Aidan Fegan interview

Ringkasan

Aidan Fagan is an amateur MMA fighter representing SBG HQ in Dublin he's going to Georgia to compete in the IMMAF World Championships We speak about preparation for the tournament him getting the silver medal in the Europeans in February add the current instructional he's doing…

Transkrip (youtube_captions)

Okay, so it's my pleasure to have back with me Mr. Aiden Fagan. He's going to be traveling to the IMAPs. He's he's competed in quite a few competitions. I just looked over his record just to brush up before we started. 10 fights in the last two years. Five currently this year. And then obviously we're going to the Iron Master. There's going to be a couple more fights as well. Thank you very much for your time. How are you feeling? You're not too far away. Uh when do you go out? When do you start traveling? And I appreciate your time today. >> Um yeah, no worries. Thanks for having me. Um, I I'm flying out next Friday to Georgia and then the first fight will be on Monday. So, tournament's going to go from Monday through to Saturday. So, that's November 1st. No, November 2nd, I think, is the first fight and then the finals on November 7th. and with the because obviously you've gone to quite a few and and you're you're I want I want to say a veteran at this stage but you've you've you've had a lot more experience then of a lot more other people in these tournaments. What are they like for you now? Because obviously when you first go there's a lot of you don't know what's going like when you know you're going out you know exactly like when you're traveling what you do when you get there stuff like that. What's it like that? Do you feel more at ease going to these competitions because you know exactly what's ahead of you? >> Yeah. Yeah definitely definitely helps. I definitely uh felt the benefit at the last one of like my experience from the previous years. Um I think the first time I did IMAPs and like I've heard a few people say this like it's kind of uh it just feels a bit different like there's something it's just a it's a big it's a big event and it's sort of weird the way you're there's no crowd there's no walk out. It's like there's four fights going on, four cages, you know, on at the same time. So, it doesn't really feel like like a regular show. It sort of feels different. Um, so it is a different kind of uh feeling being there. So I think it did help having the experience from the previous years and um having experience of fighting a few days in a row like uh now before before February I'd only I did two fights in a row at the 25 IMAPs then I did two fights in a row at the Irish Nationals and then in February I ended up having four fights in a row. So, like it is uh it's uh it's it's a different experience than than especially if you've never done it before. Like it's uh it does help to have that experience of having gone through it before, you know. >> Yeah. Cuz fighting that many days consecutively can be quite taxing. What What do you find what do you find the most positive and beneficial things that you get out of fighting that many days in a row? >> Um Let me see. like it kind of uh you get more you get a bit more kind of free or comfortable in the cage like I've felt it before like for example if I have a like if I have say a fight simulation like sparring in the cage if I have a I did it before maybe I did it on Friday and then the next week I did one on Monday and it was like it's only a few days since I'd sparred and so on Monday I'm like ah I feel I feel more uh uh more loose you know you just feel more comfortable. So, whenever you have multiple fights in a row, I think you get a bit more comfortable in the cage and just like a bit more uh you know, a little bit less anxious or you know, I wouldn't even say less anxious because I was still anxious, but like it kind of after the first fight, it's like your body just can't produce the same amount of nerves that many days in a row. So, you kind of just get into a mode where it's almost just like, you know, whatever's going to happen's going to happen kind of thing. Um, so it just it's a weird sort of psychologically it's like a weird experience to to fight that many days in a row. You kind of just have to have to uh well it just forces you into a place where you sort of just let go a little bit like you know. >> Yeah. I can imagine you were talking about your nerves that you you couldn't have the if you had the nerves like the way you said it affect you'd probably be in a ball of nerves by the end if if if it kept affecting you. One of the things is obviously you have to make way every day for that just for people who are are listening at home and they might not have experienced you have to make way every day. How difficult or or easy would you say that is? And obviously I would presume now you have it down to a routine you know what to expect but for people who might be going for the first time let's say um what were the difficulties you face and how you overcame then then over time make a way every day. Well, I think like the the mistake that people make is trying to cut too much weight for IMAPs because um you know, you can do that for one day, you'd be all right probably for the first day if you do, you know, a couple kilos in the sauna, but then you need to refuel after your fight and whatever you do for the first day, you're going to need to do it again the next day. So, if you're having four fights in your sauna and for dropping two kilos in the sauna every night, like that's going to have a toll on you as the tournament progresses. So the first year I did it at 70 kilos at lightweight. Um and I just dieted down to that weight, but I did feel I was very drained by the time the fight came. Like it was almost like uh I was spent before I'd even had my first fight, you know. Um so the second year then I moved up in weight to super lightweight. Like I'm kind of small for the weight class, but um it makes the the it it's not that hard for me to make the weight. I can kind of get down. Like right now I'm maybe 1 kilo over that. So, uh I think that's just the main thing is you don't want to cut too much weight for IMAS because you've got to weigh in every day and you want to be able to refuel after your after your fights. >> Yeah. And then obviously if you're successful in your fights, your teammates might not be and they're going to be eating nice food around you. It is that's another difficulty that someone said I was texting someone. They were like, "Man, I'm going to eat my blueberries and they have this food and that food." But I think I think like you said, I think it's it's important because I think especially at amateur level, I know obviously you're kind of at the more experienced level. I know when you go on to uh when when you go on and fight on regional shows, like obviously you'll be doing more of the weight cuz I think for IMF, I don't think do do you find that when you cut less weight, your performance is better or do you feel that you you perform better when you when you do cut more and you have the extra weight? But you said you were spent there. So I'm assuming going into IMAS daily it's probably better to cut that little bit and does do you think it helps perform better because like you said you were spent before your first fight even do you did you feel a lot better going in at the higher weight? >> Yes. um not even not even just in the fight but also in in preparation like you know when you have to cut a lot of weight I feel like training camp can almost just become like about making weight and it's like every day you go to training you're sort of you're drained and you don't feel good and you know you're not performing as well in training then and you don't feel as confident I think then so I'd rather like well this is kind of what I I decided to try it in 2025 like I was a bit wary to move because I knew I'd be fighting bigger guys. But um I just feel it's better. You have more energy in training and I found I enjoyed the whole process of being at IMAS way more because I had more energy. I you know it's like I didn't even when you're dieting really heavy. You might not even realize it but it's like your mood's worse. You're just you don't have as much uh energy and sort of uh it was just more enjoyable when I when I wasn't cutting as much weight. And then I think, you know, the results sort of showed in February when uh I made it to the final of the IMAF. Like I was one of the smaller guys in the division, but I felt as the tournament went on, the other guys were were cutting more weight and they had, you know, they it was going to it was it was the more the tournament went on, the more it benefited me that I wasn't cutting weight because like once you get three or four days in and you're cutting weight every day, like that starts to take a toll on you. So, I do feel that I perform better, especially for for a multiple day event. I think if it's only one fight, you know, I could get away with cutting more, but for a multiple day event, I think I perform better with with uh less of a weight cut. >> Yeah. Cuz like that, if it was a regional show, you're going to have uh you unless it's that in the Republic, you're going to have the the day before weighing as well, which gives you then plenty of time to refuel, whereas in the IMAS. So, that's why you're saying about not cutting weight. I spoke to a fighter, they were saying they weigh in, they got knocked out, said they couldn't remember the whole day because obviously the fluid hadn't properly uh got back to the brain. They said it's something they'd never do again. So that's something to steer clear of as well. Don't be cutting too much weight for day of weigh-ins. Your health is more important. And like like you said, look at the success you had in in February getting to the final. How did it feel first of all to get to the final? How how did it feel as as a fighter? Like it like cuz it's only it's not I know it's not back in February. It wasn't too long, but how does it feel to get to the final representing your country in these tournaments? >> Yeah, that was um that was like one of the best best feelings of my life, I think, when I won the semi-final. Um like the second day, the the quarterfinals in February was against the French guy Kenji Gonde, who was uh he was a beast. He was one of the the bigger guys in the division. And it was a really hard fight and like I didn't know after that fight. I'd had a fight before the year before at the IMAS that was like similar was like a really hard fight and the next day I was like oh I don't you know I'm I'm exhausted from that one. So, I didn't know how I was going to be able to perform going into that semi-final and I was pretty nervous and I was like, you know, there was sort of a psychological barrier where I it was like kind of I wouldn't I didn't expect beforehand that I was going to make the final and so it was kind of like uh it just felt like a a big moment going into that semi-final and I just kind of forced myself to be like stay in the moment just one you know I was like I'm not even because I was the guys that I the other semi-finalists um I don't know if you've seen some of my Instagram posts I've kind of shared some of this stuff but um the guy who was Masonaro who won the the IMAFS like I'd watched him before the tournament and I watched him at the tournament and I like I was like [ __ ] hell he's really good and I kind of had him on a bit of a pedestal and I was like I was scared to fight him like I was like I don't like that fight for me you know um and so it came to the semis and I was like if I win [ __ ] sake I've got fight him or I've got to fight the other Finnish guy who who was a beast as well and like difficult stylistic kind of matchup for me. So I was like I'm I'm scared to win the semi-final cuz I'm like these guys are really tough that I have to fight in the final. So like I kind of just focused [snorts] only on the one fight in front of me and um I was turned was like the day before was really hard but then the semi-final was kind of smooth like I I didn't really I I got hit with a big spin and back fist but apart from that it was pretty smooth fight was pretty dominant. uh when when that fight was end when that fight ended and I was like, "Holy [ __ ] I'm in I'm through to the final." That was like a a crazy feeling and uh yeah, it was a it was amazing. Uh it was like it's sort of like peaceful in a weird way. I don't know. It was it was sort of weird. It was like uh kind of surreal, you know? So, um that was a great feeling getting through to the to the final. was like [ __ ] you know, like I don't know, just sort of when you exceed what you thought you were kind of capable of, you know? >> Yeah. How did you feel as a fighter and as a person like meddling? Because like meddling is a is a huge deal. Do you want to sort way especially like you said you went in with those beasts and and like I like it honestly as well saying that you didn't want to go in against this person that person. So basically I'm going to break this down because I'm I'm asking two questions at once here now I've noticed. So one how did it feel like medlining bringing that that back home? And number two, do you feel that going forward you won't put people on that pedestal as well? Because obviously we faint in your ability and obviously you faint in your ability as well, but it's only like if I went for a job interview or something, you know, this sort of way, I'm going to have nerves as well and and it's it's normal. I cuz I think if you don't get those nerves, I think it's there something might be wrong or you're just a real cool character. But I think 90% of people will get those nerves. So how did it feel to medal bring the medal back home? How did you feel when you arrived back home with the medal and are you do you look at opponents differently now because of how the tournament progressed last time? >> Yes. Um good question. Yeah. Um how did it feel to meddle? Well, it was it was a good feel like it it was felt great to get through to the quarters where I was like I'm guaranteed a medal now. When I won that quarterfinal, it was that was my goal before the IMAS was to win a medal. So when I quarterfinal was a split decision, it ended and I was like, I don't know if I've got it or not. It was a very close fight and I got that I got through. I was like, I've got a medal. That was kind of like, oh [ __ ] that's cool, you know? But then you can't celebrate too much because I'm fighting again the next morning. So, um, then I got through to the final and then the feeling of being in the final, like the day before the final, there was one day of rest. So, and that was like one of the best days of my life. I don't know. It was just like uh I was just I went around the city a little bit, got some food, got my haircut. It was just like but I just had a a a really nice feeling inside where it was kind of just like, you know, I'm in the I'm in the European final here. This is pretty cool. Um, so that was great. But then once I actually had the fight and then lost and, you know, was getting like was receiving my medal and stuff, I didn't feel like I was disappointed that I lost to be honest. And I was kind of like I think I realized in the fight to maybe answer this might answer your second question. Then I maybe realized in the fight like you know I was winning the first round and I was like this guy he's like I respect the opponent. He's he's a great fighter. He's ranked number one in Europe. He's obviously very good. But it was like he wasn't this like superhuman that I built him up to be. And I was like I think I could have won that fight. And I was a little bit disappointed that I almost um you know I don't want to be too hard on myself because it wasn't like I let myself lose but I was almost like there was a sense of relief almost when he submitted me that was like thank god this is over because it was like just the nerves and the pressure and just like four fights in four days. um you know I don't know if I should be so honest as to admit all this stuff but I you know um like there was a part of me that once when he caught me in the submission I was almost like relieved it was over but and I've had that feeling before but afterwards it's kind of like you feel a little bit empty or kind of like [ __ ] like you know you think it would be great for it to be over and then it's over and you're kind of like it doesn't feel good you know it's like when you lose even though it's like I I'm losing in the European final getting the silver medal. It still never uh feels nice to to lose, you know, especially get submitted. So, um but by that stage, I was also just being through so much for the week, like just kind of emotionally and mentally and physically, everything. You're just kind of you're just kind of stripped down. And so like the medal was kind of like whatever, you know, a little bit even though it was like this thing that I really strove for, but it was more like I'm proud of myself for for the process of what I've went through here. Um, and like there's a satisfaction and kind of knowing that you've really pushed yourself and challenged yourself to the to the limit and kind of like uh gone through so much, you know? So I was kind of had a satisfaction of myself. It was cool. like the medals. It's a nice medal and it felt great coming back and having a medal and everyone's taking pictures with me and stuff, but I was also exhausted from uh from the tournament. Like it was completely I felt for about two or three weeks afterwards, I was pretty wiped out. Especially the first week when I got back, I was just like I'm spent here, you know? So, um the aftermath wasn't like anything amazing. I've had it was more satisfying when I won the Irish Nationals, I think, cuz I had a bit more energy, but like um the so there was the satisfaction of just like what I'd gone through. I was proud of myself for that. That was probably the most kind of real sort of feeling there. And then for sure I think I learned a lesson not to uh not to put people on a pedestal and also to realize that like I'm at this I'm at the level here you know like I sort of had maybe like imposttor syndrome where you think do I really belong at this kind of in the final and at this level and I think I sort of showed myself okay like you know he's a good fighter uh but like I've shown that I'm I belong at that level and I kind of to not put anyone not make anyone in my head that that like, oh, I can't beat this guy or, you know, there's still good there's still good fighters in the division this time around that I'm like, I rate them highly and I'm like, it's a difficult fight, but I'm not making it like he's above me and I can't beat him, you know. >> No, and that's good. And I want to say, look, thank you for your honesty as well because there is some fighters that will admit Kieran Brady someone who swings to mind. He said exactly the words you imposter syndrome is is what he gets and then you seen Kieran Brady's fought on cage wires and he's a very good fighter. And obviously your levels obviously your levels are very high as well. And you're going into these things put thinking these people that you're there. You're there in the final with them for a reason. They do. Do you know the sway? You're not there by chance. You're not there by look. You're there because you put in the graft and you you got to get there. Do you know the sort of way? So I think sometimes you fighters, but it's easy for me to say. I think you need to be kinder to yourselves, but also I think you also do need that little bit of not of imposter syndrome, but that little bit of kind of doubt because I think that's what's going to push you to always get better. Cuz if I know myself in the job, if I'm comfortable, I will do [ __ ] all. Yeah, I'll coach. Whereas if I have a boss that's on me, I will I'll be I'll be three times the worst if I'm left to my own device. Whereas at least if you're and it's good that you're self-critical and self- thinking of yourself because then I think that's what will spur you on. But in terms of the eye mass as well, one more question on kind of the eye mass and then I'm going to move on to I want to talk to you about your culture and your content you've been putting out. But in terms of a new opponent every day and you don't know who it is, do you think that benefits you or is not a benefit? I personally think it's quite good because obviously for this is my thoughts on it like on a show you you knew you were going to be fighting Russ a timeout so you know that's your opponent. So your game plan and your this, but I think when you get people and it's day after day, you get to concentrate on you and what you want to do. Is it would would that be right in what I'm saying or is that kind of off the mark all together? Yeah, I think in I think in the preparation like it it does um there's less uh I think in preparation it's like that you're focused on yourself and you're just focused on getting getting you know becoming the best version of yourself you can be for that for that tournament and you're not you're not game planning for a particular style. It's like you're just ready for all sides. I think that's more enjoyable to to kind of uh prepare for because you're you're not and there's less anxiety when you're not focused on a particular opponent, you know, you're just focused on yourself. Um I think once it gets to the tournament then, you know, it's like each day is like a new little sort of it is something I I kind of enjoy that aspect of it too where it's like every day there's a new style to kind of a new opponent to figure out and you you know you're kind of each day you don't know who it's going to be the next day. just one day at a time. It's like, okay, tomorrow I'm fighting this guy, so what's my game plan against him? And then the next day you've got somebody new. That's like kind of a fun uh a fun aspect to it. Um it's like a challenge. Um and then yeah, so [snorts] I think I think in preparation it makes you focus just on yourself and then at the tournament it's like every it's just one one at a time, you know, kind of figuring out the the opponent of the of the day. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I really like that as well and like you're saying you a different side every day. I think that will help then going forward your fight IQ because you're then the force to like really be in the moment and really make the tells. Whereas if like you said when you fought Georgia Russ you're going to be like okay he's going to do this you kind of pre have it mapped out. Whereas when you're in the cage and you don't know like you you might see some of his stuff you're not going to be able to do too much. You're gonna have to try and tell on the fly. And I think that will potentially have Have you found that that h it's helped your fight IQ in fights because you haven't had the knowledge beforehand? You've had to learn it in in real time. Um well I think it definitely [clears throat] I think you get a lot of experience like you yes there's an element of that where you learn things in each fight you know for example going into the third fight I think I think I did a like it was I I got a decent read of like because I was quite nervous watching the for the third uh for the semiinal. I hadn't watched the guy at all and I was I was just I've been busy getting back from the arena. We went out for food and I was just like I texted uh Kevin Morren who was the coach and I was like I haven't watched this guy for tomorrow but I'm just going to go to sleep and we'll figure it out in the morning and I went to sleep and then I woke up couldn't sleep. It's so hard to sleep when you're fighting every day h because your nervous system is just wired. So, I woke up then at 3:00 a.m. and I was like, "Right, better start watching this guy's fights." So, I started watching him and I was like I kind of got the feeling like um he sort of has a little bit of like a bully kind of style where he he he comes out really hard and when people kind of give him too much respect, he kind of he kind of puts it on them. But then I sort of felt like and one of his opponents actually the opponent his opponent from the day before I met him in the hotel and then he was texting me kind of giving me some insight. But I was like one when when people kind of don't back down and and throw back then he kind of gets a little bit more timid. So I sort of realized that going into the third fight and I was like sort of just mentally preparing myself for like okay need to be ready for a scrap here like you know I need to kind of find some sort of it's not really my usual style but I was kind of like I got to have to sort of pull that pull a little bit of that out of me. So going into the third fight then I think that was like a good experience where it was exactly what happened then cuz he came out hard in the first 10 seconds and I was kind of like well [ __ ] you know like he's but then as soon as I started firing back he kind of would start backing up and then I I sort of put it on him like you know. So um that was like a good uh I don't know if it's fight IQ or like I guess an element that's fight IQ but sort of that was that was like a good a good lesson about fighting. Um, and yeah, I think I think there is an element of that of like kind of it helps your fight IQ having these different different uh challenges every day that you're not really fully prepared for, you know. >> You know, I don't know how you do it at all. Like I that's why I commend G what you do and fair play to and I really like the way you explain this and I think a lot of people are going to get a lot from what you said about the immask because like you so much experience but we were going to move on. We were talking about you've content as well that you put out. You were mentioning the Patreon. Do you want to expand more on the Patreon and then kind of break down what's involved, what content you put and stuff like that because I know from what I see, but I don't know the depths of it sort of way. So, I'll give you the floor and you can let everyone know what's the Patreon, what you do on it, how much it is, where do you find it, etc., stuff like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, like I always uh I always watch a lot of instructionals like uh John Danaher and Craig Jones and everything like BJJ Fanatics. done that for years and I've watched like uh more instructionals than than most people I would say. Um so I've always kind of been into that and I I always thought like it'd be cool to kind of have my own eventually. So um I sort of started it with there's a couple of moves that I have used many many times in fights like the my body lock takedown that I use and inside trip. Um, I've used those like so many times in fights and in sparring and I always put clips on Instagram and stuff. So, I started out with like I'm going to record some instructionals of of these takedowns and see, you know, if anyone's interested because I think it's genuinely like uh valuable and there's maybe not that much like I haven't really seen uh these things taught uh the same way that that I do them, you know. So, um, I thought it would be, uh, just, you know, something valuable for people and something for me to kind of try. So, I recorded some instructionals for the inside trip and the body lock. And then, you know, I I coach obviously at SBG um, in the morning. So, like I I just started to record more of my techniques, more of my kind of the things that I use. did one on half guard on attacking the single leg and now I have like must be 15 different sort of uh instru little mini instructional series on different kind of different kind of aspects of of mostly mostly MMA grappling like it's it's suitable for everything I do is suitable for jiu-jitsu as well for sport jiu-jitsu but it's all kind of jiu-jitsu that works for MMA to grapple and is is everything, you know, I want I don't want to learn something that's good for jiu-jitsu, but it's not going to work in MMA or you're going to get punched in the face. So, everything I teach works for MMA, but it also will work for jiu-jitsu, too. So it's basically just breakdowns of and you know I think another thing about it is like uh John Kavanaaugh um obviously is like you know extremely respected coach around the world but he doesn't really have any uh he hasn't done I'm sure if he did instructions he would get uh lots and lots of uh people buying them but he hasn't put out any instructional so like there's people are getting sort of a secret script here because like a lot of what I um comes from John, you know, so um or at least is heavily kind of influenced by John. So like just kind of sharing different parts of the of my sort of approach to MMA and kind of John's approach to MMA uh MMA grappling particularly. Um so it's uh it's on my Patreon. You can find it on my Instagram. It's just like I think it's just called Aiden Fagan or Aiden Fagen Coaching maybe. If you if you go on my Instagram, you'll you'll find the link to it. Um, and it's €10 a month, and for €10 a month, you get access to to everything. Um, so there's like maybe 20 instructionals there. It's takedowns, it's ground game. Um, so there's a lot of there's a lot of content and I make new videos usually once a week. So I'm putting out a new kind of series or a new sort of videos every week. And you know, it's pretty cheap, €10 a month. If you if if you subscribe for one month and then you decide you don't like it, you can just cancel. All you've spent is €10. So, I think it's uh I think it's valuable. I think it's a pretty reasonable deal. And I think, you know, there's some good content there, especially like inside trip and body lock. Those were takedowns that I've used very successfully. Um so, so yeah, I think there's some some good content there for for people. No, it is good because I it caught my eye as well because like I said, John Cavana doesn't do them. Like I said, if he done them, I I'd say there'd be loads of people buying them this like there's a few people that do them and I remember Kieran Davern was doing a bit of a series at one one stage. He was more aimed it was more I think it was more jiu-jitsu kind of based his one because obviously Kieran Davin is one of the best crackers within the country. But I think it's a nice little mark as well. And then like that if you get people like I said if it's €10 a month it's not a huge amount it's not even two coffees anymore in the city center anyways it's a coffee and a half. So that's the way I look at and then like that cuz if just say they bought the month and you've got whatever 10 15 videos they can consume them then for the month and then if they feel like that it's too much or they don't have the funds then at least they've got the use of the amount of of content for that time. But um I think it's a really good idea cuz obviously you need to try and fund yourself going to the IMAS. That's one thing that we didn't touch on and I don't think we're going to have time time today either because people don't realize it costs like and especially with the amount you've gone over. I can't even imagine how much you've you've put in. But look, I want to wish you best luck come at the upcoming tournament as usual. Is there anything you'd like to say before you go or anyone you'd like to shout out? And thank you very much for your time. >> Um nothing to say. I guess tune in for the for the IMAFS uh November 2nd uh IMAF.tv. Um and that's it. Um not many. If you want to follow along, you can follow my Instagram. I usually share some kind of updates and insight along the way. So um but yeah, thanks for the interview. Enjoyed uh enjoyed it. So yeah. >> No, so have I. And like I said, he's actually you've got a GoFundMe actually before we do leave. do have a go for me set up as well. So, if anyone is interested in helping Aiden get there as well, cuz like we said, it's not cheap. It's not easy to get over there. I will link it to this as well. I'll link it to this interview and I'll link it to whatever reels are up as well. And if there's anything I can do to help you in the meantime, just shout me directly on on a message. Aiden, I want to thank you so much for your time and enjoy the rest of your day. >> Thanks, Dave.