Belfast MMA jnr leagues 2

Ringkasan

I spoke to Adam and Henry about the biggest, venue and fight card to date with the League this Saturday We speak about having to cut off matching due to high demand, the amount of hours gone into it and what people can expect this Saturday

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So once again I have Adam and Henry at the Belfast MMA Juniors League is going to be this weekend coming. Um biggest venue, most amount of fights, a lot more hours put into it. So I've been told how are you and how are you feeling with just like six days away? >> Excited. >> Very very excited. >> It's going to be lethal. I can't wait for it. And with this one being in a bigger venue, h how many fights are on it? Is has there been a lot more time put into this one because everything just got bigger on every show and like this is a this is a big leap to that venue. Have you felt that in the amount of hours that's been put in? >> Yeah, definitely. The amount of hours you've put in this time have been a lot more, but we've got the most fights we've ever had to be honest. We're at the stage there where we're we had to cap it. We had to close the matchmaking for the first time because we we're already kind of probably pushing everyone's time a wee bit on how many fights we have. But, you know, we've got these kids in the gym and all their coaches are saying to us, you know, they're training hard. Please try and get them on. And it was like we had to just eventually make the call that we couldn't make any more fights this time because we just wouldn't have been able to fit them all in. And you feel terrible because you don't want to turn anyone away, but we had to. But with good plans now for the next one, but this one is going to be honestly, as you said, in the new venue there, unbelievable. Me and Henry were up on Friday just doing like a walk around and it's it's honestly it's going to blow people away. I think people are going to think that this is a lot better than some of the promotions that you see with professional fights on them, honestly. >> Yeah, many% said there we've been about three or four times now, like planning it, just obsessed with it. I can't wait and see the way we have it all lined out like the whole structure of the event. It's it's going to be the closest thing if not the same as what you'll get whenever you go to the big promotions. >> Definitely. >> And with that being said, um the amount of time, like you said, this is going to run like one of the regional promotions in Ireland with the setup and and production and stuff like that. Do you think any uh shows might follow suit and might use that venue? Has it been talked about other MMA ones? Cuz >> it would be nice to see if people follow suit and you be trailblazers in a sense to go to a big enough venue. >> Yeah. >> See this venue. It's like a Sorry, mate. Go ahead. >> No, go ahead, Henry. Go ahead. >> I was just saying see this venue as well. Like we never knew about it. It's It's such a hidden gem. Like I think when people see this, they're going to be like, I I didn't know this existed. Like I think that people will want to use it. Like it's amazing. >> It is. It is brand new, only open this year as well. Um so I think just not a lot of people know about it. Obviously, it maybe doesn't suit some other shows if they're wanting to, you know, like they maybe have a bar and things like that are on site, but like honestly like even just to give them like, you know, a bit of a shout out. The Black Mountain Shirt Space couldn't have been any easier to to work with. They've been absolutely unreal to work with. So sound, so accommodating. Um, and you know, if anyone was looking to run anything in there, and especially with these like types of shows that we're doing, it's a perfect location. >> Yeah. No, it sounds really really good. And and you said you were walking around there. When you were walking around, are you envisioning where the where the cage is going to be, where this is the walk out. So is that can you like see if you get me when you walk aroundision where everything's going to be? How does that feel? >> We were up with a 10 m measuring tape weren't even big enough and we were putting down stuff, you know, to measure it how big we needed the amount of barriers and stuff. And the same when we were measuring the cage out, I was only back from the gym. I had like a pair of socks and everything ring in my pocket a bunch of car keys and we were setting them down like as placeholders like putting the socks there putting the keys there and we were just measuring it out and envisioning the whole thing. It was a bit mic but it was class cuz >> whenever we see it come to life it's going to be it's going to be unbelievable. Like we've been envisioning everything down to the Yeah. >> Even the walkouts in the change rooms. Unreal. >> Did you have anything to say on on it? H just we had just when we were up there and we're looking around it like we as you say can see it like I can just imagine the place just packed out everyone's coming up supporting it great atmosphere but like a you know not like your typical atmosphere even at some MMA shows everyone's [ __ ] steaming and jumping about like but everyone's going to be like you know really like a lot of encouragement support and just really showing what like the the grassroots junior level of the show or level of MMA in this country is going to be like in the future. for it is going to be amazing in an event like this to allow kids to go out there and showcase their skills and and get these opportunities. It's It's going to be amazing when people see it honestly. >> Yeah. And like that I was just you said you had to catch a number of fights like you don't just have from Belfast coming like what kind of areas are people are people coming from the south? Are they coming from all over the north? like have since the last one, have you just got more and more people getting on to it just seem it's uh within the country it's nationally people are going up there for for the show? >> Yeah, definitely. I we've seen a bigger increase in clubs. So, we've got the most clubs involved this time um than we've had in any other show. But then also the amount of people then from each club that's coming to it. Like even speaking for even some of the kids and teams who I train that not all the ones on my team are competing on it but with each show that goes along more and more of them want to. So I'd say it's just the same case across the board with with all the clubs that they're getting more kids joining off the back of this as well because you know the promotion that we're putting in with like the posters and all and stuff like that. More people want to be a part of it. So more kids are joining. they're going into school with their medals and things like that and it's making other kids want to maybe even try out the sport. So yeah, there's been a massive growth in just overall people who have entered and we're starting to see growth now across getting more clubs involved which is what we want more than anything. We we want this to be open to all clubs like there's no need for affiliations with anything or need to pay anything like that. We just want to have the kids involved in the sport and to be able to grow it. Do vending say Henry? >> Yeah. Um everywhere. I just take turns. I mean, but yeah, we've clubs all over the internet, mate. We've got people from Dublin, Ross, Common, Derry, everywhere, like from north to south of of clubs coming and you can see as well even from our spreadsheets we have from the previous shows, the the teams have grown. So, they're obviously sending more fears because they're buying into what we're doing now. They trust us and our matchmaking and the way we run it. I think that after this show, especially because we do have a venue now and when people see the production level that we've put into it, it's going to be like like people want to see the videos and stuff like I want to be involved in it. No doubt. Like it's one thing I I clicked on the other day I was we were doing something like the number of fights. Can we say the number of fates of them? >> I am happy. >> Why? With 70 ft on. >> Wow. So that's 140 kids that have been matched up and all them posters, all them photos. Like the amount of promotion and work that goes into this is just it's it's nuts. Like it's it's been a lot of hours this time because we have really uped but you know it's just it's it's so worth it because on the day it's going to be like I I I I'm going to be blown away by myself. >> Yeah. >> And we know what is to come like you know what I mean? >> Yeah. I think the promotion that you've done like that because when you talked out with me the last time you talked about with boxing they were competing and they were competing all different sports and the MMA there wasn't really somewhere to compete. Do you think because you've ran this enough the success of the two shows that with the increase obviously for this time and going forward it will get more kids into MMA rather than the other sports because there is that competition and you have run it so well. >> Yeah. like there was nothing like this. Like I know there's different things out there, but this is the first time in Irish MMA history where an all junior show has done it at this scale. Like we've 70 ft on like this. This hasn't been done before. So that that goes to show you, you know what I mean? >> 100%. Like and especially whenever we're trying to do it, you know, like the a promotion, but also keeping it like tournament based. We have the Grand Prix in this time. We're always trying to add more things to the show that's going to make it better and make it, you know, make it better to grow the sport as well in terms of getting the volume and the kids involved, but also by, you know, getting the experience of doing the things like the Grand Prix, by hopefully building it into like a national and regional like kind of championship format. These are all things that are going to give kids so much experience and as me and Henry obviously giving them so much memories to look back on. maybe they don't want to go on to be the next Paul Hughes, but you know, they can remember these big days out that they had on these events and how good they were. Um, and we just wanted to show that we we're passionate about the growth of the sport, not just trying to make money off the show because we are reinvesting everything that we put back in. We're just trying to grow the show and make it better. Um, and that's what we're doing each and every time. And that does mean a lot more hours, but as Henry said, it's it's going to be worth it. >> Yeah, you you've done a fantastic job so far. And you can see obviously you're reinvesting cuz it's getting bigger. 70 fights to match is tough. I couldn't even think of 75 to match on the amateur scene in my head right now. Do you know sort of a way? >> Yeah. >> So >> what has the kind of feedback that you've been getting from the likes of coaches and parents? What are your biggest takeaways? And has there been any not criticism but like constructive feedback that might have helped you? Like what's the biggest feedback you've been getting so far from let's say coaches? >> You want to go you want to go for it or don't me? when you get the tournament. >> So the the feedback has been has been amazing to be fair. Uh the feedback from officials, coaches, parents has all been on how good an event it was, how you know fairly priced it was, how all of these things has, you know, the feedback has been amazing and the biggest one and how fair the matchmaking has been, you know, and it's going to be the same again here. Like as you said, putting together 70 fights is is not going to be easy at all. Like you can only imagine the spread of kids that we've had to be able to make those matches of 70 fight because not all nine year olds have been doing it the same amount of time. Not all 11 year olds of the same weight, you know, there's such a spread in all variants. Um so to get 70 fights put together is like we're very very proud of it. Um and and the feedback and not sort of we haven't really had honestly any criticism. If anything that was suggested to us and we implemented was um given start times for well potential start times for the fights so the people didn't have to sit around there all day and wait. So we done that the last time but again that's more hours put in that we're trying to estimate how long each fight is roughly going to take and then give estimations on start times the whole way through. And to be honest, it was actually unreal the last time that it was working right down to the like right down to the minute nearly like and >> it ended up finishing ahead of schedule and stuff the last time. So that really worked and allowed then the crowd to change throughout the day and it also stopped then kids having to sit about waiting for their fight to happen all day sitting there nervous all day or you know just sort of waiting about and filling up space that didn't need to be filled up. So that was a suggestion made to us and we implemented that. We'll do that again this time. Um, even though if it is going to be 70 fights, we'll have to give it for >> I think I think we'll do them 70 fights though within a normal time scale when what an event would run at because obviously the shorter round times and >> some of the younger ones get two rounders versus the older ones getting three, you know. >> So, I still think it'll be a normal day of of fight time that just it sounds it sounds like loads. It is loads, but >> we have it worked out even saying there about the the times on the card. Um, see, uh, there's something that you wouldn't think about that that Adam actually was telling me about. Um, so see like people stopping after all. They're getting photos in the cage. Like, well, that take two, three minutes. >> Yeah. >> You got over 70 fights, that's 210 minutes. You know what I mean? That's a couple of hours wasted. So, even just eliminating that, by get the faders out, we're under a photo station and doing it there. Like, >> something we didn't think about that cuts down a lot of time. We'll have a really good system in place where we're thinking about every we small detail like that to let the show run smoothly. and not people have people sitting there longer than necessary. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. You said something about you have a place actually for the photos outside the cage, do you? >> Yeah. There's going to be like you go here for your photo instead of sitting away. You go to the cage after their face like all the photographers always want be like get a photo and the next photographer goes and they all take turns. Then you're you're camera too. You've been there. >> Yeah, I've been there. See it's that's something you wouldn't factor into the timing as well. If you said right there's an amateur fight on tonight. So I'd go right 9 minutes fighting minute in between. So you've got 12 minutes and then you go maybe a minute to get out of the cage. But like you said that that after could take two or three minutes and >> it could throw the whole thing off. So that's that's something kind of outside the box that I wouldn't have even thought about myself. Um what's been the hardest part this time? Is it been matching the the 70 fights fairly because like you said there's a different experiences or or what's been one of the hardest things to do uh so far through not just for this show through all the shows? What difficulties have you faced and how did you overcome them? >> I think we're we're really getting really good at just getting getting it done. Like nothing's jumping out at me here. It's just things are just taking a bit longer because there's more and it's bigger. But for me there's been nothing jumping out just like right this is completely different now like what we do here. It's well there is one thing honestly would be the cage. um that would be the only thing because obviously the last two times we did it in gyms so there was cages there whereas this time we'll have a venue so we had to to sort the kids out but shout out to Shantel he sorted that for us so even that like having that kind of help takes a lot of pressure off us too but that would be probably the biggest thing would be the cage issue not even an issue but the cage getting sorted if you get me >> well it's running really well if they're the only issues that you seem to be having you seem to have everything spot on. So, >> yeah, we're a good team. Me and Henry are very good at working together and like there's things that I'll probably prefer doing. There's things that he prefers doing and we'll just be able to work well together that way. And we're because I think we're so organized and we've got such good systems in place that problems don't really pop up. You know, the biggest thing that pops into my head is I'm just hoping that the merch gets delivered on time. But like, you know, that doesn't affect the show, you know, and the way we look at it, the show and the matching, the systems down there, the time's been spent on that. But as long as all the fights go smoothly and the kids have a good day, >> nothing else bothers me really because we're so organized that we can sort of predict these things ahead of time. Like our biggest issue with the last show was a couple people car were parking over the gate and people couldn't get in and out. It sorted in five minutes. So there's no issues because I think we've thought of every we detail that we can think of and if anything pops up, we'll just deal with it. >> Yeah. No, 100%. And one of the things like with the show being so successful and and you having to capture fights, how will you combat that next time? You said you might have an idea. I don't want you to say if you don't want to say it, but something like a two-day event or something like that because obviously you want to get all like you said, it's hard to say no. >> How do you combat that for the next one? Do you run them closer together or do you run two days or what would be your ideas for that? Go ahead. >> No, you go ahead. You can do it. Go ahead. >> So, we're we're going to have two cages at our next event. So, we had thought about doing two day events, but again, if you're asking clubs to travel up and down, they're having to travel twice. Coaches maybe were working at the weekends. You know, coaches have families as well. These are things that that we've experienced ourselves. So, we're like, how can we make this happen quicker on the day? So essentially once we have the two cages, we'll be able to run the same amount of fights in half the time. Um so that allows then to obviously open it up for more people. Um so essentially we had this is us at 70 fights in one cage. So if we were at 100 fights, we could put them at 50 fights in each cage there, you know, for example, and the day would be done even quicker. Um so we would just need a little bit extra staff for to make that happen and we would just need a second cage. But like that's just a game. We'll figure that out between now and our next show, >> you know, it's kind of the IMA feel about it there. Two cages, people coming out to compete. But um it's it's really really good what you've done. How what's like kind of the week leading up to for is it nervousness, excitement? Because obviously I know for a fight week for yourself, Henry, obviously there'd be different nerves. What's it like when you're a promoter and for this is a question for both coming up to a fight week because sometimes there's pull outs, people get injured. What what does your fight week look like as a promoter? >> Well, even what you're saying there about put outs, like whatever first happens, you start being panicky. But then I texted Adam yesterday because two of my guys actually got hurt. One broke his foot and something else happened. But I panicked as a coach. But then Adam was like, "Don't be worrying. Like it's sweet. We'll sort it. We've got lots of fights and I was like, I'm sweet again." And then we went on last night. We got the two fights rematched already and the posters are already out. So the biggest thing for me would be the pull outs because you you want to accommodate people you know what I mean like when someone pulls out there's been a kid training for weeks and you're like [ __ ] sake like his face off now like I feel bad you know what I mean like he probably had his family-law coming or or whatever and you kind of feel bad for them so we do try our best to just try and keep people on the card who are running still even if there's a put but for me that would be the most stressful thing I can't wait for the show like I'm not I'm not nervous or nothing I'm like I wish it was Saturday already or Friday night so sorry to set up so for me it's more excitement than But there is that we issue of if there's a print out, I hope we can get them matched by the right person. >> Yeah, exactly. I'm pretty much the same. Like that we the my anxiety is just pretty over. I just hope that everything goes smoothly and that the day goes well. Like but that's normal. Like I'm that's always going to be the case. But I believe in what we've done our systems that that's not like there's nothing to worry about. And as Henry said, it's just the pull outs and things like that. If there's a pull out, it's you don't want to let the other kid down. you want to try and get them on that maybe even their posters already out. They're excited about it. It's different. It's harder for kids to have to deal with those things and if you just one of us got a message, you know, we know how pissed off we would be if you got the message on Fate week to say here your fates off. So, we want to just try and keep the fights as best that we can and uh the way I feed really going into it is again just excitement. I just really am excited to see how this is going to go. I really can't wait for to see how all how the whole day plays out and I'm excited for the feedback that we're going to get after it. >> Yeah, I think what you've done is fantastic. I think going to the new venue and like you can see you're reinvesting. You're not looking to this isn't a money spinner. This is cuz I know both you personally like you're so invested in this sport. Um and you've provided this platform because obviously you're an FI you've got our dying MMA which is doing fantastic after what less than two years. Your holiday looked really good as well. the training holiday, but >> to give these kids a platform because like I said, there wasn't one there before. You're doing it and you're doing it in a way that when they transition to amateur or the higher level, like the older novice into these events that they'll have a feel for an event because go from novices to amateur and then imagine going to cage conflict for your amateur debut and then having to deal with the the thing at the event. So, it's not just the fighting that you're giving them experience of. But no, I can't wait to see what happens. I got to let you both go. Is there anything that you want to say before you go or is there anything you want to highlight? Maybe information about the day where you can get tickets. >> Go for it, Henry. >> Yeah. So, obviously it's time there's no spectator limit. Um it's just pay the door. So, if you fancy coming and watching some local MMA talent from the ages of seven to 17 want to Black Mountain Sh on the 13th September, first fight's at 10 a.m. I know you're mixed up right um first at 10 a.m. when it's a 10. Yeah. Um, Adam, do you want to shout out the sponsors or anything or >> Yeah. So, uh, big shout out obviously to our sponsors who we wouldn't be able to do this without them. Capture Athletics has been so good. Rory's the man like he's he sorted us out every time and it's great to have him on board. He's our main sponsor. Um, and then we'll have Michael's barbers who's been with us since the day one as well for Accident Management who's just jumped on. Suds and Shane. Um, Trey was sponsoring as well. I hope I'm not forgetting anybody. Um, but our sponsors have without them the show doesn't get to run cuz we are reinvesting everything back into it. The event still costs an enormous amount to get it going every time. So like without the sponsors, we wouldn't be able to get these events and we wouldn't be able to grow up properly. So honestly, like you know, we couldn't do it without them. >> Yeah. Know sponsors are essential in the sport of MMA for fighters, promotions, everything alike. And Capture Athletics, like said Rory, he's like the O'Neals of MMA now at this stage. I think he's nearly done every club with his stuff. My jumper still feel is brand new after three years. I think >> the quality is unreal. Henry's on. I had mine on as well. We got the show all done. Sort of. Um like Rory's them on. >> That's class. I can't wait to see what happens next weekend. H best of luck on the show and then going forward once the show is over. We'll give it a couple days and then I'll have a chat with you if you're interested and you can just recap the show and and what it meant to you and stuff like that. So, thank you very much for your time and I will talk to you soon. >> Yes, lad. >> You bro, >> thank you.