Eoghan Masoliver interview

Ringkasan

Eoghan Masoliver is an amateur fighter training out of Fight Academy Ireland, in his last fight he won on FCC to complete winning belts in Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland we speak about his upcoming fight on Cage conflict and his opponent what he expects from the fight…

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Okay, so I'm here with another fighter from Fight Academy Ireland. Someone I have a really good relationship with. We talk a lot behind the scenes as I do with a lot of fighters. He's someone that I remember seeing at the start and I knew there was something special about and everyone was calling him Pablo and then I seen your name. I was like, "Why did they call you Pablo?" Um, you've amassed a really good record. You've had really good fights. Um, and we're going to have another one uh with yourself and Rory this weekend. It's fight week. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you for joining me so late in the week towards the fight. How are you feeling, bro? I feel great. I'm really really excited to uh to perform this weekend and show how good I am. I feel really really good. I've had a great camp. This is the longest camp I've ever did 12 weeks, but it's it's really paid off and I feel like I'm in the best position I could be in right now. >> And you're going into like another big fight, another big fight in the Devon, which is a venue that I love and we'll get on to that later. How does it feel like when you go back just a couple of years when you were starting out? you you've really ascended through the ranks like and you've really kind of like climbed up there. Your name that like the people people from the UK would speak to me about you uh cuz obviously you the four nations as well. You've got the four nations. Forgot to mention that as well. U >> how does it feel going from like starting to to where you are? Obviously you always knew this was going to this is where you wanted to be, but it's kind of gone very quickly and you've improved so much. Every fight you get better and better. Did you think it was going to you were going to develop this quickly? Did I think I was going to develop this quickly? I don't think I don't think this quickly. No, I always knew that I would be at this in this position and at this stage and I knew that like I was always meant to be one of the best in the world and, you know, transition to pro and fight in really big fights and really big nights. But I don't think I would have expected to be this quickly. I uh I only turned 21 there last week and after this fight now on Saturday, this will be my 15th fight in three years. So, I've had a lot of activity. I've had I've had a lot of challenges over the years. So, I think to answer your question about um how does it make me feel? I'm really proud of myself. I'm really really proud of myself because I've had a lot of stuff going on, a lot of like adversities behind the scenes and stuff that a lot of people might not have seen. Um, obviously I moved gyms. That was a really big step for me, moving to FAI from Derry. You know, I was only 18 and I had to kind of navigate that myself and like essentially move city, move away from from my family. I I don't see them much and I haven't since I've been up here because I'm chasing it. I'm chasing my dream and it has to be done like and and I'm fine with that, but it is difficult and that's like one of the situations that I've had to kind of overcome and a lot of other things going on behind the scenes. So looking back and like the person I was back then when I first turned amateur compared to now, I'm really really proud of the growth and development as a person but also as a fighter. >> That was such a very good and mature answer. And not to say I wasn't expecting it, but it's you can see the grow in you as well because I'm looking at him going he's more mature than I am. I'm nearly 40, bro. like so that sort of a way and like that like you said changing cities especially and this is why I kind of like the entry fighters because they don't realize people at home will see you for the length of your fight the 9 minutes obviously because you're amateur rules they see the pros for the 15s and they don't get to see like you said you have a 12week camp they don't even look at that but beyond that it's years it's your lifetime of work and the fact that you and like no whatever about going out or eating this or that family is one of the biggest things uh as Well, that like it's it's hard, bro. It's it's hard to do it. And fair play to you. And you are chasing that dream and you've put yourself in this position with your dedication because at this stage you need to cuz you're at 21. If you ask the fighters in your gym when they were 21 what level they were at, they probably weren't at your level. If they were going back to 21 and it just shows the growth of the sport. But you did it all yourself. Obviously, Fight Academy, man. I've just watched loads of people have gone there. Obviously, John Mitchell came over and got absolutely robbed on that scorecard as well as Paul, but that's another story for another day. >> Uh, Aaron McDonald, I seen, is there. Uh, but there's just been kind of load of people going over there. Talk to us about FI, what it means to you and and obviously people are seeing what's happening. Like, this wasn't an overnight thing for Shando and Pat. This is this is their lifetime's work as well going into what's it like being in that gym and you talked about having big nights. You see Paul had his big night. You've got Jared Barnes who's going to have a big night as well. What's it like being around those group of people and being in fight academy and when you see these people coming in like the likes of John Mitchell who's an animal as well before he got there and obviously he he improved in the time there. Seeing them come, does it make you think, yeah, I definitely made the right decision uh joining this gym? >> Honestly, no. Because I already knew I made the right decision. Like I don't need and I don't think anyone in the gym needs people coming in from the outside to know how high level we are. I think to everyone outside of the gym, it's a it makes them kind of realize because they're like, "Oh [ __ ] this new really high level person has joined the gym." But everyone everyone in in Fight Academy knows, we all know that like we are without doubt the best gym in Europe, if not the world. And it's only a matter of time until it really gets to be seen. um the gym like I've been in the gym now about just under two and a half years I think and it has been really really special like the the people I've met and the things that everyone in the gym has done for me like I'm I'm I'm coaching the kids classes and stuff now in the gym and I really enjoy it. I really really enjoy it and they've given me so many opportunities. Obviously all the fights on Cage Conflict, Shando and Pat run Cage Conflict so they've given me those opportunities. They've uh they give me a lot of opportunity to fight away obviously the four nations. So I fought in England, Scotland and Wales. I've had a lot of great experiences and yeah um it's it's really special to be part of the gym because it is such such a good community and I'm I'm really grateful to be a part of it. >> Yeah. No, I like that's a fantastic team. I have great time with them. Uh Pat someone who I love. He was very quiet when he first met me, but when he knows you're there, you're there for the I was there for the right reasons. He he kind of took to me and he obviously he gave me a message saying like I'm one of the people that he respects that cuz obviously I go and I do the stuff and I do it for free but it's cuz I want to get people to see that side of fighters and change try and potentially change people's perceptions of MMA and you're a great example of it um going forward. But like with your last eight fights I want to say seven of them have been title fights or maybe eight of them have been title fights I want to say and you're on a fouright win streak fouright win streak. Obviously there was the fight with Fufu then you had three before that. So, there's so many title fights in a row. How does it feel having all these and like that you're you you're fighting really really high level people. Um what does it feel like when like when you're doing that and you're winning these fights and going on these little streaks against these good guys and and like that going all over you or all over the for nations winning these titles like are you just saying right my hard work's paying off or does it feel at times a bit kind of surreal at times? Yeah, kind of like ah you know what it does actually it does feel a bit surreal or it should I say it has in the past I think in the past few months especially after that fight in England I've really made a point and an effort to acknowledge the fact that I have did these things and like I've performed really really well against high level competition um yeah it's crazy been been a crazy journey so far like and and a lot of things like two years ago who would have thought that that would have happened or that I would have even never mind you know go and be a foreign nation champion but even just have the opportunities to fight in all these countries if that makes sense. Um so yeah it's been a it's been a mad mad journey so far and yeah it does feel a bit or it has felt a bit surreal in the past. >> Yeah. You know, it is it's mad like that. I like that cuz I would have came in three years ago. So, I've kind of followed your career from the start and Damian Mcwigan's another one who is making his pro debut as well. Um, you've got Rory this weekend. Rory's a fighter in my opinion. Hugo is very underrated. I don't think his his record shows his actual level. Like there's been some close fights he's had that maybe could have gone his way but didn't. Uh, but what you think of Rory yourself? You looking forward to fighting him and looking forward cuz he's got a very good style as well. It's a matchup that I really like. What's your thoughts on him uh on fighting him this weekend? >> Yeah, I I do think R is he's a really good test for me and he's a good challenge and I think it's a great challenge now before pro. I think he uh he's got a very awkward and tricky style. I think that he will try and hold me against the cage and well he will try and take me down. He won't be able to. He'll try and hold me against the cage. He won't be able to and I will get out. Uh, and I think that I think that I knock him out in Saturday night to be honest. I really really do. I really believe it. I think that he's he's a lot better than his record says and he has had a few close fights that could have went either way, but to be honest, I just I don't personally like his style. It's uh it's not exciting to me. I think his last few fights haven't really been exciting and that's not what I'm about like. So, um I'm going to be making it exciting on Saturday night. Yeah, it's mad because because you obviously say that his debut fight against Damian McKenna was an absolute banger. It's one of the one of the best. Yeah. Yeah. But >> but like that obviously as time goes on it it changes. And I'm not saying that maybe that his style, but it was just two new amateurs going in. It was a banger. But like that obviously as he learned the techniques and different and different things to do. I obviously was on commentary my first commentary job and I actually said it beforehand. It's going to be a pleasure to call your fight. It was against >> against Re and and I said at the end and I actually sent you a message after so anyone at home listening cuz I said you look frustrated not that I thought you lost but you look frustrated and was that because Re was stopping you doing what you wanted to do and he wasn't like he he lost the fight obviously but he was really stifling you getting into your flow is how was that at the time because you looked very frustrated at the end and when like when I said that I didn't mean I thought you lost I thought you were like like you didn't get to show what you were made of. What was that like at the time and after like being in that fight? >> Yeah. No, 100% like you're absolutely right with that. I uh obviously happy that I won and got the job done, but incredibly frustrated that um I kind of one that I had to deal with that style, but two that I wasn't able to kind of overcome it in a way that I would have liked to. Um I I think I did everything I had to do in that fight to win, but you know, ideally I wouldn't be there to be to be like tied up with in those situations and stuff. So yeah, you're absolutely right. Like I was obviously happy to win the fight, but performance-wise um frustrated with how I won the fight. >> Yeah, like I said, it was an honor to call your fight. And since then, I've got loads more commentary jobs as well. So I must have done something right cuz I was throwing up your stats there at 97% all that. And obviously that's why they the Browner have taught me because I know so much about you guys. >> Yeah. >> Um >> you've got this fight this weekend. Obviously you're not looking past Roy, but is pro the next step? Is that something you've discussed or if you can't say don't? But is is that what it's looking like next after this weekend? >> Yeah. Yeah. Um I think so. I think so. I'm uh obviously of course I have to have a talk with my coaches and kind of go from there, but I'm I'm confident in whatever they think's right for me and from what I what I feel I think they want me to turn pro. But you know, I'm only 21. I'm young. I've got the world at my feet. I've got plenty of time. So, I'm in no rush. If they think after this one or two more amateur, I'm I'm happy to do that. >> Yeah. No, man. because obviously it lies with the coaches and and like that's mad being so young and like we've talked about being at the skill level that you're at now and actually something that he talked about with fight cry I'm just going to loop it back around just for a second to say this the the level in there uh I can say it because he actually said on the interview the other day Jamie McCartney said he joined recently and he literally said bro I didn't think I I thought I knew how to fight and then I went to fight academy and he's not he wasn't saying that about his ex his old gym or anything it was just I've heard a couple of fighters say it and they said to me personally, so I won't mention their names. One or two of them even said, "Man, I don't know if FM is even for me." But then as time goes on and that just shows you the levels. See, people are surprised when they get in and see the levels in there. >> Yeah, absolutely. Um, B Academy is such such a great gym and for me personally, the way the kind of coaching is set up, it it just works. It honestly, it just works. And you know, you can't you can't not improve in fighting academy. That's the way I say it. You can't not. The coaching is so high level and the systems are so well structured. You cannot improve. And I I feel as you're speaking out there, like at this level, at such a young age, I feel like the reason that I am is because in the gym, everything is set up so well. The only thing I have to do to get better is show up. Like that is on me. The only thing I have to do to get better is show up and be focused. And that's the one thing that I can control and that's the one thing that I do better than everyone. I am always in the gym. I'm always showing up. And that's that's why I feel like I have progressed so quickly and at such a young age is because that now in fight academy like it's so hard not to improve because you're getting fed such like high level knowledge and then it's on me and that's what I what's best is is showing up. Yeah, it sounds like because I've heard like even sometimes they go back to the basics. Damian McGwrigan told me they were like it was defending was it arm bars or triangles? I think cuz he bet Keen McCarten with it and it was something simple just moving your hand this way or moving your thumb this way and he was able to reverse the position and he said they don't just go on and and prove sometimes you go and drill the basics again to make sure it's right. And you look at Pat and Liam and obviously you've got uh Adam and you've got Aiden as well who don't get as much credit as well. Not that they don't get credit, but they're kind of behind more behind the scenes and how much they put into everyone. And you see Pat Lim they'd be PFL on Saturday come back and they be they'd be with noviceses on well maybe not PFL if it's in Dubai but you know they'd be at maybe cage wires on a Saturday and you see them then with the noviceses on a Sunday. It just shows how does it feel to have people that put that much into you. >> Yeah. Really like incredible. Um, I feel like that's just they're leading from the front in in terms of that. Like them doing that is has given such a good example to us. Like how as a fighter, how can I put half my effort in when I know everyone else is putting 100%. And given everything? How can I How can I not give everything when, you know, the culture in the gym is to work as hard as you can? So, it's it's such a Yeah, it's such a good culture in the gym. I feel like every it's just bred that way now and that's just the way it is for us. >> Yeah. No, I I love it and I love the guys have been very accommodating to me, letting me up to shows and and letting me interview the guys as well. I got to let you go cuz I know it's fight week, you're getting very close to the fight. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anything you anyone who want to shout out? Thank you again for your time. It's been an absolute pleasure. I can't wait to see the fight. I'll be watching it from home cuz we've discussed obviously stuff that's happened this week to me. So, um, is there anything you want to say before you go? >> Uh, just a massive thank you to all my sponsors. Um, makes it makes a big difference. MMA is a tough sport. So, uh, it makes a big difference. And of course to my my gym and my team and my family as well. And to yourself for having me on. I really appreciate. >> Yeah. Know 100% like that. I've been there from the start of your career and I'm going to be there to the end of the career. Win, lose, draw. Good, bad, the ugly. It's been an absolute pleasure and I will uh what be watching the fight and I'll give you a text Monday or so after as well. All right. >> I appreciate that. >> Perfect. Thank you very much. Have a good evening, bro. You too.