Lewis Byrne

Ringkasan

Okay, so I'm delighted have with me Mr. Lewis Burley, someone I quite fond of. I always go back to this well when I talk to him. One of the first four One of the first original four that let me fight between you, Maga, uh Taylor Quinn, obviously who's out there in Canada now…

Transkrip (youtube_captions)

Okay, so I'm delighted have with me Mr. Lewis Burley, someone I quite fond of. I always go back to this well when I talk to him. One of the first four One of the first original four that let me fight between you, Maga, uh Taylor Quinn, obviously who's out there in Canada now, and Troy Gibson, were the first four from my first ever show. So, it's always lovely coming back to talk to you. How are you? How have you been? Obviously, you've had the fight with Ben Ellis. You were on Cage Warriors. Talk to Maybe bring us back to Cage Warriors and talk to us what it was like being on that. Thank you very much for joining me. And by the way, you fought Dylan on Cage Warriors. You fought another Irish fighter as well. How did it feel to fight an Irish fighter on a platform like that? And And how did you prepare for Dylan, cuz obviously you did get the win, but Dylan is a tricky customer on the ground. >> [clears throat] >> Um yeah, no, Dylan Dylan's super tricky. Um like props to him, you know, he he's a difficult guy um to sort of plan around like ahead of that fight earlier on in the year. Um fighting another Irish guy on an Irish card, it's always like it's it's it's always a bit of a you know, I I I was I think myself and then Alex O'Sullivan were the only two lads fighting other Irish lads on that card. So, there's only like two two Irish Irish fights. Um So, yeah, it's it's a tricky one. It's like, you know, it's it's your fellow Irishman, but at the same time it's like it's you or him at the end of the day, you know what I mean? I'm I'm I'm a I'm a big believer in my own mentality that like when when I'm in there, when they get when [clears throat] they get the Cage Warriors closed behind me, it's like it's it's you or me. You look kind of Definitely not going to be me, you know what I mean? I'm coming out of here like and you're not. So, like it doesn't matter who it is and and where they're from at the end of the day, but it's like it's tricky, you know what I mean? Because it's like you just come up like for for for the most part like a lot of the Irish guys do come up with each other. They're very familiar with each other. And now it's like you get the call like you're fighting so-and-so. Like, oh for [ __ ] sake, like what We're both on the same journey in the same direction, but then again, like everybody is, you know? So, you They to sort of put that to the side because at the end of the day, the the guy you're looking across the cage from like wants to put you away. So, I'm not going to be letting that happen any any anytime soon anyway, Dave. So, that's just the mentality that's sort of behind it. But, uh yeah. Yeah. Regardless of regardless who it is, I'll be getting the job done, you know? >> Yeah, no, 100%. I I think sometimes there is a call for Irish people to fight each other, especially on a platform like Cage Warriors. It's not like [snorts] you obviously you fought uh Paul Redmond the other day, that really famous DJ >> [laughter] >> Yeah, I heard he's all right. Yeah, I heard he's DJing. >> I heard he used to play in the Blacker back in the day. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> Well, [ __ ] I'm only joking. Um well, um obviously when you look at where he came up to all those he likes them they all used to they all fought each other. They all fought each other numerous of times and that's how they stood out. And then we went through a bit of a lull obviously Conor came through, but now we're seeing the kind of what Conor has created. Whether people like him or hate him, the reason why a lot of fighters and why I myself am here is because he brought the sport to the forefront. Uh we had a lull where it wasn't as many Irish fighters, but now that we have such a big population of fighters, do you think >> Yeah. >> that they need to fight each other or do you think that it can be worked around that they don't have to fight each other or do you think that's the best way to get up the country? >> No, I think I think it's inevitable. Um like dependent on the divisions, you know, certain divisions are stacked with like Irish talent like in the country. Um and the likes of like the the a lot of lighter weights I feel, you know, like a lot of like feathers. [snorts] There's not a lot I don't know if there's a pro bantams, but there's a lot of flyweights as well like, you know, not a lot of heavies so, but with those with those divisions I think they're like stacked with guys like you you need to see who the cream of the crop is like, you know, you need to And and for the fighters themselves as well like fighters need to challenge themselves. There's no point like tiptoeing around certain fights that you're like, "Oh, maybe not now, maybe in like two fights from now" or whatever like you you need to challenge yourself. You're never going to grow you need that bit of adversity. You need that that challenge if you ever want to be or if you ever want to get to those heights that like most most lads like are dreaming of that they're setting their goals of getting to the very top. Like, it's just it's something that's going to have to happen, you know? And like the thing I always say is like no matter [clears throat] who the next fight is, like, it's always going to be a tougher fight. Do you know what I mean? If I If I If I want to get to the to the to the peaks that I want to get, like, get get into the UFC and fight in the UFC and fight against these high-level guys, there's always going to be a higher-level guy. Do you know what I mean? And the challenges are going to continue to grow. So, yeah, just you you have to get it done now if you ever want to go as far as you want to. >> Yeah, cuz cuz like you said, those paths are going to cross at some stage. If you're both going in the same direction, you both want to get to the same place. So, you're going to pass some stage. I think >> [snorts] >> the likes of maybe for your first fight or two, maybe not Irish fighters, but when it comes to see like you and Dylan Dylan Logan, he'd been around for a good while and you'd racked up such a good record that that that kind of made sense at the time. Um but when you got the call for Cage Warriors, obviously, we know how much you loved Dublin. You're from the inner city. You do so much work actually as a job as well to help the community and and in your personal life as well. What was it like? What's it like to to be back in Dublin and fight in Dublin? What was it like when you get the call? >> Um you know what? I got I got Well, I didn't get the call per se, but uh I was I think we had trained I think it was like four or four weeks out from the fights and um from the start of year in my head like I was on that card regardless. Like, I thought I mean, you know, I racked up some good wins the previous year. Um I was a local a local lad from from the area, you know, the RDS is like a 5-minute drive, 10-minute drive from from the gaff. Um so, I was in my head at the start of year, I'm like I'm I'm on that card. I don't care like who was going to be. I'm getting on that card. Like, I know I know I'm going to be on that card. So, then I was like four weeks out. We were just training. Um and then at the start of session, um and he was like, "Oh, you you might have a fight with uh Dylan." And we're just going to wait to get it confirmed. And I was like, "All right, 100%." Like it for me like it didn't matter who it was, you know what I mean? He could have named any any single fighter and I was like, "Yeah, I want I want on that card." And then like an hour and a half passed or whatever. At the end of the session, you were like, "Yeah, you're you're on that card." I think um when it was confirmed the the cameras and the lads were there as well taking their photography crew that come over and do the videos and pictures and stuff. So like I went I went from like going to training normal day till like being interviewed at the end of the session talking about the fight. It was great, lovely. The the ball is rolling here. But uh no, it was great. It was great opportunity like um I think that was my first Yeah, that was my first ever fight in Dublin. I've never fought never ever fought in Dublin like and I fought 20 20 odd scraps now like 26 27 fights like Um and yeah, that was the first ever one in Dublin. So it was great to to have that homecoming. It's just it's nice to know that like the family and friends don't have to travel too far to know cuz I know they will travel for me and they've been all over the place. They've been to [ __ ] all over Europe over in the bleeding [ __ ] you'd want to see where you are there for the last fight in Wales. Like I was like as rural as rural as it gets. Me and uh me and Jerry had to get like a train in the car to fight. That was about 2 hours to get a coffee, do you know? So that was rough but uh they've they've been all over the place for me, do you know? But it's nice to like sort of give them that opportunity to just be able to pop over to the other side of it to the city, do you know? To watch me fight. So yeah, it's great. It's great and hopefully we're on the next one as well now when we we get a fight confirmed here in Dublin, >> Yeah, I I have a feeling that you might be. I think you you bring a crowd as well. Like I said, you bring a crowd. You mentioned to us I kind of just want to circle back to him for a second. Obviously he's He's obviously on the card as well. But one thing I've noticed since Sir obviously has made his move over to Rhino a a long way back. Is he seems to be a really integral part of the team. I talked to people in the team as well and and you can see how he is when he's with you. He's going over with you and and how much he cares. >> How [snorts] beneficial has the addition of Joe Harris been to team Ryano? Because he seems I was talking to Paul Brown and he said he would go to, let's say your opponent with Joe. So, like Joe and that's how involved Joe is. Joe is involved with anyone. What How beneficial has Joe been to the gym? >> Joe is just one of those guys like that. He's just he's about the sport. Like he lives and breathes it. Do you know what I mean? If you have any sort of like questions, if you have like if you're any any MMA related, like he's going to [ __ ] deep dive in with you cuz he's just so about the sport, you know what I mean? He's super integral part of the team, you know. We're all We're all brothers like we're close in a team up there. We're not a big huge massive, you know, like franchise team where you have our commercial gym. We have like loads of lads who are coming from abroad to train there. Like we're close knit group of lads like we grew up together. So, you know, we've we've been training and we've all been on this journey together. So, it's like we're all reaping the fruits now as well. It's really nice to see. And we're always there for each other as well like whether it's traveling to such a place and and cornering and and doing whatever we can for each other, you know? Um so, yeah, now like we're we're we're brothers up there, you know? Every last one of us. Um I think it's it's it's a really good thing to you know, start off like that. Um as a small unit, you know what I mean? And like go all the way cuz like every single last one of us are capable of going all the way. I know that. And but it's great to have people like Joe up in the gym, you know? For sure. >> Yeah, you you see some really good people there. There's some people obviously that I'd be quite fond of. I talked to Solomon obviously. Um you were talking [clears throat] earlier Aaron Henry is someone who I love. I think I don't I don't care whether that boy wins or loses. There's a lot of fights that I think he should have won that he didn't win. And split decision. But no matter what happens in his fights, it's exciting. I remember Jason and who would have been bantamweight Aaron last minute and Jason was like, "Oh my god. That boy does not give up. He kept going. He kept throwing up subs." It just goes to show the the the level that you have in the gym, but we'll just talk about Ben Ellis there. Obviously, that was a massive victory as well. For me, he was the first person that put Max Lally to any adversity. We've like he test Max. What was it like when you knew you were going to be fighting him the level he's fought at? I'm looking here now. He's actually in his last three fights he's zero and three against Irish lads. So, I wouldn't say he's too fond of us at the minute. What was it like getting off of that fight someone of his level and then going in and and and competing the way he did? >> Yeah, and like then taking that fight you know like for for me that was that was my biggest fight so far. Ben's had all of his fights on Cage Warriors and PFL as well. So, that was just like goes to show the level that that Ben was at like and and all props to Ben. And the one thing I heard from every single person and just watching his fights I can watch him some of some of his fights back in [clears throat] the in the build up and the preparation for the fight was like everyone told me he's tough. He's tough like he's he's tough and like I like yeah, he's tough yeah, but like we'll find out like and then I but now I can I can also confirm Ben is very [ __ ] tough. >> [laughter] >> But yeah, now just just just that again like it was the next How do you say? It was the next step up for me. Do you know what I mean? It was like if you could look at a graph of my like all my my pro fights and my last couple of amateur fights we've been on like a steady steady increase in in in level of guys. Do you know what I mean? And so so Ben obviously just like had a different set of challenges that I had to overcome. And yeah, it was it was it was great experience going over there and fighting on SFC Samurai FC over in Wales. Good to see the place you know, I've never been to Wales. And yeah, it was it was a fun little weekend you know. It was great fight. I really enjoyed the fight. I really felt like I grew heaps in that fight as an athlete mentally, emotionally, physically all these things like I really felt like I leveled up after. Um yeah, [ __ ] I really I put I poured me self into that fight, you know what I mean? Um but I got back I got back what I gave him. Um The fight was Do you know like it was it was one of those fights where if if you seen the whole thing, like it was a [ __ ] it was a war. Um I felt like I done I done enough by the end of it before the the judges even gave me the fight and the ref raised me hand. So like at the end of the fight I was confident, but yeah, it was a it was a a challenge, you know? It was like it was a challenge fight. It was a war, but I felt like I had done enough in my performance to get that win. >> Yeah, no. I I can only imagine what it's like standing there. Do you know when and like I it's probably I I'm pretty sure if you go through your record it probably has happened in the past when you you're standing there and you think, "Yeah, that's mine." And then some some days it doesn't go against you, but performance was was spectacular and and like that it was a war. And and like I said, you now know how how tough he is. With with regards to obviously looking forward, you've got Cage Warriors. You'd love to be back on the show. Um I would I would presume if they're going to be getting on to you they'd be getting on to you on to you shortly. Do you Do you Do you just stay in camp and stay prepared? I I I assume you don't really bounce out camp that much unless you're on a family holiday or a holiday with your girlfriend or something similar like that. Are you constantly on the go and training? Yeah, like we're like I said, we're a small team, you know, but we're all about it. Like we're all we're all ready to take fights. Um we're all training the same to to the same extent, like whether we're in camp or out of camp. But like when when it's in camp we will up the intensity, you know what I mean? And people will be getting worked a little bit more. But like the one thing I can say about every last one of the lads up there is we're consistent, like we show up every single day. So it's like that's also inevitable that we're all going to end up in the same place eventually, you know what I mean? The the the the up our levels of MMA, like professional MMA. So it's just that that consistency that's hard to beat, you know? For me, I was hoping I had like a little bit extra, a little bit longer of a break for this one cuz it was such a war. And like it was like a couple of weeks and then the next cage or he's got announced. I was like, "Oh Jesus." [laughter] I was like I was like we booked me and the misses booked a holiday in next month and now that's cancelled cuz I'm maybe hopefully on this next Dublin card, you know. Um so we'll reschedule that for afterwards. But yeah, no. Um I'm always ready to go, you know. Like the other thing that I learned as well over the last couple of years is like beggars can't be choosers, you know. If there's a a big show coming to Ireland or if there's a fight opportunity, like you can't be like, "Oh I have a holiday four or five weeks after now. Like I might leave and come back." Like it's it's a young man's game. The more time you waste is a more advantage to the next generation of young lads coming up looking to eat you, you know what I mean? Like it's it's it's an animal kingdom like this MMA thing, you know. And if you want to if you're not on it, if you're not all the way in, like you best believe there's going to be some other lad from some other country from a [ __ ] horrible area who wants to take all away from you, you know what I mean? So that's just the mentality you have to have. Like if beggars can't be choosers, but look this one this one now um hopefully if we get something confirmed end of September, I I would say I don't know. I I always say to myself, "Ah, you know, I'll have a break after that." And then you get a fight or something like, "Ah this is what I chose to do. So I'll do another fight before the end of the year." But now I'll say I won't say anything about it later on in the year anyway. Touch wood. Um but yeah, no. We're always we're always ready to go. To to answer your question, I'll come back >> [laughter] >> Yeah, no. 100% you're always ready to go. And like you said, if like there's an opportunity like you said, "No, I'll go on the holiday. I might take it after." There's so many like we've just talked about the pool of fighters that they have at their disposal from not just this country, UK, and all across Europe. That opportunity might go with it. Do you know what I'm saying? Like and go, "Well, you got your chance. you didn't take it. So, >> Yeah. >> And that's >> You know what I mean? Like that was that was a big thing for me as well this year cuz it was like it was the difference like the the the fighting cage warriors went went pretty well. So, I was like, all right, yeah, they they they might have me back on again on if the next open show is before the summer or whatever fight around the UK. But then at the same time it's like maybe, you know, they won't and they'll pick from their pool of fighters in the UK. And that was one of the main reasons that I wanted to stay active as well this year like I was like I got offered that that world title fight. You know, I was like, yeah, I'm not getting offered anything else from anybody else. So, yeah, I will take that. You know, and then it was just I I've stayed active. Um and now I've another one well, hopefully you know, confirmed in the next like little few weeks or whatever. Um and it's just it's all about that because at the same time like I said, like you want to be consistent and sometimes like it's completely out of your hands now in your power to stay consistent. So, look, in the space of 1 year since last September, that that'll be four fights. That's like a godsend like from the MMA guys like, you know what I mean? To get four fights in the space of a year, that's that's you you can't ask for anything more. You know, the stars really have to align for four fights in a year. Two great, three brilliant, before like, yeah, you're you're onto something there, you know? >> Yeah, it it's very good cuz I interviewed someone just there before you and I was looking back to you and they were averaging on two a year and they were looking to try and get more but with pullouts and things happening and stuff like that. So, we I remember you was being active. I think you corrected me once what it it was was it 12 fights in 10 months you had at one stage? It was you and Taylor Quinn when you were all over the IMMAF and you were fighting every second [clears throat] weekend. >> It was it was something like that. I've definitely taken a few more punches to the head. So, I'm not going to even try and correct you. I probably won't be able to remember myself there but yeah, it was something along those lines, yeah. >> So, it's good to see you've taken the activity into pro. Obviously, you can't take as that much activity because I remember at the time you went and that and then you took a good while out as well after and [snorts] then we spoke previously about bringing Molly and stuff on and your mentality. You like she seems to have just changed that for good. She's put little things in there. I don't know if you still do work with her. I'm assuming you probably do or whether you do or not, but the stuff she's giving you seems to really reinforce your your mind and your mentality and showing you how good you you are made you believe it and go out and and fill these gaps. How do you feel after doing that and you think it is maybe something a lot more fighters should look at if they feel that they're lacking in the mental cuz like that like what Tyson Fury says, if you break your arm you go to the doctor to something not that there's something wrong with your head but if you need something to fix it, you go and get it fixed as well and especially in fighting like you said you have to be all in. Uh due credit kind of what she's done to kind of this run you've been on as well. >> Yeah, no definitely. Um like I would have started working with Molly from the very beginning of my professional career. Um once we once we finished our amateurs, I think I I met with Molly for the first time just a couple of weeks out from my first pro fight. Um and you know we've been working working together ever since. Um and like that like I'm saying like fighters some fighters think they're all in whether amateurs or pros, but they don't realize there's like it's not just training and you know what I mean like recovery is a all thing. Sometimes you need to take two or three days off. I remember being like a younger amateur I like just like training seven days a week every week in a month. No rest, you know what I mean? Who needs rest like all this recovery is a thing. Nutrition is a thing. Like a lot of fighters don't understand like what calories thing is, how much carbs they should be eating before a session, how they refuel should go after fight. And like some some fighters like whether they're working with nutritionists and things like that, brilliant. Some aren't. So like if you want to be all in, you have to be all on top of your recovery, your food, like the psychology of yourself and your mentality and that's just another thing that I'll be a huge advocate for. Um it does [clears throat] like not not that like it changes you as a fighter, but just like um if you want that extra 1% if and a 1% is going to make you slowly better, take it and do it and do whatever you need to do to get that even if it's a half percent. I'd rather be a half percent better than a percentage lower or the same, do you know what I mean? So, any little thing that you can do and that like absolutely credit Molly 100% like the the stuff we've been working on. It's nothing crazy like it's nothing crazy like you know, it's not you don't have to necessarily go to a sports psychologist because you have an issue or because you have a problem. But just about like it's just another little thing that adds to the the the the catalog of of different things you're doing to try to improve yourself as an athlete and as a as a fighter, do you know? >> Yeah, cuz cuz like you said, you can train all day every day, but there there's an aspects and and nutrition is a huge one that's go coming a long way with the people work with nutrition. I know especially I'm not sure if getting nutrition is would be would be quite costly cuz you know yourself even a pro early pro is quite costly, but that's one of the big thing cuz like that being in shape like I said, fueling your body right and stuff like that, I think it went underrated for a long time. The mental side went underrated and you can see like I said, all these little things just add up so you having that little bit more of an advantage over the next guy who hasn't got that done. And like I said, if you show up and you do everything that you need to do, then it it should be good. But look, I got to let you go. I've really enjoyed this conversation. I can't wait to see if you do get something booked for September. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out? I know I want to thank you so much for your time again on a busy Sunday cuz consistency is the thing. He was in two gyms today. Two team Ryan was training in before he came on here. >> Had had the lunch, had the refill when I got back, made sure I was hitting all my numbers there. So yeah, we're staying consistent. And well now, would you know, just no no no shout out no shout outs in particular. But just like obviously there's there's a big card coming up in Dublin. So, you know, if anyone's on two minds about going, get yourself a ticket. The the card was [ __ ] top of the pops, it was top of the range. and it's going to be a lot of great fights on it. I'm looking forward to seeing all the other fights as well that get announced as well for that. There should be some more interesting match-ups because there's already been a couple of really good, you know, Irish vs. Irish match-ups announced so far. Probably have a Andy Andy Stevenson to thank for for the Irish vs. Irish fights. I'll give him a little shout-out. But, um yeah, now look, we'll um we're just going to sit tight. We're going to continue training, continue doing everything I need to do and then hopefully in 2 months' time we'll be we'll be seeing my uh my fight highlights from the the last fights, you know? So, yeah. >> Hopefully you do. Uh thank you very much for your time. It's been an absolute pleasure to watch your journey to this stage and I can't wait to continue and watch the rest and go along the journey with you. It's been an absolute pleasure, Lewis. >> Appreciate that. Thank you.