Craig Coakley & Collie Mahon | Dublin Combat Academy's 2023 Plan | Energized Show

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What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode DCA's Craig Coakley & Collie Mahon join us to discuss DCA's 2023 plan, The Irish combat scene & The countdown to The Road to One Final. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the notification bell for more Energized Shows!…

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foreign [Applause] today we have the deadliest striking Duo on Irish soil it is the head coach of the Dublin combat Academy kaliman and the star pupil the one and only Craig Oakley Lads how you doing oh good lads how are you it's really rough that was brilliant rough yeah well Craig made me do a record of four times until I got it right so uh and I wasn't saying no to him so uh I have to be doing hard to be doing Lads he absolutely had an unbelievable year last year you absolutely flew through the air uh Craig I think you went 3-0 uh what was it like to look back at the end of last year and then obviously you're in the final of the road who won um Grand Prix tournament so that's going to be a big one for you to look out for this year yeah it was a great year pretty much [ __ ] what what it is here if you know what I mean or you've been grafting hard or you've had a few bad decisions put against me but we kept it the head down we kept walking and we we knew I was coming Jeremy and so we eventually got to where we belonged absolutely and then Carly obviously you you've been blown this uh trumpet for a long time you've you you're so high on Craig skills and rightfully so now he's finally getting that recognition what does that mean to you as a coach yeah it means a lot definitely yeah but like like you said well you know what you can do when I'm saying it here's what he can do and he knows what he can do and we just have to show everyone else what he can do and he's on that on the path now to to show in the world what he can do so I'm happy unbelievable yeah absolutely we're definitely looking forward to seeing that one because there you know what it was actually one of those things where watch a bit of Muay Thai obviously were probably more in TMA sort of things but like we actually went to a toy show I think it was in the Roy venue and sword so uh um there's some teleports on there and we're just like Jesus like this is a different gravy it is a different level uh what would you say to someone who's never been to a Toy Show Who's maybe considered going to a colleague Madness it's it's what MMA fans want to watch and I love MMA fans want to watch people on the ground or actually you enjoy watching the wrestling exchanges if they're good and their scrambles and so forth a lot of a lot of MMA especially uh casual MMA fans want to watch people standing up and uh that's what my thought is it's the it's like we said what a lot of casual anime fans want to watch is is they just don't know do you think from a visual standpoint even though it doesn't well you'll probably tell me whether it makes mortgage or not but do you think that having them in the cage with the four ounce gloves like that's that's the winning combination yeah it's a yeah I think it's definitely more appealing to look I said uh like casual fully fans and stuff like that but uh when you pull people in the cage and put Firearms clothes on them it's actually not even moito anymore it's uh it's something a little bit different than what you're talking but uh it's it's close to what he told you and uh yeah I think it is a lot more appealing to the real set changes as well a little bit and the way it's George bought it I think it's a lot more appeal until casual fans are people that just want to watch two people have a free yeah and what about yourself Craig what do you think about the four rounds gloves now because obviously you know with the toy boxing you're obviously used the much bigger gloves does that make a a massive difference to your game plan obviously like the circumference of your blocking is totally different yeah her changes are completely yeah so a lot of pure small toy for you and stand in a very Square stance and decline there at that front leg and that guy is very void you know what I mean but wait foreign so kick score a lot better in with Muay toi but it's a scored the same for Global reels which is one Championship world oh and like you get a lot more Knockouts with the smaller gloves on so like hands are equally as effective as kicks in my opinion uh so yeah it's completely changed when it's the looks of one before ounce gloves on yeah absolutely I feel like I feel like that one sort of things has gained a lot of traction on the movie side there's other things but uh it'd be interesting to see how that develops on the future yeah Craig was that like a big issue remember when you fought here in Dublin when your main event it and then like a lot of people said you won and like it just came down to the kicks or the punches like is that sort of change now the way you see the way you've been fighting now in the road to one final so yeah the rules are changed so we're like real Muay is based on effect and so basically or you could hit you with four punches you hit me one kick if we move a little bit with that kicker that kick Charles effect do you score higher than me but before you two four punches and then four points just snap your head back and you'll land the kick another down Forge I'll be ahead so it's it's really it's it's dependent on people you know what I mean it it it's opinion so where it's subjective but the global rule set is anything with effect scores so if we hit you knock your head biker scores if we kick you a million scores so that that's why it's changed in that sense in my opinion it will help the sport grow and you'll see a lot more Finance chilling in the embassy that damn coin the 40s like a lot of people wouldn't really know how to score more to either go to watch a movie foreign you know what I mean yeah there's a lot of varieties in Moi toi but again it's subjective uh oh you think a lonely growled sport because it will get the sport more fans you know what I mean yeah and that's exactly what you want uh one thing we had to we had to try and find out what happened to his own Lazarus how did this how did this beautiful beautiful Duo begin can you tell us how you first started um first time you first met up and also held the colleague just become your coach as well um Kali you can tell us what uh yeah so we're always trying in a gym a different gym and Craig's but I was trying a little bit and Craig started coming down and at the start we would have been more it would have been more of a training part in our relationship as opposed to if we're a coach relationship and uh yeah we've been trying to harness we got a little bit injured and when I going to come back from the injury we were standing around we were going out doing our own thing standing around gym and uh we would have took more of the couch as well where Craig was uh took the photos out he was so much better for it around there who was in the coaching and it's just going to it kind of naturally happened it just it was never planned to happen this way it just it kind of organically just happened like this and since we've gone good like so yeah it seems to be going all right for the people tuning in now Craig is in the final of the road worn yeah on April 15 in London Craig like how have you posting you for that that's good like I think everyone here has counted down to April 15th yeah yeah very excited about uh I just want to go in there getting put a statement on and get me contract gentlemen or we know we belong on one Championship we know we've belonged there for a while but again circumstances didn't allow me to go but one foot away from her now yeah absolutely uh look we have I think I think um I'm not too sure if it was quite the same damn fight but like I know I haven't missed any of your fights since that fight or I remember watching that one and we're like definitely come Mr Coco show and then like ever since I've been hooked like I've just been like I'm like have to watch them after it's it's more CTV it really is and like see see you're not only you know you're you're a sort of coach and foyer role but like your friendship is incredible to see like the Loyalty there is is next level um do you feel like that's what sets you apart from a lot of other foyer coaches that the friendship and that Bond yeah I think you can uh like at the end of the day you all used to pull on We Trust into him and he's put all his trust into me yeah you need a good bond for that German and again it only grows all the time and we've gone over something with Kali kalistic Army and so yeah naturally we became more like buddhistan culture and folk and training part or training partners absolutely do you feel do you feel that as well Kelly is there anything you want that in there 100 uh definitely we think it's uh I think it definitely sets us apart from other people who love training places and the coach would be the coach and he's almost seek above everyone and the way we do it here is on the move nobody um we spend a lot of time together if we don't get on and we're not friends if you spend that much time together it's not going to work you know what I mean but like I said I've been in opening gyms where the coaches are almost above everyone and uh they truly not to wear sorry there's a dog here because they try not to wear get friendships with with people in the gym or you found that when friends like all the lads of a coach and I think it makes us a stronger team they own it and I think it definitely sets us apart from from other gyms where the coach would be in a coaching role and almost try to avoid making friendship with the people that they coach you know do you understand what I'm saying yeah I can get I think it works well for us and anyway and like I said I'm I'm friends with everyone that trains in the gym we spend that much time together we have to be you need to be friends you need to be liquid sad like me you Craig the our car group where we are really looking as they're going to consider Craig and it's still a little bit as Big Brother photos that we spend more time with them than they do with my actual family you know what I mean so yeah I think it definitely our our relationship definitely yeah makes us stronger as a as a team and like that we know each other in solid everyone knows everyone in the gym and I think it definitely helps yeah from the outside looking in I think everyone can see that there's something special going on DCA like obviously we'll get into some of the photos I've been going down to like really sharpen open their elbows that say but like like obviously you're Craig's coach now like how far can you see Craig going and like do you do you think like Craig's near the finished article at the moment so now he's not to finish side we'll definitely not uh Craig's gone all the way 100 uh I've been saying it is we believe that Craig is the best foreign still trying to figure out how to fight in them gloves Craig hasn't figured out he he knows how to find them gloves the soil is a the style that you have to Foy is made for him ladies had a lot of lads are very static and Muay toy and they're trying to bring that static soil over to 49 MMA gloves and you can't do it because yeah you're gonna get hurt if you stand on one spot Craig Mills he's in and out Ranch he's not in Moto as well he kind of a lot Lads three hit really hard with like a single or double shots and you can't do random gloves uh you just you have to pick your shots combinations not over commit into anything and Craig does that really well and like I said it's always really good he he never he's falling in MMA lose he never he never gets seriously hurt I never gets seriously take I can't remember the last time he took a serious serious shot on the fleet that was concerned and you know like on the way uh he has a really really good style for the gloves and we think he's gonna go all the way and I think he's going to be champion in one championship that's what I think let's go Craig I'm sure I'm sure Carly doesn't like say that much to you like that in the gym but like I haven't caught you in your corner going into these battles like I mean like the levels you're going up like everyone's taking notice now everyone's sporting yeah the second he won the world title like the whole place dirty shot down like haven't caught it in your corner like how important is that for you like leading up to this final like the road the two years have been on the whole way true all right he's always been in corner so regardless you know what I mean uh so yeah it's very important to have them do it's very important to have me Buddhist there as well and again before was I look at it you know I mean we basically lived together half our [ __ ] 12 years or whatever our night has been yeah absolutely and like no doctor some other like brilliant people in the club as well like Donald's Hill um Dave McLachlan I'm definitely going to leave something else so like don't shoot me Aaron Brown uh obviously uh sends still on doing bits there uh this is Stefan they're all gonna get to know where Stephan's been in Toyland for four or five years we don't know how long it's been yeah yeah it's a lot of yours probably don't know Steph the airport you'll get to know stiff fairly fast yeah so like we're keeping oil on the gym you know what I mean so uh we see it there and then uh there's Mikey results still open you guys okay so well like I I was eventually going to get one wrong if it kept going somewhere yeah but I know like there's there's loads of guys like like you we say it here like you know we're fairly casual on the mode toy team but like to know that many guys have the one place is there obviously yeah doing a few bits so uh the training Partners there seem too unreal but uh one thing that's like really happened a lot of lately is you're getting a lot of MMA guys up in the gym and how did that first come up uh was there any hesitation about taking MMA fighters on to the gym or were you you're warm welcome to so before scenario was no hesitation taken anyone can come down to our gym and try and it's always been like that we're open to anyone and it doesn't matter who we are once you come in and you respect everyone and you work hard anyone can come down and the healthy started was was probably earlier we are cool dad she's caught us China mcclague and uh so yeah it would have been called that trying not to forced and then and then Elliot Elliot Levy and Sam Slayer Elliot's now coaching himself he's owned a gym in Geneva and Sam is actually out injured them in and put them two Lads are uh I really like damn Ladson I think they sound could do good things in the sport hopefully he gets back soon and it just kind of snowballed from there uh after a while people they tell someone that they're trying to deal with us and someone else has come down and someone else can and it just kept snowballing and more and more people came and some people came and never came back and it's not far everybody call them out they'll call you call the milk well it's not far to everybody I still I Still The Way We Walk is in front of everybody and but you you ask anyone to Stand Here consistently what they think and everyone's going to say the same thing so probably someone who's like a long over two guest but like like he he views the place as if it's uh a church that he goes to every weekend he's singing The Gospel out of DCA he loves it yo uh obviously is someone else who uh who's running about DCA you know look maybe it's tick tock or something else but we love them all the same you know what I mean and then like obviously you have the likes of salmon like Max rally is one of the next big thing Sean a bum like the list sort of goes on on with you guys um is there anyone who you're extremely proud of of where they walked into the gym and where they're striking is I started in MMA or just in general you give one m a and then one on me yeah one of them may wouldn't have had much streaking yeah call out Max laddy Max was done Max is getting dangerous very gorgeous yeah it was actually loads of them to be first it's too hard like shame there's loads and loads of lads and everyone's everyone's always constantly improving so it's harder I thought I was a jits lad before he was with us the skill bike like fork and all the lights full can change the license you can down if like if you can stick it in Paris DCA it seems like a bit of a drug because like some people just get absolutely hooked on and like even have people like uh like Shawn abandon who obviously has like a high-end striking background but like obviously she sees the value in that toy toy style as well as comes into her pro career so it really really is great to see and like it's great to see you at the events as well like in their corner it goes show when you do put the time in work in like you'll give that time back and you'll make sure you're there for them on the day when I when I walk with MMA goes I'm I'm not dealing toy with them like if you watch me try and not so much Craig because he's finding an MMA gloves but if you watch me try and we're like Stefan Crowley or Daniel till uh Miyagi and then watch me try him with like Sean and or Shane Mullen or Max Lali it's it's a completely different team I'm not I'm not really dealing with toy with them and uh I'm the own striking for MMA you know what I mean it's yeah those moito elements too it leaked his elbows and knees and stuff but you can coach somebody you don't it's a different spartic you know what I mean I think that's why a lot of them make it as well because I'm not I'm not trying to teach teach them later I'm I'm turning I'm trying to look to see what they could use from Muay toi and solely adapt and change it to sue sue them and suit their style and like like someone just like Shawna like on on like she's a she's a kickboxing style I'm not gonna be a I'm not gonna be able to change your story because she's doing it that long I don't want to change her stuff but we can add things to her style and and look at everyone I work with it's not like oh this is the way you do it and you have to do it like this it's not like that because everybody's different and everyone has a different style and everyone's personality is the people's stoils or people's personality concern as well so on on getting to know people and walking with them and thinking oh you could do this off this that you always deal with anyway and I think it will work well and I think that's why people like it because I'm not I'm not oh this is how you do this and you have to do it like this now it's everybody's different than like I said I walk where people's style is like I'm not going to change say China she's a she's kickboxing and don't Taekwondo since she's uh since years and years yeah our guys at kickboxing coach you know what I mean so like it would be it'd be nearly impossible to completely change that story but the stuff that like oh you can add I can definitely add value to that store and uh complimental stuff and show her new things and add layers add layers to to what's already there you know like on the way yeah especially to consider when you if you have if you're especially if you start training with someone who's amateur MMA and then they're turning pro when they're adding those knees and elbows like no better place to go than to call him to perfect that craft you know what I mean like it's you're going to what most people perceives to be the best striking coach in in the country like that's that's the way yeah possibly Europe who knows like I mean we tend to only ever talk about Arnold but like the map even even greater than that like it doesn't really get much better than that so like if if all you know if I was an amateur and I was trying to probably I'd definitely be like right well where am I gonna just like quickly well not necessarily quick people where am I going to be able to implement the elbows and knees to the best effect I'm like no better to go than one of the best toy coaches in the world there you go Craig is hitting the world right that's it look at the platform you ladder on now uh before we get into more stuff Colleen like what do you prefer doing your fair coach nor would you prefer actually getting in there and floating yourself uh I'm very culture definitely yeah 100 it looks like it really looks like you'll love this yeah this this is all I do every day uh this is I believe this is what I was you know sounds weird it sounds super cheesy but that's what I was put here to do and I I put everything into it um Ireland 100 everyone I walk with I'm all in with them 100 there's no half in and uh like Craig for instance like we know Craig when he started and I've seen the progression and I'm seeing the ups and the downs and then look where he is now and look what's going to happen now on April 15th and it's a long route and yeah it's very satisfying watching and being there and watching the whole thing happen you know yeah no definitely is and you know what it's one of those things and like you said earlier you know anyone's about smoking your gym and like I've seen it because I spoke to Paul Brown once twice I was like oh what's like in DCA uh apparently I don't know Paul Brown probably is the voice here on every Irish MMA show in the country uh and he was saying like he absolutely loves going up there he loves learn like little intricate details of herself but like when you actually see videos of you holding the pads and it could be for anyone like you're almost as into it if not even more into it than the person who's even thrown the techniques like like I don't know what it is but I said to Paul I was like he holds the parts definitely to someone else I I don't have the skill set or really know what it is he's doing but I can see that he's doing it different to other people if that makes sense and he puts himself at risk when he holds pads people when you hold pads the whole pad's here because on his chin so I'm just slowly arranged most of the time and I'm telling them to aim at me and then oh you can't with the PAD as opposed to hold the pads and you aim at the pad because Luke Craig said it's not realistic because you're going to be aiming at someone's head and my head is on the same line as your head and then yeah I have my own style of I have my own soil pad walking like it's beautiful as I've we've developed it and a lot with Craig because there's been times in the gym gyms go to ups and downs and people fall off and there's been times in the gym where it's just me and Craig and we've learned on the job for years again yeah we're we're developing our own soil and it's uh it's gone good so I have to ask you then who's hit you the hardest but you've been told I'm not say great um it's a few hits hard this man is a strong strong man when he hits me a body shot I swear I can feel my whole skeleton shaking it's it's bizarre I'd say he hits me I'm sorry yeah yeah like it's when I swear he's about 94 kilos big he's a he's a p team himself he's a PP a very long time he's in all the ladies in his 40s but when there's that when this man hits me or he swear to God in my skeleton shakes it's mad but it's very difficult it's weird it's like people here some people here hard just like like he hits just naturally just bump like it's a toad but Craig hits and especially in the MMA gloves like when he hits our body and stuff it it digs in and it's precise it's like a different it's not it is hard but it's it's not powerful it's different than just your power it's like precision and in the response and stuff and that horse nearly just as much as someone that hurt that hits really hard you know what I mean I think Conor McGregor was the one who said uh Precision Precision beats power so uh Craig builds the legs Army every day as well [Applause] uh no shout out to Big Dave uh Lads like obviously we were saying like we're bigger motor is what you're doing that's why we have to catch is on like um I don't think I've seen Carly do a such a personal podcast as well with Craig so we just talked for the people tuned in they would really enjoy having the boaters on yeah it's just no the two is known as a Geo so it's great to get you Zone together and as I said Craig is back in action in the final on April 15th in London but like for 2023 Lads like what else can we look forward to from yourselves and DCA um Craig do you want to let us know first from yourself you could see me probably the end of the year and won Championship uh by the time the team um so Dave McLaughlin's point and next weekend he has a big four big domestic for you against their what someone's name is good as well uh We've recorded all our Lads on that we've been an Algerian lad Ralph uh that'll be his Force for you but I didn't get much did you he's gonna be one to watch uh he's I think 14 now 14 or 14 boy he was something special that kid is and Craig I'll take his phone died your biggest your biggest fear what are you looking forward to 2020 drinks so 2023 is going to definitely going to be a big year for the gym uh Luke Craig was saying Craig's on the foot in the fifth end he's going to win that for you I think he's going to stop Knight and bend them and to be honest I think the forcefully in the final was the hardest it was the hardest for you of the final of the tournament the forcefully in the tournament I think was the hardest they they're going far forced actually carry out my invent them a few years back now but man has got a lot better since then but uh oh it sounds great yeah 100 I think so holistically name is all wrong for Craig uh or Craig's other one I think Craig is going to knock a mill uh signed the one championship and then started walking his way hopefully have one two three to one championship in 2023 he started walking his way towards the title there and he will be championing one Championship whatever they'll know though for the rest of the team I think Santa Claus is going to have a busy year for an MMA he's gonna he plans to rack up as many amateur MMA fights as you can keep getting experience you've seen yourself you only debut what they think again September September I think or October last year and he's already a foreign uh he's active very very active I think he had a for each last year and he's gone really good he's making big improvements and he's starting to take steps up all the time losing trying to name a few after time he had Maxell he's going to have a big year 100 he's over in Thailand let them in the train and he's had a really good cool gym in Toyland there Bank Hill it's more of an MMA gym he's back here in February Alex falconowski whoever he is he was training there and he goes around that gym the Hickman Brothers yeah it's a really good lads as well uh I think Max has matched the fight in March I think so he's gonna have a busy year he plans to Target the Maxi Trends to have a busy year this year uh seven is really really good more of a traditional monetary stuff he's trying to do big big things this year as well he's right on the edge of nearly where Craig is and you feel more for you to be uh he'd be knocking on that one door as well Luke Craigs had won that toy Gunn and he's only a kid he actually trains them really know as well or MMA that kid is going to be really really what he's going to be special 100 he's only 14 years of age and uh he's already he's he's we've weeped out everybody his age on the Mojito he's in Ireland and the UK and he's he's fighting MMA as well so whatever he does he's gonna do good as well yeah absolutely it's going to be a big year for the gym and there's a lot happening and Luke said there's Lads from all different MMA MMA gyms that come down the train with some everyone's going to have a big year everyone's going to keep getting better at a train here that's an awesome quarantine because if you're not getting better every day you're training you're doing something wrong I I think that's it and I think that's that's probably the the biggest credit that you get in terms of the respect that you have the MMA Community you know I mean you have people come from gyms all over the all over well all over Dublin and then sort of the surrounding areas they love to come to it there love to pick your brain and get that knowledge and then obviously for some of the more toys side of things like you know I mean Craig's the most successful fighter in the country at the moment but I'm like it looks like he's only going further and further and you have some other great cause like you said there so like unbelievable stuff really appreciate your time today yeah unbelievable uh we look forward to following you um for the rest of the year and who knows maybe we'll get yourself and Craig back on before Craig's fight in April uh for legging it like yeah one more lad that's going to do big things this year just start talking ahead he doesn't train me anymore but he would have trained with me from the early days when when MMA lands start coming down it's John I'll win the boy uh he's gonna he's almost been here yeah UFC Brazil he's going to be for him for pfl now this year and yeah he's going to do big things there as well 100 I have no deal and I can't wait to I'll be going to Affiliated on the in the pfl they're all in Europe so I'll be going to them and I look forward to Lincoln Michael John and dealing a bit with him and maybe shout out to Shamrock as well he's going to be doing big things as well look that we're still getting walked with Sham anytime we go to the UK and he plans on coming back here doing a bit of work and to the UK as well we came back for Christmas he still comes down it's like that's that aren't in this country anymore that have trained here anytime they're back they they all come back down here um for those of you who are watching home make sure to like share subscribe hit the Bell notification to not miss any energies content and as always stay energized [Applause] a couple of times I've seen a couple of Clips on so keep going keep up the good workers