Max Lally | Cage Warriors 188 Dublin, Alex Volkanovski Camp, & Irish MMA | The Energized Show

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What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode Max Lally joins us to discuss Alex Volkanovski's Champ Camp, Cage Warriors 188 Dublin & Irish MMA. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the notification bell for more Energized Shows! Youtube : Energized Show Instagram…

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Diana Joy show up the orish time. Okay. What's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of Energize brought to you by Orings Competitions. Ross, are you intoxicated or something? Introduce the guest man. Today we have the one and only undefeated phenom fresh back from the land of the Oz. It's the one and only Maximus Max Lai. Max, how are you? How was Australia? Oh, it was great boys. H happy to be home and happy to be on with the Energized Boys as always. Get up. Get up is right. Tell us how did how did it go training with the new featherweight champion of the world Alexander Valinoski the great. How did that come about? Oh it it kind of it kind of came um out a little bit out of nowhere to be honest lads. Um obviously I had had a little move around with him for his uh first fight with Islam the first time I was over in Thailand but I suppose kind of in the uh right place at the right time kind of got asked by uh the lads out of Bangtau the coaches out of Bangta uh Frank Alex um all the lads just um kind of got invited in to help him do a cardio session and then the cardio sessions turned into sparring sessions and we kind of kind of got training in with him for I think it was a good 10 to 14 days uh kind of in and around that area. Um and then what we did was he kind of he left and then I kind of just got a message off the wrestling coach Frank saying would I be interested in helping him h finish up camp back in Windang in Australia. I jumped on the opportunity and that's how that's how I ended up getting over. Yeah. And obviously like we've seen some of the footage being put out by by Vulcanoski and his team and like it looks class like the edits are brilliant on it. H so when you were I think it was at the stage you're in Thailand as well. Alain Sterling was there as well. Did you get a roll around with him as well? Yes, I got I got a little bit of moving around with him h with Aljo nice guy. Um but it was it was really cool like you know just to be around that environment. You had uh Zang Wayi there too. Um she was getting ready for a fight against um Tatiana Suarez. So like it's it's a mad one like you kind of just you know you just get lucky I suppose where you are but I think in the space of three months I managed to be looking and then training with a lot of UFC fighters and a few UFC champions you know and you don't get that opportunity too often. So you know just try try to be as much of a sponge as possible soak in all the knowledge from them guys. They obviously have a lot wealth of experience and just trying to you know getting to train with them is a privilege but also getting to learn from them that's that's the biggest privilege you can get you know. Yeah absolutely like some world class fighters there and we saw Jack Dame Medalena was also over there he's fighting for the welterweight strap soon against Bal as well. So like it's incredible to see h yourself over there even like you know from the snippets that we saw you know what I mean like you you on Vulk's back you know what I mean trying to trying to lock in that rear naked ch I'll just put that out there I'll put that out there that was during that was during a cardio session boys it was not easy to get to that cunt's back you know not easy to get to his back was that was that a positional was it yeah that was positional that was positional just put that out there so you're not saying you're not saying you are you are UFC featherweight champion now. No. Ah, not a chance, boys. Far from it. Far from it. No. Nice shot for you to get, you know, they could have showed a different part of the video, but that's the video we saw. H. No, but incredible to see. I I suppose um, you know, you speak to a lot of coaches across the world and they say like, you know, there's no magic place or there's no magic formula. You know what I mean? A lot of the top coaches will show a lot of the same techniques. Obviously, there's maybe different aspects, but one thing I am interested in is what's the work rate like from someone like Falconski, who obviously has a gas tank for days, and obviously he's like the champion of the world, you know, second time champion. I mean, he's 36. He's broken that like sort of you can't win a world title under 170 pounds, over 35. He's gone and done it now. Like, what's what's it like seeing his work ethic? his work is work ethic is like especially for where he is in his career is admirable and it's there it's it's it's no longer um he strikes me as a guy that obviously everyone is motivated by money but but that camp it's it's not it didn't seem to be about that the only thing he spoke about and the only thing he cared about the entirety of that camp was getting that belt back to Australia and also you know like to see his his mindset and you know how hard he works And then also being able to work as hard as him and be alongside him, you know what I mean? While he's putting in that work was was really it was a huge um learning curve for myself. You know, obviously it was um you get to just kind of compare it to what you do back home and it's it's it was really it was really eye opening. You know, he's that freestyle gym, you know, in Windang in Australia. They have a great stable of fighters as well. So, it wasn't just it wasn't I wasn't just getting hard rounds off. I was getting hard rounds off all of them. Majority of them are featherweights and bantamweights as well. Like so it was it was a really it was a really you know great experience but just you know being getting to be around Vog as well like you like I I can't even put into words how much of a of a sound lad he is as well like he in my time over there he he kind of he felt like more of a maybe like like a friend than like a I don't know like a big star and that's how he he he puts himself across you know he really looked after me and the lad super well in regards to he sorted accommodation flights h looked after food, everything like that. Made sure we were well looked after and in return we just tried to give him the the best training and best looks for Lopez possible, you know. So, it was it was it was great to be over there and uh it was a huge huge uh it was a great experience for myself just to be part of a winning kind of UFC championship title kind of camp, you know. And if if he's going in against uh Elv or Mosavar Elv or whatever way you say his name next, is that something that he you know, if you asked to come back, would you go back for another camp with him? Oh, 100%. Yeah, 100% I would. Um you know, the training over there was was was I really really enjoyed it. You know, how they train, how hard they train, and like it's just it's it's it's like as as as you said, there's no secret kind of formula to it. Like it's it's just it's just graphed. like it's just your it's your usual and you're you're just you're just putting yourself, you know, past the limits like most kind of professional athletes do, you know. Um but yeah, know I go back over I go back over to Australia for a for a camp for most I do I do it in a heartbeat, you know. Um just just you know, everyone involved in the camp is a great atmosphere, h great people and also great training, you know what I mean? So when you're in a camp, you can't really ask for much better than that, you know. Yeah. And uh how cool was it to see Max Li's mate mate win a UFC world title? H man, I was, you know, I have to say during the fight, I think I lost about I think I lost about 10 15 years off me life looking at that end of the second and the fourth round, you know, but how he kept his composure and just executed his game plan, you know, on the feet. Uh Brad Redell has has a lot to do with that, you know. Um an unbelievable striking coach and um he he just he he out struck him, you know, out struck him, beat him to the punch every time almost, you know, and um to be able to do that against a guy like Lopez for five rounds. It's it's not it's not an easy thing to do and and he did it he did it flawlessly, you know what I mean? So, I was over the I was over the moon, you know, like [ __ ] I really really was was rooting for him, you know, especially kind of I almost find watching someone you like you've been with or you know fight is almost worse than fighting if that makes sense. I get more nervous watching the fights, you know, than I would be fighting myself, you know. So, um it was it was great to see him get the win, you know, and uh definitely solidify himself as one of the best featherweights of all time. There's no kind of uh no doubting him now about that, you know. There's not too many people that can face the adversity that he's faced and come back the way he did, you know. So, uh, yeah, man. I'm I'm over the moon for him. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, Max. Max, do you think Vog will be nervous watching you compete on the 26th of April at Cage Warriors 188 Dublin? I don't I we'll see. I don't know. Um, I say I say he's taking a long or well needed time away from social media and stuff like that. But I' I've no I' have no doubt, you know, he was uh he was really good to me, you know, when I was in camp. He was letting me do the cardio sessions and stuff alongside him and and also like just the atmosphere of, you know, the boys are just helping me and and you know, like motivating you to keep going and stuff like that, you know. Um, but I'm really looking forward to the fight on 26th of April, me uh me cage warriors debut. And yeah, no, I'm just I feel like as you said, boys, I feel like it's the best. I say every fight every fight that I fight in, it's the best I've ever felt, you know what I mean? But like I really do feel like a lot of improvements have uh have been made and just looking to go in and and and make a statement, you know, like simple as that. Nothing really too uh deep. show how better I've gotten over the last year and just kind of get in there and do me thing, you know. Yeah, absolutely. You know, I'm surprised no one's actually uh t um sort of uh called this fight Maximus versus Zeus cuz uh Alexis's nickname is Zeus. You know what I mean? Yeah. Two two two of the gods going toeto toe h April 26. This this is going to be a massive fight. This is this has been a long time coming. Um it was it was a while ago since you fought on Cage Warriors but obviously you you were off in Thailand uh training away and then you're obviously off with uh Vulcan. They wanted to save save uh Maximus Lia for the Dublin card now now that we're what nearly a week out. Um tell us um what's the excitement like? You know what I mean? What what's the buzz buzz like around and was it hard to come back to Ireland and sort of slip slip right into camp? I know you sort of almost done a pre-amp, but yeah, like it wasn't it wasn't really like it's just like the only difference when I go into camp is the intensity goes up. To be honest, I probably I find myself training more out of camp than I would be training in camp. Just the intensity goes up. You know what I mean? So, it's like I just I don't I don't think this is this isn't a sport where you, you know, train for camps or whatever like that. You do it 24/7 and and that's it. You know what I mean? It's it's it's it's that it's that simple. um you know time on the mats matters you know that that all that all that kind of stuff it all adds up you know what I mean so um like slipping back into camp it wasn't an issue I think I landed on the Friday uh evening I done a little light session and just continued me kind of me me routine tried to adapt a few things that I was doing over in uh in Australia but um obviously this week you know um I kind of had me I have have a I kind of have a tough cardio session now this evening I do me lactic tomorrow morning and that will kind of be me tapering down phase then and kind of go into getting the weight down and and stuff like that, you know? So, to be honest, it's it's it's the best I've ever felt, you know what I mean? Um, so may may the best man win April 26th, you know what I mean? Yeah, absolutely. And I suppose one thing that we touched on when you signed, you want to fight in the bantamweight division. This one's a featherweight. Is banttomite still a goal or not or what's I'll tell you what I did I did a vlog over in uh Thailand. I don't think a lot of people seen it, but I spoke about the uh the cut down to 135. And to be honest, lads, I wasn't I wasn't like I probably wasn't far off making it. But from the weight that I needed to get down to, I needed to get down to about at least 67.5 kilos. And a lot of my uh traits and attributes that I have at maybe 145, you know, they just weren't really there at 135. Like um I suppose when you're bigger in a weight, you know, you kind of there's a few attributes that go. So like me me pace wasn't the same. Me kind of how I'd usually fight or how I' I'd go in and fight was almost like a strategic kind of change trying to conserve a bit of energy and stuff like that. Another thing that was happening to me loads was I kept getting sick, getting staff infections, ringorm infections, I think because my body fat was like so low and I'd never I'd never back over back home, I'd never struggle with infections or skin infections or anything like that. So, I kind of decided uh I it wasn't it wasn't the um the best move for myself. So, I said I would just uh fill out a little bit, put on a bit of size for 145 and just just stay there. I'm a I'm a person that, you know, I'll always try to do the thing that that is right. You know, I always try to do the best thing for myself. I thought that move was was the right move. I wouldn't want to fight in Cage Warriors and question if I can make the weight or not. You know what I mean? I wanted to 100% make sure if it was for me or not. Um, obviously it wasn't meant to be. Ian Dean and the guys in Cage Warriors were super accommodating to it and they they didn't really matter to them. They just kind of want to see me fight and like that. They got me a match at 145. So, uh, fair play to them, you know. I I'll always I'll always try to be a professional as much as possible. I'll never go into a fight and and and like miss weight or anything like that, you know what I mean? So, I wanted I did the kind of simulation cut, you know, just before uh the new year last year and stuff like that and it just wasn't really meant to be. So, here I am now at staying at 145, you know. Yeah. Yeah. Big time, man. And like I suppose this card is all about the featherweight division really. Like obviously James Sheen's fighting for the world title and James Webb's defending his world title or James sorry defending his world title. Like obviously there that's the main co-main event but jeez I think there's six or seven fights on this card of featherweight. So like it's massive for the division and I know you're a massive fan of the sport as well. You watch them all. Which of the featherweight fights bar your own are you looking forward to seeing? I think I think uh to be honest lads all them Keith Kio has a good uh fight against Joe Doyle. Yeah, Joe is he I think he's friendly with kind of um Jay Council and all that. He is a lot of uh a lot of toy fights, a lot of a lot of experience in the standup. So, I suppose with for for Keith, it's it's it's a good uh it's a good fight for him. You know what I mean? A tough fight for him. And then you have Saul against that I can't butcher his name. Yoga. He he that's a that's a good kind of step up for Saul as well. and he had a good performance against the uh Italian Walter out of uh SBG in his last one. You know what I mean? So that that's that's a big one. But like obviously in the ideal situation, you know, I get to fight and watch all these fights because usually what happens is if like I'm higher up on the card, I'm just, you know, doing me thing, getting in the zone and stuff like that, you know. But even if I miss them, there'd be no doubt I'd be going back on UFC fight passing and and giving them giving them all a watch, you know what I mean? Um, but the the featherweight division, the featherweight division and cage warriors, it's stacked, you know what I mean? It's stacked. It's a it's a high high level weight class to be competing in, you know. So, uh, obviously, you know, you have to you have to respect, skill, and talent. This is this is the step up now. This is the bigger leagues for myself. And obviously I'm I'm trying to solidify myself among among all the all the greats, you know what I mean? So that's that's uh that's I'll always be kind of study and always be watching, always be, you know, keeping me eye on everyone, you know. So uh we'll see. We'll see how this fight goes the weekend and then, you know, obviously it'd be great if I could get maybe definitely another two in after this this year. That would obviously be the ideal plan, but we we'll see what the crack is, you know. Yeah, big time. Big time. I think uh Ryan Cheddy's looking for a last minute replacement as well. Yeah, he's fighting. He's fighting. He's fight. Is did his guy pull out? Yeah, Ky pulled out. Don't know if that's that's that's common knowledge, but he did. It is now. Yeah. No, it is. It is now because your man your man he was fighting is he's fought Bellator a few times and like I I think he I remember him he he fought um he fought Smullen in Bellator a while ago and it was a real it was a real kind of 50/50 fight. But your man that Shelly was fighting ended up getting the nod, you know. But that that would have been that was a good fight. I forgot about Ryan. He's a lovely fella as well. I've met him a few times in the uh the El Port Maricas, you know what I mean? Yeah. By yourself, boys. By yourself. Max, um obviously when you signed with Cage Warriors, there was a lot of people like that were just over the moon to see you like sign and they look forward to seeing you put on the yellow gloves. Like in the buildup to this fight now, what's sort of the reaction been like and like how excited are you to get into the cage on the 26th and like put on a show in the RDS? Oh man, like just to be honest, lads, I just I wish the fight was tomorrow. Honestly, I wish the fight was tomorrow. I feel like waiting is almost the hard part, you know what I mean? Um, but like that, I'm just I'm just coming in. I'm looking to make a statement. It's all well fighting on these smaller shows, but like this this this is the big shows. This is this is the fight that I'm looking to to put the exclamation mark on now. Like, you know what I mean? So, just obviously have to wait a few days, you know what I mean? But uh obviously the 26th is going to come around very quickly. Obviously going to have to kind of have the the way coat and stuff like that before. But um I I am 110% ready. You know what I mean? This is I say all the time, but this is the best version of myself. Um coming up to this fight, I've left absolutely no stones unturned. And just like that, may the best man win April 26th because, you know, I'm just coming in and I'm looking to make make a statement and let all the kind of featherweight roster and everyone else know who I am. You know what I mean? Absolutely. And Max, this will also be the first time in a while where you haven't been main event. Max might be relegated to the main card. So, you'll get to watch one or two fights after after as well. Ah, no. That's sick. No, that's what I mean. I'm really looking forward to the main event though with James and Justin Burlington. That's a great fight. Obviously, James Webb fighting as well. Um, but yeah, like we could see the last two like the winner that and if James Webb wins like they could both be off the UFC without 100% 100%. It's a big fight for them. Um, it's I tell you what, I'll tell you one thing though. It's like this is how I personally feel about this Cage Warriors card, but it's like it reminds me of one of the Bama cards back in the day. Like, you know what I mean? It's like all the all the prospects and all the all the upandcomers all on the same card, you know. I feel like this this is this is definitely one of the best fighting cards put on in Ireland in most recent years, you know, and Cage Warriors have done an absolutely amazing job with it, you know. So, um, if anything, this card really, really put Irish MMA on the map for a lot of people to see. It's a high high level card, you know. So, um, that's what it reminds me of though. you know, the old Bama cards back in the day used to kind of have all the kind of prospects coming up and stuff like that, but now we're all on the on the same card again, you know. So, uh it's going to be obviously great to be a part of it, but I'm obviously looking to try uh get a get a exclamation point finish and uh try try steal the show. It's going to be a hard show to steal with all the talent on it, but you know, yourself. Oh, 100%. Hopefully hopefully Conor McCarthy gets on the card as well after his opponent. No, 100%. I I have no I have no doubt if if anyone can pull something out of a bag. He used to be dollar deck but now it's Ian Dan. So I know he'll I know he'll pull something out of the bag for him. Connor Connor got a bit of his training camp in with me over in Thailand. We got some really really good training in with some high level guys and stuff like that. So obviously h it's it's it's a it's a big night. It's pretty cool as well. Me and Connor made our amateur debuts together um on Who you were back in the day, you know, and uh kind of we've kind of had a very very similar journey, you know what I mean? So it's it's it's cool to kind of be on the same path as him again, you know. Yeah. The what's calling half a clan has already bought half the tickets. So yeah, the the Clay Ashorn collaboration boys. It's we see them at the cage. The the two rowdiest groups of fans you'll ever see. But uh yeah, no, it's going to be I think it as you touch on there, I think it's going to be one of those cars that if there are tickets left, you should definitely get them. And I'm not just saying that cuz definitely you're here. But if you really think about it, this is one that people are going to look back at in three or four years time and go, "Oh, they were on, you know, Max Latty was on that card. Patty Mccuri was on that card. James Sheen was on that card. Conor Mccardi, Kiko, the list will go on and be like, oh, look now. They all Yeah. J Harris, they all fought on this card and now look where they are now." Like you mean that's that's what this card that's another fight I forgot about. Matthew Elliott against Kenny Mahana. That's a great fight as well. And now all Irish clash. Yeah. Alex O Sullivan against Dar Darman. Yeah, Tobin. Tobin is that's a great one. That's a great one as well. Like there's there's a lot Darcy on the card as well. That's a like it's it's really it's it's it's it's a great card. You know what I mean? So don't forget the plank. Adam Derby. Ah Derby. Can't forget old Adam man. Who else is fighting on the card lads? Jamie Abbert. Jamie Abbott as well. Yeah. Jamie Abbott as well. Scott Harvey against Leon Armstead. Harvey against Leon. [ __ ] fights on that, lads. That's a great fight as well. That's a really, really good fight, you know. Prospects. And then chasing paper player is also on the card who we've never mentioned once because he's the only non Irish fight on the card. That [ __ ] Who's going to be there? Yeah, your whole family's going to be there. Shout out to Yep. The ladies. Yeah. Y Christian, everyone's favorite. Y Christian. Well, tell you what, boys. cuz I've tried to not I've tried to I've I've I've kind of transferred it to Irish boys the old the ladies I've transferred it Malalik Abu so my second name in Irish is Malalik so Lai Malalik so Malalik Abu that's what I keep saying at the moment trying to get the Maliku be also actually Kieran Brady's on the card as well so him he's fighting that he's fighting the French geyser top team yeah that's H I want to see Conor McCarthy, Kieran Brady have a dance off. That's what I want to see. I say Connor do them. I say who's the real hot stepper. Who's the real hot stepper? Real hot stepper. Connor has a bleed and set of hips on him like Shakira. Not a bother on him. Will the real hot stepper please stand up? Carol's coming off another great win as well against Georgie Groov as well. Yeah, that was a big that was a big win. And tell you what boys, tell you the best thing about that fight is that was on Irish soil on an Irish card. You know what I mean? That's the best thing. That's the best thing about it. You know what I mean? Georgie's a great prospect coming out of Patty's. Obviously Kieran's a great prospect as well coming against team Torres. Um but it's like these those are those are great fights to be making at a amateur and an early pro like you know what I mean because it's it's it's it's good. We have serious amounts of talent in the in the um in the country you know what I mean? So obviously it's it's it's great to uh be able to see fights like that on Irish style and and and you know great great fight. Yeah. No, your fighting championship is always great and Decki Mleen does a great job as well. He's always put a great card on and great fights. You know what I mean? He always great fights on. I think the issue with the last fight you were on with Cage Legacy was the fact the stream didn't work. So then we're trying to watch when we're trying to watch the the biggest prospects coming out Baron yourself, Conor McCarthy. like when the stream doesn't work or it's like you're you're missing out on something like like you're missing out on like your finishes and your potential virality of the win and all the stuff that comes with that. Like you know what I mean? But like that's like cage warriors do it unbelievably well. Yeah. Super well. They do it super well in fairness. Like it's it's a different budget Kwagers versus any of the other shows. Definitely. Definitely. Definitely. And in fairness, I'll say one thing about Deco Kennedy. [ __ ] made you with what he had. You know what I mean? There was a lot of times there was a lot of times where, you know, obviously I was unfortunate with pull outs and he would he would get he would get someone in no matter who they were. Me and Connor hadn't had pull outs on fight week. He still managed to come through and he's a he's a lot of I don't blame Deck for the for the link. No, he he paid someone to do a bad job. Yeah, 100% boys 100%. I mean just you don't have them problems on UFC free pass anyway. So that's the good thing. But Max, we're absolutely buzzing to see you in action come April 26. It's going to be an absolute banger. It's always a pleasure to talk to you as well. Uh Malikaboo, is that how you say it? Malikaboo. Malikaboo. Malakaboo. That's it, boys. Yeah, you you have to get you had to get you have to get the spelling to us of that afterwards. You know what I mean? I'll put a hashtag on it and all, but uh man, absolutely going to be an absolute incredible night in the RDS. Buzz and see yourself get your hand raised on the Cage Warriors debut and uh the featherweight division is going to have some shakeup come April 26th. 100% lads. 100%. Really looking forward to it. Yeah. Max, can you before we just wrap things up, is there anything else you want to say to the people that are going to be seeing you wear the Cage Warriors yellow gloves for the first time on April 26 live on UC Bass if you cannot get a ticket? So, obviously guys, um there's a few tickets left. I have a link in me bio on me Instagram um for anyone that's looking to to head over to the show. All general tickets are sold out, so there's only a few of the cage side ones left. Every ticket that is bought through my link, h I get a small cut of it. So, uh, obviously it' be really appreciated if you get the tickets out with a link. If for whatever reason you aren't able to make it, you know, subscribe to UFC Fight Pass and watch a great night fights, you know what I mean? So, uh, obviously guys, thanks for having me on as always. H really appreciate it and just looking looking forward to getting stuck in next Saturday. You know, you're the man, Max. Cheers, boys. All the best. Energized. Get it up. The energized show up the Ros. That was Maximus Li, your favorite Liy, man. Yeah, absolute legend. Great to have Max back on the show. Jeez, he must be one of the most on air guests that Energizer has ever had. H love to have him on. Always great chat. H won't tell you what he said off camera, but uh some some frighteningly good stories of him over and I'm sure he'll tell them one day. I was going to say Cage Warriors 188. We're going to go through the entire card now, Baz, aren't we? Yeah. So, the thing is we are here every week. So, make sure to like and subscribe and make sure to check us out on Instagram as well as we promote Irish MMA as we always do every day, Ross. It's every day, bro. So, yeah, we're going to have a look at the Cage Warriors 188 Dublin car now. And we're going to start off with the first fight of the night according to the Cage Wires website. Jamie Aba Bissa H. He hasn't fought in a year. He opened up the show in Dublin this time last year and he's fighting Charlie Falco. H Charlie is 6 and4. Jamie is one and0 and Jamie Ababissa is a season veteran though on the amateur scene and I'm gonna say Jamie's gonna get his hand raised. I think uh if Jamie shows if the Jamie Abisa shows up um with full capabilities and the one that showed up last year, I think he he'll definitely get his hand raised. Who do you think the bookie's favorite is in that one? I I think it would be Jamie to be honest. Uh, I think if you take the amateur record into account and Charlie's amateur record account, I think Jamie has more fights as an overall hole. So, I'm gonna say Jamie. Yeah. And then also, you're very biased here, by the way. Yeah. And then staying at Flyway, we have Er's fighting Daniela Sanchez. Um, this this one is lined up, I think, for Er Darcy to get the win. Um, she looks like a phenomenal athlete to say the least. Er Darcy, she seems to lead a very clean lifestyle. She seems to be all about the fights and uh she seems to have great power in her hands and I expect her to get a TKO finish in this one. Basmo, what do you think? Yeah, well I think Emer training with the likes of Shauna Bannon and Kyle Sullivan and Nadine Ababisid and the list goes on like I think the way she's getting promoted as well like for women's MMA in Ireland she's definitely like on a trajectory to fight for a Cage Warriors world title as well. Now, who knows when that could happen, but she's coming off that win last time out in Dublin. Yeah, I think there is a lot of potential there. So, uh, look, she's the only female Irish female fighting on the card, so it's a big opportunity and, uh, can't wait to see her perform. And shout out to Compound Martial Arts. Yeah, absolutely. Uh, Jason Blair is fighting Diego Visane on the show. I expect Jason Blair to get get a a win there, but Adam Derby is coming home. uh fresh from sunny California taking on uh Thomas Langowski. Uh I think last time out we saw Adam Derby, you saw one of those rubby standing guillotine chokes. Um I I think Adam Derby is a top prospect and I expect him to get the win. He's trained over in MMA Fight Academy uh as well as Tim Rhino back here in Ireland. So uh I think he is definitely someone to look out for. Um the lads who are fighting um in that GMA fight academy seem to have a very good winning record. So uh I expect that to stay. Basma, what you think? Yeah. Know well I have to pack Adam because he's the fastest man in team Rhino as well, man. The the Usain Bolt of Team Rhino. The slowest Ros you man. I think Jamie Abby was coming last in those races. So he he'll need he'll need to work on that. Shout out Andy Ryan for that footage, man. Yeah, shout out Andy Roy for that footage. Uh then we move on to one of our many featherweight clashes and we have backto-back CMAC fights according to Cagewires. Hopefully that doesn't happen on the night. Keith Ko was fighting Joe Doyle. Joe Doyle was like an unknown commodity really on the Irish MMA scene. All his fights have been over in the UK. Massive following. He's fighting out at 309. Um and Jay Council is uh looking at from this camp and obviously Kiko fighting out CAC one of the best Irish amateur records the country has ever seen. Um, for me, I think Keith will probably try and take him down and get a submission early. I'd say he has a a vast advantage on the ground. Basma. Yeah. Well, look, Keith is like his his background, his amateur background speaks for itself. Like the amount of times he's represented Ireland in the IMAS, like I think it was what 15-1 as 15 and one. I think his only loss was a split as well. Yeah. Now, if you're looking at the bookies favorite, Keith is obviously the favorite, but this is the only all Dublin uh fight on the card as well. Like both lads only live a stones throw away from each other. Like this one is going to have the crowd going absolutely nuts. Like when this fight is on, do not miss this one as well cuz Joe's there to upset the apple car as well. Ross, absolutely. Absolutely is. I think it's going to be one definitely to look out for. H Keith Ko was very highly touted and if he if Joe D managed to scalp him, that will put Joe's name in lights. Yeah. Um, another CMAC featherweight. Alex O Sullivan fights Darth Tman out of team Torres. This is a rematch. Nine years in the making. Alex O Sullivan got his hand raised in in in uh in in the first outcome. So, I would assume he'll be the favorite going into this one. Um, although he is stepping up a weight class of featherweight, so it will be interesting to see. Um, this one is definitely one that the fans will be dying to see. Um, there's multiple Cmac fighters on the card and multiple teams fighters on the card. So, we should see um great crowd reaction to both these guys and they should be bringing a lot of support. Yeah, Alex's record is 2 and 0. Uh Darren Thomas is 4 and three. As you said, they fought before, Alex won. I'll say the bookie's favorite will be Alex as well. Yeah. Um Con McCarthy's fight is still on the cage website. Hopefully, he gets rebooked. Hopefully Ryan Shel gets rebooked and two phenomenal prospects. We would love to see them in those yellow gloves another time. Uh, next up is Kieran Brady fighting Giovani Fernandez. Kieran Brady is someone who I have to back and he is one who has, you know, proved all the doubters wrong time and time again. He is coming off the biggest win of his career against Georgie Grov. It was an absolutely thrilling fight and I think Kieran Brady is on an absolute roll at the moment. Basma, no, I'd agree. He previously fought on Cage Warriors as well and then he went back to your fighting championship like that win against Georgie Grosoff because Georgie's coming off a couple of good wins as well. He was he won on Cage Warriors and he won on LFL. So the winner of this took it all and that's why Kieran Brady's now fighting the big show on Dublin Ross. Absolutely. Absolutely. Uh and look at the next fight we have another pair of featherweights and both both these men are training day in day out with world champions. Scott Harvey obviously trains with uh Paul Yuse who was a Cage Warriors featherweight champion and Leon Arms trains with Harry Hardwick the current um featherweight champion of Cage Warriors and also former lightweight champion George Hardwick. So this one looks to be a really really high level clash. Both men are undefeated. Um it's going to be very very interesting to see who gets their arm raised. H Scott Harvey has always looked really good in his fights. Leon Arms bit more active as of late. Um I I think this one and probably the next one uh are probably as 50/50 clashes. Uh very typical Ian Dean H brilliant booking on these on on this fight. Basma, what do you think? You know, I was this is like this fight was one where like I know we're talking about it with Max there. I didn't expect Max to go through the whole card now. But like but like fair blades to him because like that's what Maxi does. But when I was when we were talking about this fight, I was like I was thinking the bookie's favorite. Who would be for this? It's very very close and that's why Ian and Dean's like right the winner of this gets that next push like obviously on arms as you said has the Harris behind him. Um Scott Harvey is like the main impart training partner of Paul Hughes he's also from FAI like this next person gets that next big push and that that's why I like I'm 50/50 on it. Um, I think I actually think probably Leon could be potentially the favorite cuz he's like been consistent and he's been fighting more regularly than Scott. But, uh, that's why it's up to Scott to make a big statement. Yeah. Abs, absolutely, absolutely. And talk about making big statements. Matthew Elliot, for the second time in his Cage Warriors career, is fighting a man from another Irish gym. He's fighting Kenny Mochana out of SPG. FAI versus SPG. This one has fans mouthwatering. Um, I think it's sort of a what on paper will be a battle of Matthew Elliot wrestling versus Kenny Moan's jiu-jitsu. Who will come out on top? I don't know. But this one, I think, is another one that could be 50/50. These two lads have a bit of bad blood as well. So, uh, I'm looking forward to this one. I think this one, uh, this one is one that will make the Irish crowd salivate. Um, also just to round up the well the featherweight action cuz we don't necessarily need to go over Max Liy's fight again. Solomon King Simon is on an absolute tear at featherweight. H, he could be in line for a number one contendership with a win here. He's fighting Christiana who's coming off a decision loss to George Hardwick for the lightweight title. So Saul going out there um, beating Christian better than George Hardwick. It would be very hard for people to deny Solomon Simon a shot at Harry Hardwick for the featherweight belts Basmo, wouldn't it? Yeah, but Saul finishes every fight. Undefeated cage warriors like he's an absolute tear. Like what can you like you you have to check out Solomon is like I think he's like his background his amateur background has stood to him like tremendously. like he looks so so experienced in there and I think what is he like 5-0 6 and0 he's 5 and0 now I think yeah so like like just he's an absolute animal and um Finnish mania finished mania yeah like you like always beer as well like I think he's the third fastest in team rhino as well and uh speaking of second fastest J Harris is signed to fight he just doesn't his opponent is not announced yet so uh I'm sure you'll hear from once it is announced. Um then obviously Maxi we had him on the show so we won't go over that again. Patty McCari is fighting Gassan Abdinabi. Obviously Patty Mccuri uh has been on a on a tear since coming back from the ultimate fighter h finishing opponents left right and center. H he is fighting Gassan. Abdabi is a Dutch fighter and the only thing with Gassan is he's never made middleweight before. So I hope there won't be any weight issues. But uh I think Patty Mccari a win here could secure him a middleweight title shot. And I'd be all for it. And a win here could also secure him um main event status um in Cage Warriors Belfast later on this year if they do go to Belfast. So, I feel like they're coming back to Ireland once more, but I think it's a toss up between Dublin and Belfast. And depending on how the results go here, I think that's what's going to determine where the next fight night from Kwires on this island will be. Probably be looking for a highlight finish and that signature celebration uh run. Yeah, absolutely. I'm here for it. H obviously we have James Webb who gets to defend his title for the first time ever on Irish soil. James Webb is an honorary Irishman. He is the first pupil of team KF head coach Chris Fields. Uh I think it's a dream of his to have ever fought uh on the island of Ireland and he is going in and he's going to fight uh John Allen who was a former UFC vet. He's fought twice in the UFC. I feel like a win here and a finish here from James Webb could stamp that ticket to the UFC. Um, I think he looks ready for he looks the best he's ever looked at light heavyweight and I'm here for Basmo. Yeah. Well, James has looked phenomenal since he's like now training as well with the Tom Aspenol team over in England. So, yeah, this is James Webb's time like if he wants to then eventually fight in the UFC or potentially contender series like now is the time to prove it. Yeah, absolutely. And then obviously the main event James Jimbo slice Sheen he defends his welterweight strap h back where he won it against uh Justin Burlington. Justin Berlinson uh obviously you know Dana White's contender series fighter previous fought for the belt against Reese McKe. We know it takes a lot to get Justin Berlinson out of there. But uh I believe James Sheen has no problem getting into bloody wars himself. We've seen it time and time again. I think this one could be fight of the night and I I also believe the winner of this fight could definitely be getting a phone call from the UFC and either getting a contender series shot or you know get getting a getting a fight directly on UFC. I think um the winner will definitely deserve it and for me uh the winner is Jimbo Slice. What do you think the the odds would be in the bookies for this one man? I think it could be 50/50. I think uh you know what I mean like Burlington is absolutely no scrub. um he probably maybe has a slight experience factor um you know having fought in the UFC. Not that I think that would make too much of a difference, you know what I mean? Um but I do think um No, he he didn't actually fight in the container series. Well, did he not fight in the end? I thought he fought and lost. Oh, well, there there's me having it wrong. So, double check. Double check that. I will double check that now for the Basmo. I thought he didn't get a license or I thought I thought he lost. No, he lost in the Kendra series. Baz, here's me having Yeah, he lost a first round knockout to Johan Leance. Um, oh my god, a a left hook. So, um, yeah, unfortunately he did lose, but um, look, really like both guys, but uh, you know, my loyalties lie with Jim both, but the third fastest man in team Rhino, like you said, he's not a sprinter. He's not a sprinter, but he but he is a finisher. I I see this going into the championship rounds and then it's going to going to come down to who is the bigger dog in them and like these two lads both have that dog in them. So that's why I can see it like being a war the way as we said before the way Ree McKe fought Burnson for the title. I just see it going that distance and being high paced as well. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I think it's going to be a massive fight. But speaking of massive welterweight fights, Basmo, speaking of massive welterweight fights, on the same night, Immachello Garry headlines against Carlos Plees um in a welterweight showcase bout. Um this one will go five rounds. Ian Garry taking a fight on short notice. He uh alluded to um this with speaking with Eric Hwani that um this fight he actually got the call while he was in Spain corning an opponent. We saw the picture of him getting rounds in with Iliot Pory as well. This is a massive fight for Ingari. This is a fight that has more risk than reward on it. Carlos Prizes is uh fighting out the fighting nerds. They're 19 and0 in the UFC at the moment. They are absolutely on fire. One of the best gyms in in the uh in the world right now. And um we've seen the likes of John Silva, we've seen Chiao Bar Hilo um and Carlos PZ as well. like the these guys are on absolute fire at the moment in Garry's taking this fight on short notice. What do you make of this fight for Ian and you expect him get that get the job done? I honestly do expect Ian to win this fight. I think Ian sees himself as someone who should be in the top five and I don't believe is in that top five. He's obviously like yeah on the verge of breaking into the top 10, but when it comes to Ian, Ian doesn't mind winning a fight dirty as in more like he'll just win chip away at the rounds like pick up the rounds and then move on to the next fight. He doesn't it doesn't bother him to be a showman or anything of the like as long as he gets to win. He gets to rub it in people's faces and that's what Ian Gary Mashado Gary loves to do. Um, looking at the backgrounds, I think Ian has the cardio to go five rounds. Now, we haven't seen that since he fought in Cage Warriors, but Bratz is a well-known lover of tobacco. And he's also a finisher. He's four four wins, four finishes. Ross, this is the creme the creme, bro. Yeah. Like like I just think that Ian will drag this out and then he he wouldn't mind getting on Praes's back and also like just dragging it out because Patees like if you're a smoker in the top 15 of like that that's just not going to help and like that's where Ian is going to and Ian Mashado Gary would not have taken this fight unless he thought he would have won cuz he took him took the Racklin fight because he knew he was going to get praised for it and he has and he's gone on after like talking as if he's actually won the fight. He's actually got more confidence after that loss than he has of any other fight. So I just think that Ian will win this fight. It's his first ever headline show. He was previously booked to headline against Wim Bookie. But Ian Mashado Garary on the 26th of April becomes the third ever Irish UFC fighter to headline the show after Conor McGregor and Patty the Hooligan Hooligan. So uh big night for Irish MMA Ross. We are taking over. Massive night. Massive night. And not only that, the following night we have Ca Cage Gladiator hair. Um and we have two big pro fights on it. Um we have Jack Core who's 2 and 0. He's fighting Barbosa. Um obviously um the show is run by Danny Core. So his son will be the main event on the show which will be a massive fight. Um big fan of Jack Core. He's looked really good since turning pro. So we expect him get his hand raised there. And then we also have a professional catchweight at 73 kilos. We have a Yousef Okain versus Marco Boyuk. Um obviously uh we spoke to Patty recently and he was singing Yousef's praises a lot saying that he's putting in the graph, putting in the hard work. So we'll see the fruits of his labor there. And uh Mario Boychuk is fighting out of Mario's martial arts. Um I'm not too sure if Mario martial arts has had a pro fighter before. So I'm really excited to see this one. Um both guys are going to obviously want to get off to their their pro career off the winning ways. So it's going to be an absolute night to remember. Uh if you are up around the area, please do try and get some tickets to go to it. But there are some other brilliant fights on the card. Um that we have amateur lightweight title. Um Kieran Maski is 6 and0 also out of um Danny Kor's gym and he is fighting uh Bla Migill. Bla Migill is in the DMs saying that if he wins this, he's the best lightweight in the country. No doubt about it. Um, also we have what's turned into a bit of a grudge match. Um, we have Emma Core um, fighting Michael Shields. So, that should be a whopper fight as well. Um, those two boys uh, love a scrap and the winner of that could easy announce themselves as the best featherweight in the country as well. Huge crap. Yeah, huge scrap. Huge scrap. Michael Shields obviously the Energized Amateur MMA fighter of the year 2024. So, uh yeah, some really big fights in the card. Really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be a fantastic fight uh fight night um for the Irish fans. And uh they also announced on the 3rd of March as well that uh Keem Carton's fighting Paul Numm as well. So that that should be another scrap to watch out for um as well. So I'm here for it. I can't wait to see it. H Cave Gladiot, best luck on their redebuting show. Um it's going to be a night to remember. Basmo. Yeah, exactly. So Ross, as you say that, Basmo, from the grassroots to the absolute pinnacle of the UFC, we are here every week covering it. So if you're not here, make sure to like, share, subscribe. You know what I mean? We are giving you the news. Whether it's good news or bad news, we're we're always bringing the news. Um whether you like it or not, here we are. So that's the crack. Basmo. Well, you couldn't have said any better. Everyone make sure if you are new to the channel, make sure to like and subscribe this weekend. Cage Warriors Dublin. Get on to that. You have to. I shadow Gary that night. Also, Chris Eubank Jr. is taking on Connor Ben scrap not to be missed Sunday. Cage Gladiator on the Sunday the 27th. And then as always, we'll be back next week with all the reaction because myself and Ross will be at Cage Warriors Dublin and Ross, won't we? Yes, we will. We will see you there. Come up and say hello. We'd love to say hello to you and uh we'll be covering the event from start to finish. Thanks, Minion. Like, share, subscribe, and as always, stay energized. Energize. The Energize Show up the Irish. It's the face that runs the place, Chaos Cortis. I want to thank the Irish MMA community so much for getting behind me. Yep.