Keith Keogh interview

Ringkasan

Keith Keogh is about to make one of the most anticipated debuts in Irish mma, a 15-1 amateur fighting out of CMAC, with that 1 loss being controversial he's fought the who's who on the amateur scene including gold at the four nations medalling at the immafs. he competes at cage…

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[Music] hey so I'm here with Mr keik yo looking very chilled out it's h just two days before the fight thank you very much for taking this because it is very close how are you feeling I say it's surreal now to finally be in the UK and and be so close to this Pro debut that we've all been looking forward to yeah oh man like it's you know what like it's doesn't fail any different for some reason um just feels like another F you know I think a lot of people get like nerves and all for the pro point and all for me it's just another fight it's just getting in there actually feel less nervous for some reason don't know like be white is perfect like I'm on way there now tonight and stuff so all I have to do is just go in in the morning way in and then just [ __ ] be ready to rock down on Friday get re rehydrated as much as possible and just step in the cage and do what to do yeah know so for context for people who are going to be watching this because it probably won't be release straight away Kei is waiting in tomorrow and he's on wait that's very very rare so uh like that you must be once that's out once you're kind of on weight like night like that the night before does that take a huge stress off everything else then because you see L is probably Lin son is right now like sweating their Bo off trying to get down how does it feel to have that ready that you're just you're ready to go does it is it so much easier yeah like for me it's honestly the fight isn't even a stress for me it's just like it like put white isn't a stress because I never had to do it but like you're putting your body on the stress obviously um why never have to do big bre with this is a catchweight as well it's 67 67 with a 5.5 so I'm already on the way so for me it's just like yeah I can maybe have a sip of water get as sleep which is probably the main thing like I think people underestimate how much recovery obviously comes from me as sleep so if we can get as sleep tonight or never sleep before normally get as sleep tonight be fully like recovered in the morning weigh in and then just be ready to rock down for the fight you know what I mean obviously I'm not the water L now so I'm not just like walking in at the way or get back up so obviously I have that bit of dehydration from throughout the week but other than that yeah like it's a y relief like checking your wa night before say like lovely I'm not gonna have to get up at five o'clock in the morning and kill myself in a in a bat Ora is a be y relief so listen said [ __ ] it take the catch we and just put me body under as much stress under as least stress as possible yeah no and like that you look happy you look fresh you look healthy obviously going in the night before I've been with Fighters the night before and some sometimes they look on death store but that's only going to lead to a more dangerous uh key on Friday night in terms of obviously you're going to be going to show with s Li how do you like the fact that this is going to be in Liverpool it's a big show you're just going out to show what you can do as well yeah that's it like obviously like a [ __ ] like T on this far like a Liverpool fan has a lot of War shoots out it's great fighting in the city but I think just going out and getting the job done um going out and getting the job done but it's also like a lot of a lot of friends have a lot of support coming over to this so like that just means a lot as well that they're coming over and traveling like getting the plane over to come and and watch me for and it means a lot a lot of people get under pressure but for me I actually think I better with I with that like I perform better with that bit of pressure on me back um I just think I I I I'm comfortable Under The Lights I'm comfortable people watching me so I know in a different city with all me family and friends coming to watch me there's no way I'm not going to grow ders before want to me best yeah and you always do like that you're 15 and one and that one is kind of a a split one that were could have easily should have went in your direction so and you've beaten the best within the country the likes of Ron and de Dean with the keito plat which it was I think you named it like gone to like you've Bel at two different weight classes uh uh four nations like imass all that experience you think all that experience that you would built and seeking out best people to fight has put you in a position where like that that you're comfortable going into this it's not it's not as nerve-wracking as as maybe it would be for someone else yeah don't doubt because I think just every time you step in the cage regardless of like whether it's Pro or amate and obviously it means a lot more to probable the more you step in there in the cids the better you get with handling that adrenaline ball the better you get with making mistakes like you don't rush things things as easy you can settle into the fight more um so experience is key like you look at someone like Alex I always say this look at someone like him who has 30 fights he's just in there and just it's not phasing him you know what I mean so having that amateur good amateur background it's just it's only just a confidence bu that I know it's only it's me debut technically but like I'm at to find some of the best guys in the country and some of the best guys in in Europe and we going to the imfs you know like so that's just that confidence and that experience going into your your debut it's it's it's priceless yeah it is because like look at Alex when he went into his first two pro fights as well how calm and and how efficient he was in it because I remember I think he got scraped in the eye and said I have to finish this quickly because this is going to become a problem and then finish the guy uh with the arm bar cage conflict but speaking of Alex obviously in devs and CAC um at the minute you've just so much talent come out here you're just one of them that's turning pro now as well I'm looking forward to I would believe Ross is probably going to go Pros some stage this year what's it like being in that gym and and having Alex and Debs at the head of it because they're to two of the best people in MMA in my opinion yeah it's class like the the vibe as usual in the game is unbelievable think you will see a lot of a like a shift for a a few PRS obviously Alex led the way myself and probably Trevor this year and you'll probably see like K and Jake and all soon and then obviously jordo Ross so you're gonna have a pro team now soon enough so the vi is obviously good like especially the fact that we all walking Pro stuff you know and the rounds elbows hair looks all that crack is great like now like hats off the Debbie and that looks like they've just absolutely put that time and effort not just me but everybody in the gym all they do you know um that's all they did was just give back to us so we just can't thank them enough honestly yeah and it's pain divid like said with the likes you Jordan uh Ross uh Jake who kind of came on to the scene Kai who's been around a while has come back as well and and the talent is just grown and grown your beginnner classes were massive uh I see and the kids classes well the kids classes man it's man it it is you I remember seeing I think he had to run two different beginners classes at one stage because there was so many people looking but um with your obviously with your skill set you're good at striking you're good everywhere but do you think obviously with the added knees and elbows they're going to help you more especially when you get to those grappling positions whereas before obviously if you were posted up you can only Punch or throw the elbows and stuff you think that's going to benefit your game a whole lot more because I think it would yeah know without a doubt like just even having a little mess in the I'm Shadow Boxing about five minutes ago like me na just hit the roof like when I'm Shing them up like me dexterity I don't think people really understand how how I'm getting them there like I'm tring them without like even moving like I'm hitting like I'm bling hitting for like when I'm in the gy like well obviously not smacking the in but I mean I'm getting to that height without even having to move like without moving the muscle just ch that knee up like you know so I think it's just going to come very natural to me in there and after being obviously drilling the thing for a months then the elbows I think going to if he takes me down he all see me guard game I think I'm going to have that and then on top as well I think I'm might walking so much on me top pressure game that sitting in them positions and just been able to kind of get comfortable Landing bombs big elbows and stuff like that getting Cuts but just again it's just going to really suit me you know what I mean there there's nothing gone pro that's going to actually be worse on me you know what I mean everything that the pr game has to offer suits my game to a te so everything that been walking everything that I wish I had a show years ago me fight I get to deal it all of Friday night yeah no and you will and obviously there's going to be longer rounds in it as well but any fight I've seen you in and it's gone the distance you always look fresh I want to say the car Conway one was like that was like a clinic of a fight like in car Conway is like 20 something amate fights he's a really good fighter do you envision this fight going to distance and if it does how do you think your gas tank will Fair because obviously you're working with Gaz hickey for your strength and conditioning as well yeah know mean conditioning has been unel but G hiy has been such a massive help like we can't D nothing the gym how much he's been a help like like everybody is down on a Saturday with him but then like me Alex K and Jake would go on a Tuesday and a Thursday as well I fail so much physically stronger I'm in so much better shape and then he gas H that could puts us through some conditioning I love him the bits but [ __ ] me I hate him as well at the best of times because he has on that assault F and rowers and the own Sprints and it's hell but it's hell that you need to do because every point going to deal with I don't think it's going to be as hard as the bleeding conditioning classes he has us down so 40 minutes isn't going to be a problem we can go probably [ __ ] half an hour easily you know what I mean um so the four minutes won't be a problem I don't think this fight will go the distance and I think I'll finish this F I think going to take him out but I think if by some chance it does go um into the second round that'll be no better at all I think it's just going to suit me more it'll be more time for me to P pressure on him and him be T and then get the finish in the second round yeah and yeah and like you said like we said your gas tank is always good and one thing you talk about is how flexible you are and able to get in submissions you were call someone call you the octopus at one stage is that what I heard yeah we already talking about it was actually it was a commentator in the foration said it and like it kind of just stuck a little bit as well but I think I need to change that like you know we only talking about it today but I don't know I don't I don't know it's fitting it's a fitting from so but you might have to change it up you know I don't know no it is UN like that because like you said you're probably one of the best SC games I've seen with someone like that when you start singing people on the feet you find they want to take you down and when they get you down they're like oh [ __ ] maybe I didn't want to come down here yeah it's pressure it's just pressure people don't realize pressure they're looking at it like they're looking at my fights I think before he go to fight me and then look at all the negatives but they they're not feeling my pressure in there you don't feel me just nonstop coming at them on the fee if they take me down I'm looking for submissions on punching on me back now I'm going to be able to Elbow me back it's just nonstop then they have to move then you have to worry about me getting up or sweeping you it's just there's never a minute in the fight there's never a second in the fight where I'm settling and I think that's why I stand out a lot I think that pressure just kills people you know what I mean you swim you sink and a lot of people just da sink in there with me you know what I mean um so I think that's that's why the five minutes of well Al G back to that is going to suit me because the pressure is just what what stand out yeah cuz cuz the pressure and putting a crazy Pace on like that people might not think it when you're defending if they're defending against you and trying to move out the way and trying to cut off the cager or whatever it may be that's actually you spend a lot of energy defending pressure don't you is what you can't physically see that as opposed to a punch or this but it's just as important do you find that people underestimate that like your pressure and how much energy you're going to take from them just trying to move away from you no like you'll see two people like if you see two people like tring at each other all day like say two boxers are you know they're brawling in the middle of the cage they're not setting up with f about each other you'll see just slugging out but you'll see someone with really high pressure just kind of putting it on and people will you see someone like petan who's great and like his defense is great so he's never put on that pressure he knows he can deal with whatever comes at him but you see other people you know reacting to fs and you know all this stuff once they start reacting and once you have them boting on the chump they could to start weaing a little bit like you know but so that's why look my Fain I already go I'm in there I'm always in your face and and people just that's that's how you get to like you put Tri Tri Le s to say into an MMA he's going to get to it not like not because you don't fit but because of pressure you know what I mean and and that's it's experience as well also it's being in there and getting the the fight's done um the more the more you're in the cids the more experience the more you want with under the pressure yeah and like that as well i' say mental as well if you just keep coming and coming for five minutes someone's going to be like where like why why won't this lad let up why is he tired and that would also play into your game going forward but obviously like we said you're in Liverpool at a minute and one thing I noticed was um a lot of the English MMA media and stuff have touted you very highly how does that make you feel I know like you said not that you don't care about that stuff but that's kind of at the back of your mind on onto the fights but how does it feel that you've come out of Ireland and you've made such a big impression on the the UK scene and a lot of people are looking forward in the UK to your your debut yeah it's nice it's nice to be recognized obviously of course like you know um at the end of the day as well if you're trying to make money in the game you want to be as recognized as possible like obviously are in for love of the sport but it' be nice to make a few Bobs so when you see at such an early stage people coming out um from obviously the UK and tell me as highly as they do and it's good to see that recognition um obviously I have to just go out and win him that's the that's first and foremost you have to go out and do your job but I think I will and I know I will and I think it's nice to see the bit of recognition coming from a lot of them um a lot of them shows and a lot of them Pages like you know um oh yeah like it's it's not it's water off of DS back but it's nice to say that um nice to say all the hard work is being appreciated you know yeah know and like that the hard work we've been waiting on this for a long time especially over in this country I know you spoke to the lads from the out triangle um and everybody is just looking forward to this debut we're not looking past fight this weekend but how active are you looking to stay this year and especially with the amount of shows that we have back at home would you like to have a show at Dublin where I know you said you've a good bit of support going out with you but in duin obviously you'd be to bring a lot more um would you like to to fight back regionally again this year or how many fights you have planned defin would like a shot like I definely would like to keep act up enough i' like to go train all over the end of the year I think I have some stuff lined up like you know what I mean maybe apfc back in uh August or September with a bit of look back to Manchester then maybe cage Warriors at the end of the year or apfc in in the States you know nothing sitting down I wouldn't say no to any show you know what I mean um win this weight first and foremost see how I am after I don't think I'll come out with any injuries but it's F like control kick and go wrong so just get this one under the way under way should I say and then we'll just go from there we we'll see how it plays out we obviously the plan is to keep active and get to the UFC as quick quick as possible and stuff like that so we get this this for you in and we'll see what happens yeah and like that like with with your pedigree before with your name going forward uh there's going to be a huge amount of options and obviously recently we've seen all the guys on cage Warriors Alex's fought on cage Warriors a lot of people going in very early doors into cage Warriors now with just one or two fights um is is that something that interesting and you like the fact that they're taking on the young Talent at an early age in cage Warriors yeah I without doubt like cage Warriors is like it's a great promotion he doesn't want to be in there for the fact that she can get into the UFC you know what I mean it's a great shot great great deadly run you know what I mean um and it's just it's the it's the direct route into the UFC for me I just wanted to have the one I feel fights first and before I jumped in there some people might rush it but I'm fail doesn't need to rush it I'm only young so I get me fight some once I know like I know I'm good enough anyway so I'll get me fights I'll get me wins I'll get in there and I'll have more experience then like it's it's that's it it is good to see young people jumping in but um sometimes maybe not rushing at as bit as much you know you know and that that's good maturity and IQ from you as well obviously looking that get one or two fights under your belt that Pro see how they feeling the delay of the land and then from there obviously like I said you're going to have a wealth of options with your experience and and your skill level going forward I think um I can't wait to see you fight this weekend I'll be at home watching the pay-per-view I'm going to let you go is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone shout out and thank you so much for taking the interview at this time no no h no just thanks to everybody that's supporting me like you know what I mean just all my friends my family sponsors obviously seac MMA Debs and Alex just put so much time into me and all my sping Partners everybody that's had to put up with me throughout the week and stuff like that me m bar before weekend giving out to everybody and anybody so I just want to thank everybody that's that's behind me yeah yeah no thank you so much I can't wait to see you for your your like I said the most anticipated debut so far this year and probably will remain for the rest of the year so thank you so much and I will be watching you on Friday appreciate you but thanks very much cheers pal thank you