov H the only difference between these two names is there there was a sharp in the middle of the other person's name and now there's no sharp anymore and uh maybe after seeing some of those sharp elbows that you've been hitting recently that uh magamed sharov uh won the way out and didn't didn't fancy a bit of you know Nathan Kelly especially dra in that 11 fight win streak yeah you know it was definitely it would have been a big jump up it's a big jump up in opponent for me as well I don't get me wrong but it's definitely going to be a big jump up in opponent for him as well like you know what I mean fighting lad he was on a big big winning streak finishing Lads not just grinding out decision not just you know hanging on for their life this is someone who's finishing Lads and and and you know being ruthless and being being force to be reckon with and you know that that that can be that can be a lot for someone to take on it they've had lads who you know they've they fought who they were they knew they better than and you know even kazan's last fight that against that American go I think he should have been finishing him you I mean like he he won impressively yeah dominate them over three rounds but you know if you're going to dominate someone over three rounds you have to be finishing them in my mind that's just my standards that's what the standards I have for myself as a fighter and what I want to do with myself and what I want to achieve and how I want to achieve it but uh yeah look he people come and go he got injured um Alle so you know that's all I uh that's all I have to go off and uh have a new opponent Now new replacement another rushian and I'm just going to go in and do the same thing win and dominate this fell you know he's coming to you know step in and try take an opportunity away from me trying to take paycheck happy paycheck away from me and you know there's there's a there's a you know a bigger picture here for me I'm headed towards greatness and no matter who steps in front of me I'm going forward with complete domination in me mind like I will die in there so I hope he's ready to to to to feel that that heat on the night on I me absolutely and look you're 4 and0 in the pfl you know I mean you probably have won the best record of all pfl fighters and you know come um what was it January 25th yeah H you you'll you'll move to five now and look you four them be finishes you know I mean like every 11 F Wing streak I think 10 finishes in the first round as well like you you are like steamrolling most of this competition at the moment do you just feel like you you have that aura about yourself at the moment do you feel like you know you're just so confident in your own skill set at the moment yeah you know I think I am like think I I know I am I'm very confident in myself but it's all like I feel like I have every right to be because I [ __ ] work me B to every single day for the last four or five years since since I made me come back to MMA I've dedicated my life to this like I've never dedicated my life to else before in my life so the confidence I'm feeling the this hor that I'm showing it's all it's all Vindicated by me walk right and me work me effort that I'm putting in like if I was if I was half assing it and I was getting these decisions and these wins and whatever and I knew I was just [ __ ] bluffing this like I'd be like I probably wouldn't be as confident J me because I'm like oh like what but I am walking no matter which oppent I have I'm working as if this is a World title fight you know what I mean that's always my mentality every fight is a world title fight and that's why I prepared and that's my mentality and you know I have to always fight as if I'm the best fighter in the world and whoever is in front of me has been fed to me and that's my mentality you know what I mean I have to go in dominate them show that I'm the force to be reckon with not taking back step not back down and uh ultimately hunt for the finishes and I think when you when you are that type of fighter you get a lot of respect and I think a lot of fans love that type of fighting there someone who was all out to try and finish of fight and and uh yeah just to be just to be so so ruthless and dominant 100% man 100% ruthless is it very ruthless man but like that the fans do love that like I mean like I know there's a lot of talk about the The dagestani Lads but like when I was watching the pfl end the season tournament I think a lot of them W and it like like it wasn't that entertaining as a fo fan whereas like look at yourself the way you go go out and finish people like that's what the fans want um I saw kabib mentioned as well that the only Fighters AR have is Connor and Paul Hughes like surely you must be like no you have to put n Kelly's name in there no oh obviously I am but he obviously doesn't have a BRI as who I am I mean so I'm not gonna [ __ ] cry too much about what kabib thinks about about me you know what I mean but uh one thing he definitely did do was uh like a little fire under the bell and I seen like I'm going to I'm going to [ __ ] come out and I'm going to show that like you write me off big mistake big big mistake you know what I mean I only need one I don't even need motivation to do this I'm not already do in but someone likes that for under me you know what I mean just watch and see that's my mentality towards and getting the fight of dagistan getting the fight of Russian L it's it's the perfect way to show you know what I mean you you you have that you have that mindset or that approach way of thinking towards those Fighters watch wait and see wait and see do you feel like come F week things there's going to be a very US versus them mentality that that's formed and you feel like there's going to be a bit more animosity in this fight week and it's going to be a different vibe than most other fight weeks you feel like there'll be more of a collective this fight week feel as opposed to you know normally you probably go in and do your fight week and it's just all about you do you feel like there's a bit of uh you know we're we're actually going to war here type of thing like I suppose that since Conor and bab fought there kind of just been that natural feeling towards the orig and the Russians anyway like I remember the lads telling me at the IMs when they went to fight in one of the O you know there was armed armed armed support like keeping the ORS and the Russian team away from each other like so you know goes back goes back to even then you know what I mean like that that's there there's a real there is a real rivalry here um since that you know what I mean it's just everyone knows it is unspoken of you don't even need to speak of it you just just feel it but on fight week to be honest the they might the Russians might be like trying to BU have that bully mentality that's the way they are D I mean the Russians just have that bodyy mentality couldn't give a rat about them fight week anyway especially I'm just there to chill I'm there to relax and make weight and stuff like that like you will not Royal me up on fight week I just choose not to be royals you know what I mean I'm too uh I'm too focused on on on H being relaxed before the fight you know what I mean they might try to stick out that chest and wherever like they can swivel on it because I'm not giving them any energy you know what I mean I'm not fighting I'm not playing the game that maybe they want to play you know what I mean I'm there I'll play the game on the night when I make way when I eat my food when I'm fully hydrated then I'll play the game then I'll stick out my chest and then I'll show he was a he was going to be the [ __ ] the one H the one losing you know what I mean it's the Dagan he's going to be losing to a on T night and one thing is for certain that no matter who they put in front of him me whether it's a Pakistani or Brazilian whoever you know what I mean un coming there to to ultimately win in the most vicious way possible you know what I mean um you know this lad here he's he's uh he's lost he's he's has a [ __ ] in his armor and I think he's he's coming off a two-year layoff and you know I've been you know in that two years I've really had like five or six fights it's going to be like me six fights back since he's last ra so you know I am I am not only have't been trying fly out in the gym I've getting their rounds in in the fights and like you know I'm saying rounds [ __ ] winning the first round probably not probably not a whole lot of rounds but H when you had the when you had the F together you're getting the rounds in yeah when I had the F together I'm getting the rounds you know what I mean but H like I'm getting that in experience I'm getting that that them nerves them feels them the whole I'm going through the motions I've went through the motions five or six times and since he last fall so he has a big c to jum on there all this or versus dagistan which if he loses he's Dishonored you know what I mean like and he's fighting me you know what I mean a [ __ ] animal yeah absolute animal and and they tell us this obviously uh you would have watched Bren lock name versus uh tiev I think is how you say it uh tell us you know obviously Paul U says he wants to win the belt and go into the tournament next year the million dollar tournament is that something that you're hoping is that something that you're going to call your shot if if you get uh pick up another win here that you want to be in that million dollar tournament next year yeah I'd like to be in it if not if not this year coming maybe next year um i' love honestly boys I know he's I know it's not it's probably not going to happen or whatever but I [ __ ] love to have a rattle off pit before if he does if he does end up leaving the company or whatever like I would that's a fight I would [ __ ] love to have I would love to beat this lad and maybe five people i' would be be brazing up to call for like he's small he's smaller to me yeah he's big and stocky it's a good style it's a good match up he's off for the dust up you know I mean like and he's powerful he's experience and you beat him you're you're beating the MMA Legend you know I mean and yeah that's a fight I want that's an exciting fight for me you know what I mean Kazan pulled out you know what I mean if I beat this I feel like I'm jumping past Kazan just based off activity what I mean so I I want to I want to [ __ ] I want to cement your name in leg in the legacy of MMA on four people I just think that would be a class class for if it is his last for or whatever is gone on with his contract I'd love to be the one that has that one last rattle off him in for the B you know what I mean and uh yeah we'll see what happens obviously there's probably people that are lining know him up with Force before then but um that's one fight I'd love to call for 100% especially before before like he you know either jump ship or whatever pit is one that I'd love to happen yeah well like there nothing's out of the realm of possibility especially uh pfl arra afraid to push it and we saw you know um Paul Hugh went from Bobby King to AJ mcke so what's the stop of you going from U magedov to to pitpull you know what I mean like why not uh I think just get the W uh on John 25th and call your shot why not you have nothing to lose 100% uh like you don't actually don't get and you know just see to put the idea into the head that I'm mad enough to to to call him out and try for it is uh will probably do me you know really good Justice and show them that I'm game and I'm willing to step up to this much more experienced person for his for his belt and snatch it up them yeah but like for the people tuning in now you have to make sure to tune in to watch Ireland versus dagistan also known as Bellator du boy it's on January 25th um obviously Nate's going to be on it Paul Hugh's going to be on it Kenny Moco noan is going to be on it and also John Mitchell's going to be on it uh Nate just before we let get let you get back to tanning um who's going to be in your corner on January 25th I'm gonna have John de as usual they me I come this far with them they're never not going to be in me corner and I'm going to have Aussie who I'm work over here um put been put more since the end of November only F he's in the corner he's seen me every single day him and John communicate uh from Oreland to here and they're talking about me training and you know it's working well and we're all in the loop so uh I'll have the three boys in the corner um yeah Dream Team we'll be we'll be a force to be reckon with aie is like the uh the uh the counter boy he's a Russian lad trying to Fighters for the for the for the for the order versus Russian card's counter surveillance against his against his Russian King folk you know so uh yeah A's aie is a great lad he's really pushing us really well and you know he has our best interests at heart and he's really making us work really really hard open our wrestling game really open the the the you know the GRE the the work he's really instilling in us how how much how honest labor wrestling is you know what I mean and as he said to me just after training tonight he just said you know with your wrestling this guy this guy is gonna Panic you know what I mean this guy is really gonna panic and he's like your your wrestling defense is so good and you know you're he's like you put you take him down then he he won't know what to do you know what I mean and I'm I'm I'm a Grappler at hard boys you know what I mean I just have power in the hands like not not one bit afraid to grapp with any of the Russians like you I mean yeah strong je heads this that and the other but you know I I'm I think my my my grappling level is really really high and put me in on the night when it means most I I bring it up another level even 10 fold you I mean um there's no freezing there's no there's no Panic there's no nothing know me on the night on the night I'm I'm going at you and and he's just another l in my way and I think you know I'll stop a few takedowns and then enter in take him down himself he he'll [ __ ] his jcks and he won't know what to do he'll feel lost and that's when that's when that's when I I'll shine 100% And that's seems to be the the tell them out to me me career Lads go plan a it doesn't work and then I I I just steam then you know what I mean and um it's going to be no different on the night January 25th I'm gonna I'm gon to bust this lad up 100% but for this I think I think it's going to be unreal like I feel like this Ireland versus Russia thing has just like really made the card so much more interesting and like I'm also like really interested in each person's fight individually as well I think uh as you say Nathan like you've been absolutely smashing up everyone everyone who's been put in front of you H obviously p is fighting for World H uh looking to see uh John Boy boun bounce back uh from from uh the sort of European series that he was on last year and then also I feel like it's been a very long time since we've seen Kenny and Malana back in the cage so I think uh he's always exciting and uh I he's coming off the first loss of his pro career as well so let's see how Kenny bounc back from that with that being said uh obviously when Kenny and Paul do come out to you have if you have you spoken to them uh about like training the same facility that you're training in or anything or yeah Paul reached out to us reach out John reached out to myself uh you know just sent them on while were training and yeah just just said about how we're looking looking forward to getting some work game with each other yeah and you know it is or versus push at him more than getting together you know I don't know if Kenny's coming out a little bit earlier or not but um if he isn't he'll be see him on fight week and and that'll be that anyway but I know Paul's coming out earlier so it' be nice to have me John and Paul trying together for the last few weeks to uh to really cement that Irish [ __ ] team spirit in us and and and you know T of the vision going ahead like at the minute I know Paul is on it te he's very very sharp and John I train with John every day John's a [ __ ] John's a beast like boys you don't even understand John is a beast he really really is he's he has a different he's built different mentally you know what I mean he really has such a high work right he's a dog and he's going to go out and smash this fell no if s what's about and if he doesn't he's he's getting stick he's getting stick you know what I mean if he doesn't smash this lad he's getting sick but cuz he's just on fire and training and it's great to it's great to train with Lads like that we all pushing each other and yeah it's going to be it's going to be a nice way to close out the the the training before the the way cting the fight of the week they don't come the course core course box for nothing baso yeah okay I get that right otherwise it' be in trouble yeah get that right lad uh Nate um is there anything else you want to say to the people before they tune into you Bellator Dubai on the 25th of January board um yeah just as always thanks everyone for your support on L um especially I'm abroad at the minute so I'm getting a lot of you know a bit more online attention for this fight because of the card that it is I've gotten a lot of nice comments nice messages from people wish should me well and you know people you know wishing success upon me and um it's really you know it's really humbling it's really great to feel that you have actually I hate saying fans because I just I prefer to call them supporters but H yeah the fans have been the fans have been spot on for this always supporting me and and keeping me uh keeping me uh me ego a little bit uh raised a little bit you know what I mean making me feel like I am a bit of a some gentlemen um but yeah ultimately just thanks to me team me coaches H for that work I need me sponsors chalk training ground here they've looked after me with me training me nutrition me recovery um my other sponsors fit meals AE who have been supplying me meal prep and armi meals for the whole Camp I me weight's coming down steadily I still have energy and they're really really tasty as well so make sure to check them out if you haven't then you're in the boy um and yeah just thanks again to to yourselves Lads giving me another chance to get me an name out on a platform get some exposure out there build the hype and um yeah just I'm I'm just really grateful for everything that's that's you know going on in me life at the minute I'm uh I'm really really really ched with how everything is going I'm at a great spot in my life I'm in a great head space I'm driven I'm hungry I know what I want I know what I want to achieve and I know we're a aing so it's just a matter of time before they get there you know sh look you're you're a fan favorite of the endroid show like we said at the top of the show two time winner of ener male fighter of the year you know the fight and PR in the north side Nathan Kelly thanks so much for joining us really appreciate it you're the man it was all proud come January 25th and chalk went up on the board for team Ireland see the way I got the talk in there you better believe it baby thanks boys yeah and no doubt about I'm coming I'm getting a win for Ireland on the night is I will I will have to cro it in there to let a Russian beat me on that night but all the hype that's have to been put into it you know what I mean the only way I'm going to lose if I literally die you know what I mean I am not losing this fight 100% we have don't I best I TR we let you go on with the rest of your day board and catch up a bit more that Sunan Yeah by day energize show by night so Ross that was Nathan Kelly yeah do Dean bit of breaking news as well new opponent uh look I feel like it doesn't actually matter that guy new opponent doesn't matter I think he's so in he he's ready to rock I don't actually think like we've had him on numerous times but I don't think I've seen him as D in as that no I think he's in killer mode really evely uh he really is he's like what he's 10 finishes out of his last 11 fights all in the first round like that man is not a man to be mess with but I feel like he's over in the boy he's a climatized h over there he knows where he's fighting uh he seems to have a great little uh Camp there with John Mitchell s Ki Pauli all guys in around that that sort of 145 155 weight class and then know Aussie as he calls him the the Russian boy uh and with that with his intense grappling background you know what I mean like especially on the wrestling side of things uh that's definitely going to help and just increase the confidence knowing that is wrestling is up to up to scratch against the dagani is definitely going to fill him with confidence because I think that's always the thing about going against the Dagan that you're like oh what we're wrestling type thing is it up scratch with theirs but also he's Brazilian jitu black belt and he's a high level one at that as well so yeah Nathan Kelly's a killer and he's in there to hunt yeah I think yeah I think the changes scenery over there has like almost revitalized them I think absolutely and I also like to see that like Paul's already been in touch he's going to come over and join like their base camp type thing and you know get training and work in there so like it's cool to see that 3D is the team mentality yeah like uh I'm abely hyped for that card now as well like looking at it I think it's good I think what the way pfl are putting Paul Hughes against n magov like the way they're promoting it I think like like obviously there's a big interest but now the way we're speaking with Nathan there like we're going to have some more of the lads on in the buildup to the event like I'm already buzzing it's unfortunate three weeks right what are we going to do for three weeks man we're going to talk about it every week for three weeks every week but I actually think I'm as excited for this card as I have been for some of the bellor open cards I think there's just a different balls about this card yeah they're putting a lot of marketing into it as well so uh look it's coming soon so three weeks away it's Saturday the 25th and uh we're definitely yeah yeah because like it's a new year new us for us H if you new to the show make sure to like And subscribe and if you're from Cork H just leave a comment letting us know what part of cork you're from r of cor do we really not like um I'm going to say mid toown okay perfect um before we get into this weekend's action because the UFC is back um just over the Christmas time myself and Ross we did the anergized end end of year 2024 MMA Awards now these were sort of went off the rails um we did a what way you wanted to discuss these Ross because what award GF the awards in front you yeah yeah we might as well start with the first one who won it and then we'll we'll give you our opinion on the award uh on like cuz that was the thing a lot of people were like can't believe that person won or you know why didn't this person win is like all we did was pick the nominees and then the people chose the winner and then some people were like thanks so much Lads for the award and like we just nominated you like the people voted for you like thank thank the people who voted for you not us you know I mean exactly how many how many years have we done it now just like I think I think that's the third I think it's actually the fourth all I think it's third I think no I think it's the third one in like this format where like the people vote okay well then we started off with the male for of the year we did the nominees there was there was actually how many people I think eight nominated yeah eight nominated excuse me Paul Hughes was the yeah Paul Hughes is the winner uh will flurry was was nominated as well who went on and won the Octagon light heavyweight title yeah I think will flurry might have got a bigger allocation of the votes if we voted after he won the title it was just the time you won the title was after the award so like it just is what it is but uh sh to will lurry that performance was absolutely Sensational wasn't it was yeah what a fight yeah Nathan K Nathan Kelly was nominated as well Andreas binder he actually went voal around gallway for people voting for that as well which goes to show how many like how these awards are not to be taken lightly because people really want to win these uh James Webb from Team KF as well world champion James Sheen from Team Royo world champion H Richie small as well and Ian Machado Gary so it actually went to a final between Paul Hughes and Ian Gary and Paul Hughes won a Ross would you like who would you have given it to if you got a choice I I think paules had the biggest win yeah of the year against AJ mcke uh I think he I think 2024 was just his year I think the way he saw him with the pfl the way they've backed him the way he had that Spotlight show in Dublin the way you know he had that sort of back and forth with like Connor watching them and all that sort of thing in terms of M the MMA world and the MMA bubble that we live in in Ireland no one had a better year than Paul us I don't think yeah shout out to Paul then Gary would have been close now if if he got that over the lining in ch now oh definitely but like that didn't happen it would have been yeah would have been very close but like Paul would have have way more people that was support him here I think then Ian so I think Paul I think Paul won it and he won it righty so because yeah but like you can say about a lot of Fighters like if a lot of another fighter won another fight yeah but no like yeah but not a lot of other Fighters get to the position G got that was that was fairy impressive yeah even where Ian lost he still technically like he won a lot of people yeah stock went up yeah stock went up anyway yeah uh then we did H the Pro Prospect forwarder of the Year there were eight nominees as well so there was a Patty mcari from Fai Kieran Clark from SVG Max L from SVG Charlestown uh uh Arman Shaban from Team KF who also won the UAE Warriors World title uh Dom norcas from Team KF Solomon Simon from Team Rhino derck key from SG arold and Matthew Elliott from Fai and it went to a final two between Solomon Simon and omran Shaban and the winner was omran Shaban Ross for the Pro Prospect forward of the year what are your thoughts on that yeah I think uh look this this one was stacked with Tal I felt like this one could really have gone either way um for me sort of the top three who probably weren't in that like fighter of the Year Contender but like were in this I think wor for me Solomon San Aran chaban and probably Patty McCurry H I felt like those three in particular had phenomenal years I feel like the light here Max L and stuff like that will be like a massive like he'll probably be the person to beat for this award this this year in 2025 um but look Solan Simon H getting the finishes the buzzer beater finishes for me was outrageously impressive uh om man Chan obviously won the UAE Warriors title and then he also went on and uh w a fighting tough I think against was it the number one seed that he beat at the time yeah so like really really impressive and then like P mcari as well got a win on T as well and then I had that Sensational knockout on cage Warriors as well so uh look they were the three that sort of stood out for me uh feel free to join me in there Mo if anyone else re you no I'd agree I thought that I think it was just the way the Solomon Simon had won his fights yeah I was just like oh like he's definitely a worthy winner I know I know like like all the lads like obviously you can pick whoever but uh I I think he really stood out for me but uh look the people voted and Aran Shaban was the winner and like in fairness he did win a world title so I mean like like that he's a worthy winner uh then we did the male amateur fighter of the year so there was four for this uh Ross well don't read them all out now no because one one of the post is actually missing so uh don't worry I won't but uh the winner it went down it actually went down to a final four of Jamie mcaker um all mass Oliver Damen mcgu and Michael Shields and the winner then was fa yeah he went three three in one in 2024 a war fedway Champion cage conf fedway champion and aveng only loss of the year uh the amount of people that vote on this man that was this is the most voted section of the mall I think this in the gym of the year uh surprise surprise but uh yeah for me like when I was looking at there was two people who really stood out to me this year one of them was in the final and the other one wasn't um and that's not to take away from anyone else who got a load of votes I thought in terms of actual performances and dominance I thought Alex K was absolute Sensational from SBG a uh I think he was four or five wins this year all in the first round and like a lot of them were in the first 60 seconds of the fight that man is an absolute Phenom and definitely want to be watched and then uh Damen mcgan as well H he's had some some some Sensational wins he'll be turned Pro in 2025 um unbelievable stuff but not not to take anything away from Michael shears uh he WN I think he went three and one but with within that three and one he actually Avenged a loss that he had at the start the year later on in the year so he actually got to right or wrong in the meantime and picked up two belts along the way so so some unbelievable Talent there as no i' agree like I mean it's good like covering the sport in Ireland it's great to see that there is more and more talent coming through that's why kabib is wrong Ross isn't he khabib is definitely wrong there's a lot of talent in Ireland Ireland does very few things uh poorly to be honest I feel like you know we're in the actom space we punch above our way in the singing songw writing we point above our weight in fighting we we punch above our weight in rugby we punch above our weight you know I mean for such a small country uh we Elite at many things especially G especially G and her then H the turn pro forter of the year as well what the winner was Conor McCarthy um the hot sepper yeah I don't know did was there only a choice of four in that no there's a few there was a few in that uh but I'll hold my hands up I think I got some of the dates wrong on some of the times when people turn pro on that so uh it was what it was but uh Conor McCarthy SPG nice got the cage Warriors debut H that was Sensational but also uh for me massive shout out to to Brian Manning as well uh I feel like in terms of entertainment value you didn't get much more entertainment value than anyone uh than Brian man for that one basell uh I don't know what way Instagram's have to do in this but like the post of Connor was like before all the nominees um yeah so there was I think it was 4 8 12 16 fers yeah a lot a lot of people turn pro this year so it'll be very interesting to see how many people turn pro in 20125 and uh will be keeping track better this year for the 2025 Awards with few turn PR um what way their records went yeah we look at the talent here like tan L Ram was in the final of that Georg grov was in the final of that Conor McCarthy was in the final of that and so was Kieran Brady yeah all incredible this year uh especially Georgie gr off I think he had three wins three finish this year since turnament Pro uh that was Sensational T lock around the stallion uh great year all great years again baso just goes to show how much promise is in Irish M May going forward I know and then um for the women's female Prof of the year was shaa Bannon she was up against Danny McCormack and valentinus Cy both from SVG Ireland and EM Darcy as well and Dary excuse me but so look e Dary uh she had a fantastic year in cage Warriors I would be surprised if she sort of end up in around five and0 by the end of the year potentially fighting for cage Warriors belt the same way similar to the way KY Freeman fought for uh a cage Warriors belt um the division seems to be building around her and we'll we'll see how things go I think she needs uh well she's already booked for for Dublin against uh she's fighting Sanchez who she was scheduled to fight at the end of last year so we'll see how that one goes and yeah obviously sha AB banon picked up the win uh the first fighter since ashing daily to pick up a win in the UFC first female fighter and winon ashing daily in the UFC also the first coaching student winning combination in UFC who both fought H in the UFC so people know what I'm trying to say there and then also uh shout out to Dan cor who probably had as good a year fighting out like technically outside the UFC as you possibly can without fighting in the UFC okay what the story like are they not going to give her a chance or what like I think they really really have to I think she's remember you asked ear for start maybe you asked Dana he's like consider do Rosco yeah oh I feel like I felt like he plar me now at this stage I know man maybe you should give him a nudge there yeah then a female amateur for of the year the winner was Amy scy like she was up against some very good girls Chloe Crower H Lis Brady yeah I think I think the award when the award when the award was done I think she just picked up uh another win on EFC hadn't she just after the the thing went out so yeah look well deserved obviously I'ma gold medalist like world champion unbelievable stuff but uh also massive shout out to Kyle suan who's uh someone else who we might see gopr in 20 she's lighting things up on the amateur scene she's uh she's someone that uh I'm sure most girls aren't dying to stand across the cage from yeah also if you're if you're looking if you're a fighter and you're looking to try and create content in any sort of way make sure to check out Amy Scully because the way she's doing it is really really good uh she's getting her name out there not only is she winning but like she's uh putting out world class content in my opinion uh 1% every day as one would say uh then Ross the F promotion of the year was given to clam Wars they had four events in 2024 three in Belfast one in Dublin they had four Pro debuts and I can see that one one pro fight on cage Wares one pro fighter moved to cage wies I think it was oh that was Kieran Brady yeah okay um Clan Wars the winner R Us that's two years in a row at least now yeah look they they put on a lot of shows they're great to have um for me like for me after watching uh year uh the last year event I thought the matchmaking on that was absolutely phenomenal H I thought for me like the best booked fight of the year on the Irish local scene was Cory mlin versus Mario Deano I thought like that as a main event uh is the absolute Pinnacle of Irish MMA you can get on a on the regional scene um two top amateurs making their Pro debuts against each other putting it all on the line to me like that's something that would like really get my juices going and I think shout out to them especially in the past like cage conflict have like got criticism for some of the pro match ups they've done saying that they they sort of flown over Italians in to get the W or for their guys to get the D against but that's what people were saying and like that's that's the CR criticism that the PO come under H at the end of the day I think that it's very hard to put on a show in Ireland and H these guys are probably all undervalued for the work that they actually do 100% And the work that goes into it and uh I think also for promotion of the year a massive shout out to EFC even though we hate cork putting on three shows in your debut year is absolutely outrageous what what a show from them but uh again like you know your your chaos your cage legacy's going to come back hopefully in in this year uh your cage gladiators Fus premere Akuma Akuma you know what I mean all these shows are absolutely instrumental in the growth of for MMA and every person who runs them uh the MMA Community should be grateful for them amen then uh the one that really went went uh definitely voral around the orish MMA scene um the MMA gym of the Year R Us it went it went the fin of tree were team rhyo fight Academy Ireland and hoola martial arts and I'm not messing the way team rhyo and hoola martial arts were neck and neck for so long now there was only 24 hours but like it was just non-stop neck and neck it was obious mental wasn't it yeah there I don't think I've ever seen so much overtaking of one thing than another in a gym or in a poll like it was like one was winning the other was win one was winning the other was winning H it was outrageous but uh and Czech hungo yeah exactly that's what it was like uh but look two uh two unbelievable years for both teams maybe I'll start off with Fai obviously you know Paul Hughes was incredible this year H as was H Patty mcari massive wins Dame MC on the amateur scene like they are probably for me the three standouts of the gym this year H obviously Talent tan as well H don't take away from him as well so like massive Talent there uh their thir J mats are always packed um they're you know potentially you know they're definitely the hottest MMA gy I'd say in the country right now they're they're the ones who are uh definitely Making Waves and you know making maybe new career Pathways as well obviously H ree mck in the UFC Paul Hughes is like a superstar in pfl headline and CHS uh outside the country which is something that not many Irish if any Irish Fighters have done the headline show outside of Ireland is H really really impressive for somewh there so uh unbelievable work then if we touch on ham martial arts I think uh obviously we touch on try to band one female fighter of the year so anytime uh you know gyms like that have those people they're they're going to get a lot of votes they're going to be very well priced uh Patty Hulen seems to put his Blood Sweat and Tears into this gym he seems to have also built like a real Community there it seems to be a gym that's really open and welcoming they it seems to be H from what I could see like from having a brief look over the votes I could see that a lot of people from other gyms voted for hula and martial arts which makes me believe like they' probably have quite good open door policy and like the you know great relationship with other jams but also George grev we touched on him earlier uh what a guy Georgie is what an absolute Phenom he is uh I think lfl should really look towards maybe putting him in a a Banton White Title sooner rather than later I felt like he wasn't madebe meant to win his last matchup and I think he did well no I know he did but I feel like he wasn't actually meant to Win It J based on like the fandom Fan Fair and the fanom was uh opponent was getting in the buildup to the fight but uh he went in there and got the job done and got another finish as well so he he's someone he was absolutely phenomenal and then uh Tim Royo obviously uh won it in the end obviously Jam Sheen uh win the cage Warriors World title was probably the the peak of their year but uh obviously you know emerging Prospect um you know uh Soloman King soan was absolutely phenomenal as well uh leis burn probably has like a submission of the Year Contender um that that was very very impressive and then also Jamie abber biss making his Pro debut getting the Finish as well and uh I think I'm missing one here oh and then obviously J Harris as well he went one on one for the year as well but uh the fight he didn't get his hand raised in it was a very close yeah and also team right had a 86% Pro win rate as well yeah that's it doesn't really get much better than that exactly so yeah the gyms did the gyms did phenomenal but like also some gyms that maybe didn't get to the final that did really well um M May cork obviously Bri man was leading the charge there they had a fantastic time um Sam driver at light heavyweight did really really well there for them this year team KF were phenomenal Domin workers Craig gron H Omar tev Oman jaban had all had really really good years for for that gym on the pro scene and team Torres obviously K on Brady going really really well uh for for them uh yeah SBG Ireland obviously uh will lurry H that was obviously probably their peak of the year but uh he also have people like your Kieran Clarks your darck Kelly's Nath Kell your Nathan Kelly Dan M Danny mccor as well unbelievable stuff and I think also one one that uh was there team Roo Waterford um obviously some also F out there but they had Sam pick a few vs and uh and KQ and then SPG nce with uh Conor McCarthy Alex K Max Ali and then Max Ali also out of SPG charl toown H same with Andreas Bender obviously getting the win at lfl uh picking up the welterweight go so like all all those games had absolutely phenomenal years um and like like we said at the start you know orm is really thriving at the moment and it's great that we can name so many gyms and what they've done so well yeah uh that that's something that I'm definitely proud of and all the gym owners in the country should be really really proud of and also I think uh uh Z KJ as well Danny Kors Jim uh both Emma and Jack cor have done really really well this year so shout out to them too that's why it's not easy for us to actually like pick that's why we don't really pick the awards we let the people pick the awards exactly yeah well like the we have the biggest audience in the or may SC so like it's up to the audience to decide and they did so uh come back again next year for the next one if if that's uh well I'm already buzzing for next year as well uh also the last one we gave out just myself and Russ put to put this one together the inspirational for of the year was Ryan Curtis uh just watching him like um return to his feet um over the last few months has been inspirational to the whole MMA scene and um I feel like he's he's like he's I feel like he there's more to see from Ryan and um we I've been in contact with Ryan and we plan on getting him on the show very very soon so yeah abely Ryan will probably be in the show on the show maybe early February I think yeah yeah so I mean like the stay tuned as the kids yeah and if you don't like the show then why you tuning in but um Ross the UFC is back this weekend just before you WRA things up um it's being held in Las Vegas it's been headlined by Las Vegas it's been headlined by mckeny dur versus Amanda Reas for the second time last time out Amanda Reas won in 2019 Ross did didn't know who expecting to win this weekend is it going to be my pick or your pick I think it's going to be your pick cuz I picked comington to win in the last fight didn't I okay yeah oh maybe maybe because I won last year I I should I should maybe let you choose first but look we we can say that but at the moment we both say that here now live on the show but I do think McKenzie dur will avenge this loss I think she's going to get I'm going to pick McKenzie dur to get get the DU here okay okay I I'll I'll go with a Manor Reas because you won last time H just also on the card s Santiago P nio taken on Carlson Harris uh Chris Curtis against Roman copyof not bad that's not bad that's not bad and anything else that's screaming at me no um next weekend you see 311's going down as well Ross uh two tot two total fls are on the card Isam makach has taking on arm rukin for the second time and also morab devashi is facing nurov as well Umar Umar I'm terrible with the first names man I always get Umar and Newan mixed up as that so like Paul's fight Newan Paul's white newsman so I mean we're going to be discussing that next week uh we're gonna have another show out next week first show back of 2020 five Ross what can the people expect from the en show this year expect great content as always uh lots of fun podcast guests and yeah if you guys have any ideas or anything you'd like to see from us please do let us know in the comments below but as for now make sure to like share subscribe and as always stay energized youu by day energize show by night