Max Lally | Cage Warriors 194 Dublin Fight, UFC Paris Recap & Irish MMA | The Energized Show

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What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode SBG Charlestown's Max Lally joins us to discuss his upcoming fight at Cage Warriors 194 Dublin Fight, UFC Paris Recap & Irish MMA along with all the latest combat craic. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the…

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Kind: captions Language: en Diana Joy up the >> Everyone ready to rock? >> Yeah, ready to rock. >> Okay, here we go. >> Okay, what's going on, guys? Welcome to a brand new episode of Energize, brought to you by OR Kings Competitions. Ross, >> are you intoxicated or something? >> Introduce the guest, man. >> Today we have undefeated pro MMA fighter. It is the one and only. It's Maximus. Max Lai. Max, tell us this. How are things going? >> Things are going great, lad. Thank you so much again for having me on. >> No worries. No worries, Max. All roads are leading to Cage Warriors Dublin, September 27th. We know that Lai Nation will be out in force. Cage Warriors saying you're the top ticket seller. Is the place going to be on wheels or what? >> Uh get me on a card, lads. The place the place is always going to be on wheels, you know what I mean? Um really really looking forward to fighting again in Dublin, you know what I mean? Um such a place that is uh really dear to my heart and just looking forward to going out there and uh putting on a performance to uh remember, you know. >> Yeah. Max, just last time out when you competed in April, like was that the biggest reception you've ever gotten? Cuz you've gotten big ones, man. >> You know what? I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to keep it honest here. Um I it it was like if you had to look at numbers, it 100% was the biggest, but it didn't feel like it because it was just so much more space. Like before that, I'm used to I don't know like 500 people being crammed into a little GAA hall. You know what I mean? Lego Kennespec cage legacy and just people surrounding the cage and sometimes them little environments just feel that bit more rowdy and that bit more I don't know compact and close. So when I kind of walk when I walk out I never pay attention to any of it. You know what I mean? And it's it's like the only thing I think about is how can I, you know, put my strategies into play and make this fight exciting, entertaining, and obviously give the people their their money's worth because, you know, this is this is the uh the entertainment business, you know. >> Exactly. >> Yeah, it absolutely is. And tell us this uh you said it off air, but I'm going to quote you on air. Um this featherweight division, it is open season for this belt right now. Um the amount of featherweights on this card, Kenny Moan is on this card. Matthew Elliot's fighting this weekend. Um before the card, uh you have Joe Doyle, Kiko, Damen McKenna, um Ryan Shel, yourself, uh Solomon Simon, all fighting for this, uh sort of featherweight prize now that's come up for grabs now that Harry Hardwick's gone to the UFC. Do you feel a little bit more excited now that the featherweight title is vacant and you know a big win here puts you in contention then for a title shot? >> 1000 I think a big win for any one of them featherweights puts them in in in a in a position for for uh that title shot. You know it's it's as I said it's it's it's open season. So it's like it's it's performances now that that matter that that's what's going to put you in that driver seat to to get what you want, you know. So September 27th, I'm just I'm just looking to kind of put myself into that position where I can start heading towards that belt, you know. Um like I everyone obviously has their sights on UFC and other big promotions, but you know, I think Cage Wire is going to be the perfect grounds for myself to really just level up and and and improve as a fighter. So, I'm going to be I'm going to be taking full advantage of that and uh looking for looking for the fights that will will, you know, improve me and will get me better and will uh test myself, you know, because that that that's that's what I'm hoping for now with this fight against uh against Ben Ellis, you know, uh tough guy, you know, can endure a lot. these big wins over big names and yeah, so just just look looking for a man that can really put it on me and test me and you know someone can do that to me it can show all you what me true colors are you know >> absolutely and I suppose the last time we saw Ben Ellis in the cage he was fighting someone that you're quite familiar with Nathan Kelly I'm sure I know what you're like you're you're someone who's who probably watched that fight live at the time h you're you're an MMA degenerate like ourselves you watch any Irish man who's best foot in the cage. But uh what did you make of that performance? Because obviously that was quite a devastating win for Nathan Kelly. Do did you take anything from that performance? And then obviously we haven't seen Ben in a few years. So can you actually take any anything from that? >> Um yes, yes and no. I think there's so much you can take from it. But um one thing that I know for certain is that his last loss is to an Irish man. So I'm expecting him to come into Dublin all guns blazing. Any one of Ben's fights, you put him in a position where he's the underdog. you put him in a position where he's supposed to lose or whatever like that. He he goes out and does his thing and and he wins, you know what I mean? It's so it's for me, I know for a fact the last man to be him is an Irish man, he's going to be coming out here all guns blazing, you know what I mean? Like although he's been out for for for two, three years, you know, okay, that does play a factor, but there's no better time to fight me. And for me, there's no better time to fight him, you know what I mean? So, it's it's a good fight. Um, but every every necessary preparation has been has been has been taken. You know, I'm ready to ready to ready to go 25 minutes if I needed to. You know what I mean? Even though it's only going to be 15, but this is a guy that likes to walk forward and really really push the pace. And uh that's what I've been preparing to uh endure, you know? So, really really looking forward to this fight. And obviously >> a a big win, a big finish here really puts me, you know, up in that division. >> Yeah. For the for the people tuning in now, that's why you have to make sure to get on to Max Laddy's Instagram page to get tickets for the event. If you cannot make it, make sure to get on to UC FAS as well cuz this is one event not to be missed. Cage Warriors Dublins are always exceptional. Uh Max, just looking like you've obviously fought once with the promotion now. And then if you're looking at all the way the clips and all the content they're putting out around Dublin, the majority of the stuff has got to do with yourself and Kiko. Um, how's it feel to be part of the organization now and like how they're actually giving you a push and getting your name out there, especially with the mullet, man. They love that. >> They love that. Yeah. No, 100. Tell I tell you what, it's it's it's great, you know, it it really is. Um because I think I think for so long, you know, Irish MMA has been >> I don't know, missing something like this where it's just like it's just all the all the best lads just fight fighting on on on a show together. It really is like the best fighters the country has to offer. You know what I mean? So, it's like I feel like that's what was missing for for a long time. As I said before, I've said it loads of times, but it's like this kind of reminds me of like the Bama days back really far back in the day like 2014, 2015 where it was like you just had everyone from all the clubs all fighting on the on on on the same card. So, this is kind of I don't know like a like a reminis like kind of reminds me of it a little bit. So like it's it's it's it's I'm so happy to be a part of uh of Cage Warriors, you know, and uh yeah, really looking forward to just just making a name for myself in in the promotion now, you know. >> Yeah. And and making a name. You're definitely doing that. Uh you had a name coming into it and the name's only getting bigger. So long may long may it last. With with that being said, um last time out we saw a bit of Irish on Irish violence and this time out we're seeing a bit of Irish on Irish violence. H they seem to love putting Kiko in the Irish on Irish violence. But uh tell us this. Obviously with the featherweight division, >> it's inevitable that there's going to be Irish fighters fighting Irish fighters in in the in the next couple of bouts top. Is that something that you look forward to? Does that does that make a fight juicier for you? Does it make a you know do you feel like bad fighting another royal fighter or it just is what it is? And like I don't like at the end of the day lads it's like I think a lot gets put into that narrative but the sole purpose is it's like any man that gets put in front of me is trying to take my dreams away from me and and that's that's not going to happen. You know what I mean? I'm not it's like whoever gets put in front of me wants to take what I want. They want what I want. You know what I mean? So it's like winners like you win you win. You win. It's like it's it's bound it's bound to happen at some stage. You know what I mean? And if if it does happen, like obviously I'd be open to it. You know, I have a little destination in my head and whoever I have to kind of come across to get there, I have to come across to get there. And it's it's it's it's as simple as that, you know? >> So, whoever needs to get it can get it. Is that what you're saying, Max? >> Essentially, essentially, you know what I mean? That's more or less. It's like real realistically like these these fights, >> you know, like how how cool would be an Irish and Irish title fight or you know >> them kind of eliminators. They're going to they're going to be happening very very soon like you know what I mean? Soon sooner than we all think, you know what I mean? So um >> as I as I said it's like I have a destination in my head. I want to get to the UFC and I want to win a cage warriors belt, you know what I mean? So, it's like Irish, English, European, like wherever. You know what I mean? I don't care. >> Even bring the Yanks over. >> That's it. You know what I mean? Even bring the Yanks over. But I don't care. You know what I mean? Um I'm at a stage now where it's just like these these are the fights now that are m that matter and these are the fights that are really going to put my stock up. So, no matter the result, I'll be going in looking for them, you know. >> Yeah. Max, last last time we talked to you as well, you said that you wanted to stay very active and last time you competed was in April like like are you looking to get out again before the end of New Year or you just do you have your sight sets early in 2026? >> I was planning on trying to get out over the summer before this Irish show, but it it didn't come to fruition. You know what I mean? But every every now and then I need to I need to remind myself, you know, um just how young I am, you know? For me, the most important thing for me is to be able to show that I've I've I've raised the level after every time I fight. You know what I mean? And them them few months in between of uh the skill acquisition, I've really felt the difference, especially, you know, not fighting over the summer. Sometimes when we go from that training camp to training camp, we really uh negate ourselves of being capable of gaining them skills, you know what I mean? where we're just solely focused on getting better, not really focused on getting fit or getting sharp like we do in in fight camp. So, I'd be looking to go again early uh 2026 with a good result here in uh 3 weeks time. And um hopefully a nice and busy active year next year. I'd be I'd be definitely looking for three fights next year. Um and uh I think I have I have five fights on me cage warriors contract. So, if I get one in this, obviously I'm getting one in on the 27th of September, but that lines up perfectly. Three three fights next year, you know, and uh we'll see where we're at after them four fights, you know. >> And will one of them be like to potentially headline Cage Wars Dublin next year as well? >> I've always said it's been it it has been my dream to uh headline and fight in the tree arena. You know what I mean? Um, and I will I will I will work my ass off to to make them dreams come to fruition and come to reality. You know what I mean? So, obviously, let's let's let's put on big performances, get big finishes, really really put Clay Drivers on the map >> and then sell out to Trina like, you know what I mean? Like, why why not aim for that? That's a that that really excites me, you know what I mean? That that'd be a huge one. So obviously you see Mick Connell got a big knockout in the in the tree arena there h over the weekend and it's like you kind of look at that and it's just like man I'd love I'd love to be involved in something like that. You know what I mean? I' I've been watching MMA fights in the tree arena since since I'm a child, you know what I mean? So um that that that would that would be definitely something I' I'd be looking to do, you know? >> Yeah. No, exactly. And then Max, you're obviously one man who like always shouts out the scene, whether it be like uh regional shows or regional fighters, but like obviously this card is very stacked full of Irish on the card. Uh what fights are when you look at this card now, like what fights are you also looking forward to keeping an eye on as well? >> I got to all the featherweight ones. H to be 100% honest like every single one of the featherweight ones. Um, and I'm obviously looking forward to seeing uh Connor McCarti go out and uh do his thing as well. Um, I know he'll have he'll have a he'll have a big performance. You know, Conor's an animal, a great teammate of mine. And um, another one I think is is an absolute barn burner is Jamie Abbott against Matthew Fel. That's another Irish and Irish classic that that is obviously the big ones Keith and Damian. Everyone's talking about that, but I think Jamie Abba against Matthew Freel, I think that's a great fight, you know what I mean? So, uh, obviously Gary Rooney as well on the card. It's just like all these all these guys I've I've fought on cards with them like, you know what I mean? There's like there's very few lads that I've haven't fought with like, you know what I mean, on the same cards. It's kind of honestly for me when I'm when I'm fighting, I never really I never really watch the fights that are going on, you know, cuz I'm getting in the zone. But um I'll definitely be looking forward to watching them back the day after the fight, you know. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Absolutely. I feel like you can nearly go on a tangent about any fight on the card. Like it's such a great card. I'm absolutely buzzing for it. H I really can't wait. It's going to be an unbelievable night. It's like I always think like the last two years straight Kers are putting on the biggest events in Ireland year on year. That's the one that if you're an Irish MMA fan, that's the event to get get to and >> thousand%. >> And like make sure you're buying your tickets from the your favorite fighters ticket. Very very important. >> Very important. You know what I mean? We don't we don't we don't uh get much out of this lifestyle. It takes a lot of sacrifice. So >> any little bit always helps, you know what I mean? So obviously I appre appreciate everyone that has gotten a ticket from uh my Instagram bio. But uh there's still a few tickets remaining and I tell you now they won't be there won't be uh much left now in the next two weeks. So make sure you get on to them link is in my bio on Instagram. >> Absolutely. And before we let you go um any shout outs for you know training partners? Anyone SPG Charles Town that you want to shout out or anything you want to sh before we go? just all all the coaches and and training partners, you know, um obviously uh own in Charles Town, little little Ben Martin, Morgan, Chris Jones, all all the all the young up andcomers uh Alex Fagan, Aiden Oil, like I hear naming all day. Same with the lads in Nace, you know, Jordan, Alex, Nathan, Connor, Peter as well, Sergey, like there's just there's there's so many of them, you know. Um really do have a a great great team around me. Um very fortunate to have the training partners that I do have and um yeah just just feel prepared now lads. Just just ready to uh ready to go in and uh and and do the business, do me thing. >> Can't wait for her. >> Yeah. So Max, best of skill on September 27th and we'll let you get on with the rest of your day. Boy, >> legend boys. Thank you for having me on again. Yeah. Diana Joy Sha up the orish. >> So Ross, that was Maximus Liy, your favorite ly man. >> Yeah, it's going to be a massive day for us on September 27th. We will be at ADCC uh submission grappling in Ireland in DCU on September 27th from the morning. And then in that evening, we'll be going to Cagewires 194 live from the RDS. It is going to be an absolutely epic day, Basma. I am absolutely buzzing for it. The content will be absolutely fire that day, bud. >> Oh man, there'll be a lot of content coming out that day. So, make sure to like and subscribe. And if you haven't checked out the Energize Shows Instagram page, that is where all the content comes out. Ross, it absolutely is. I cannot wait for it. But it is going to be absolutely whopper and I'm looking forward to it. But Baz, before we speak about that weekend of action-packed sport, let's talk about the weekend just gone. Uh, we had UFC Paris, we had MMA Gala. Uh I might just run through the MMA Gala at first. Uh Lewis Burn moved to 20 and0. Um he picked up a decision win. Um very very dominant performance and then unfortunately King Cowy seemed to have an injury and couldn't make it out of the second round. H seemed to be a leg injury um from an exchange at the end of the first round. So uh wish King a speedy injury. Not nice to lose your title that way, but a big win for Lewis Burn. Um and a great show from MMA Gala. >> Yeah. So Russ, UFC Paris was on over the weekend. >> It was indeed. It was indeed. Um I suppose where we going to start here, Nick. >> We should probably just start with the opening fight of the night. Um Ireland's own Sha Bannon was taking on Sam Sam Page, which Sam Paige is a great nickname. Um and unfortunately Shauna Bannon did not get the win. Uh she got uh lost by second round submission uh via rear naked choke. Um Sean herself came out and said she she didn't feel like she wanted to be in there come fight night and she said she just felt a bit flat. Um she she did look a bit off in the fight. I didn't see her like her usual usual self. I wasn't too sure whether it was a game plan thing or not. But I think one thing that people need to look at cuz I you see with Sha Bal sometimes that you know the comments aren't nice fighting style or we've seen that with Bism before where it's sort of been quite critical. >> Yeah. Yeah, the thing about John Bannon is she's only nine fights into her pro MMA career. Like nine is not a lot of fights as a pro in this game. Um Sam Hughes now had 11 UFC fights uh under the bright lights on big stages. Shauna Bannon uh set a record for the most fights in UFC by any Irish woman um on Saturday night. She is someone who is, you know, should be adored and, you know, she has hundreds if not thousands of girls in this country who are doing MMA and they're looking up to her. She's the one on the bright lights. She's flying the Irish flag. So, at the end of the day, didn't get the result that we wanted, didn't get the result that she wanted, but at the end of the day, she is flying the flag for Ireland. She's the only woman uh from this country in the UFC. uh without her, you know, the opportunities aren't there for the other girls. And I have no doubt she will be back. Uh I'm pretty sure she's recently enough signed a new UFC contract. So, uh hopefully we see her again there out out there soon and she can write those ranks. >> Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Yeah. But it was it was a at this point way to start tonight, but uh things went from bad to worse, Ross. >> Yeah. Unfortunately, Ree McKe uh lost via third round TKO. I thought it was a very early stoppage from the ref. Um wasn't that happy with it. He ate a body shot, went down to his knees, but like I don't think he stopped intelligent to defend himself. Um so you know Herb Dean was obviously looking to give the French crowd a win. Um, and look, at the end of the day, like I I was watching the fight and I actually looked up the scorecards afterwards and apparently uh Solo was given the first two rounds, but I thought Reese landed the harder strikes in the fight and I thought he was the more aggressive. I felt like he was constantly chasing Solo around the cage. So, I feel like Ree was getting hard done by there. And look, again, obviously in the build with this fight, he signed a new UFC contract as well. So, I'd like to see Reese out there again. And I know Ree was preparing this day for a long time. He didn't view this fight being on short notice, but he didn't have a lot of time to change his game plan around for his new opponent. Um, so I'd like to see him with a full camp. I think he went, this was his third opponent that h was given to him in the build fight. I'd like to see him um with a full training camp against an opponent who remains the entire way. >> Yeah. Well, the only issue with Ree was he wore a lot of the damage on his face and then I actually felt like he was the person who was about he was the one who was going to eventually get the finish the way Solo got to finish on him. So, that was uh that was really disappointing. But, I mean, look, it's uh that's what's that now? That's three Irish losses in a row for Kefir, Shawn, and Ree. It was it was only a couple of months ago where it was Kalin, Shauna, and Ree who were the three people who who won, you know what I mean? So, like it's it is swings and roundabouts. It's it's the cruelty of the fight game. >> Yeah. So, look, hopefully they all get another shot again. Um who knows, maybe in the new year, Ross, it could be. >> Yeah, definitely. I think um early January, early Feb nice timeline for them. >> Yeah. Uh, I just want to quickly look at the main event. Uh, Immov defeated Bora Helilio. And Ross, who would you like to see Imov fight next? I think just because Hernandez and Ditter like that fight's made, I'm pretty sure they're fighting in Atlanta. Uh, I don't see DDP getting rematched with Chamay. I think IV has to fight against Jamay next. >> Yeah, >> I think that's the fight to make. I think maybe UFC 323. >> No, that's a good show cuz I like uh record right now is looking absolutely brilliant, especially with all the names he's defeated. And then for the people tuning in now, you see no goes down this weekend. H Diego Lopez is fighting Jen Silva. Ross, who are you going for in this one, bud? Well, look, the fighting nerds went 0 and2 in the main event and co-main event, and I think they might go 0 and three. I think their momentum is not with the fighting nerds at the moment. And I think Diego Lopez, his jiu-jitsu is fairly elite. I think he he might wrap up a submission win in this one. >> Okay, I'm actually just going Jen Silva, man. But uh that was the action over the weekend. And also uh we have to give a shout out to Mick Conland. I know Maxi mentioned earlier, but Mick Conland got the win in Dublin's Tree Arena. Uh just looking at the Irish fighting this week on Wednesday, UAE Warriors goes down. SPG Corks Fufu Farz is back. He is one and0. Ross is someone to look out for on Wednesday night. >> Absolutely. That will be tomorrow if you're watching the show when it drops. Um so yeah, Fu Farah's SPG Cork looked absolutely devastating in his first fight. Um he's looking to make a splash over in UAE Warriors and no doubt he will do it. He's one of the most exciting prospects to watch in the country. Really looking forward to it. Um, are we are we going to France or Newcastle next, Baz? >> Uh, we we may as well go to Newcastle next as Cage Warriors 193 is going down in the tune Ross with two Irish fighters on the card from Fight Academy to look out for. >> Yeah, absolutely. Matthew Elliot is fighting in a featherweight clash. It was looking like he was going to be on Cage Warriors Dublin and I spoke to man up at Kum and he said look if he gets the win in Newcastle he doesn't mind fighting in Dublin as well. Um Matthew Elliot is on a tear at the moment. He's 5-1 and he is taking on a Greek opponent. The same fell that Maxi fought at Cagewires Dublin 188. I expect Matthew Elliot to get the win. I expect him to take him down and ground and pound him out for a finish. And then Jordan O'Neal is fighting H. Michael Tuchumo, I think it's is how you say it. H and look, everyone loves a jumbo fight. Everyone knows he's gonna be an absolute barn burner on the feet. His boxing is really really good. Um he's been really worked on putting those punches together that everyone loves to see, but then also getting out when he's not in there. Um you know, he they're trying to get him to take less damage, which makes sense. And he's an absolute fan favorite to watch up there. So, we haven't seen Jumbo in a while. Really look forward to seeing him get in there and do his thing. And you know what? It's nice to have two other people fighting the week or the fight car before Cage Warriors Dublin cuz uh you know, plenty of tension to go on them that weekend. >> Yeah. Also, we'll make sure to reshare the interview Ross did with Jordan O'Neal at Akuma Fighting Championships. Uh also Saturday night, Aries 34 goes down in France as well. CMAX Jordan Brashaw competes in the card. Uh, we had Jordan Brashaw on last week's podcast. I'll make sure to give that a shout out as well. That will also be linked at the very end of this show. Ross, very excited to see Jordan Brashaw back in action. Yeah, he's got a very, very unique style. He's big into his Muay Thai, so he likes to put that put that M Toy striking to work. Also, the CMAC Pro team at the moment, undefeated. Really, really must see Jordan Bradshaw. Check out the interview with him last week in the buildup to it. Yeah. Then also before we get into more Irish MMA action that's going down on Sunday on Saturday night, the boxing is back as Canelo fights Crawford in the main event and you have to watch out for King Callum Walsh. He's also fighting in that card as well. Ross, who are you back in between Canelo and Crawford? >> I'm You know what? I call everyone Bud, so I'm going to go for Terrence Bud Crawford. What about you, Bud? Um, I'm actually just going to have to go with Canelo because he is my doppelganger after all. >> Same beard. >> Same beard. Same same tan. Uh, also there's boxing in Belfast as well as Lewis Crocker fights um Patty Donovan in a rematch in Windsor Park. Ross, who you going with in this fight, bud? >> Uh, I think I'm going to go for Patty Donovan. I think uh he won it the last time out and I I think um he's going to win and make sure he gets his hand raised in more dominant fashion I think this time out. >> Yeah, I'm going to have to go Donovan as well. And then to wrap up the this weekend's action, your fighting championships uh is going down. Decki Molen has put on another amateur action-packed card. Ross, which fight are you looking forward to seeing the most this Sunday? For me, it is what I think is going to be the main event. It is Matt Ror versus Callum Leech for the middleweight title. H Matt Ror and Callum Lee, both incredible to watch on the feet. I think it's going to be an absolute baron burner. Europe fighting championships live from the Canal Court Hotel in Nuri. It is one not to be missed. There will be links in the bio, but I'm sure there's still tickets available. So, get on to your uh favorite fighter who's fighting on the card or get on to promotion and get your tickets and support your local MMA fighters. >> Amen, baby. Well, Rob, >> Amen, baby. >> That's another action-packed, Energized show. Um, first of all, we want to shout out all the fighters that that give us all the support and come on the show. We were just talking to Max there. Um, just even covering the likes of ADCC that's coming up and obviously we'll be at Cage Warriors as well. But uh we really enjoy doing this and we're here every week and uh look there's loads of more action coming this weekend. I'm sure the people who win and lose like we'll always like look and grow from each and every um opportunity that they get. So like look some people lose some people win but at the end of the day it is all about learning and uh growing as an athlete and as a human being. Ross, >> that was so deep bro. That was deep. >> I thought you said bud. No, I said bro that time because it felt like it was more of a bro moments, you know. >> But uh No, you're right. It it is it is all about that growth and hopefully um everyone stays fit and healthy in the buildup to the Rub and Gum fights and hopefully they are healthy after their fights. That's what we wish for the fighters and um thank you for supporting us. We really really do appreciate it. Every like comment, share that you do on our page really matters to us. So please continue to do so. Give us now a subscribe on YouTube because uh that would also really really help. And as always, >> stay >> stay energized. >> The energized 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. Yoke the chaos cel.