Sean McDermott interview {Aug 2026}

Ringkasan

Sean McDermott is an amateur MMA fighter hailing from Team Torres, he competes at virtus MMA for the lightweight championship against Taylor Heffernan, it's his first time cutting to lightweight we speak about the weight cut and everything else involved in the lead up to to a…

Transkrip (youtube_captions)

Okay, so I'd like to welcome back Mr. Shawn McDermott. I've talked to him a couple of times. I've liked a lot of the stuff that he's doing recently with the vlogs. We're going to get into that later. We're going to talk obviously he's got VS coming up. He's got Taylor Heflin and he's moving down to lightweight as well from Welterweight. So, I want to thank you very much for your time and I appreciate you joining me today. How are you feeling today? It's a pleasure to see you again. >> H good. Like it's just uh I just Yeah, I I'm so bad with this but like Yeah, I'm just like buzzing in fight camp. Like it's so good. Like you see if I haven't got a date to look forward to, my mind just goes mad. So like this is like the best I've ever felt going into a fight cuz like I've had to actually like lock in with my diet. It's usually like I don't diet. I just eat chips right up to like fight and then just cut the weight and then fight. Um but this time I've actually had to diet and lose serious weight. >> Yeah. Yeah, cuz cuz you're coming from from welterweight essentially down to kind of lightweight and and that's one of the things that actually annoys me about MMA is there's like you've got obviously I'm going to say this in pounds because I I from the watching the UFC. So he's got 155 and it jumps to 70. That's a massive jump. I think this should be a 165 set and then the 185 and then he can continue on. So that's that's a huge amount cut. How what made you make that decision and how are you finding the cut so far? Um, what made the decision was I I sort of like planned out the rest of Europe like with fights and it's like I'll fight on keys conflict to 75 which was my last fight and then I'll fight on Virt like 74 maybe and then fight my next one at 73 and just like slowly work my way down to lightweight. Um, and then whenever like Virtuous came back with matches, it was like this one or this one and I was like, "Yeah, right. We're going for this is my this is my reason to do lightweight." like I haven't got an excuse. It's like I feel like this is the perfect matchup for me, >> you know, and it's a good matchup and I see cuz he's fought on your fighting champion as well. What you make of him as an opponent is he an exciting one because he only kind of came into MMA. He's been very active. He's from a kickboxing background. Have you looked into him much or do you know much about him? >> Uh I actually see I actually went down to MMA court and trained I think last August. I I trained a day with him. I actually really like that guys with M Cork, but I keep getting matched up with them. Um, but I see I wouldn't even look at opponents like see if I look at opponents that would freak me out. So, uh, I would I would just Yeah. I just won't bother looking at just go in try and do the best I can do. >> Yeah. And that's the best thing because I think especially as an amateur rather than trying to stop him game, you his game, you want to implement yours and stamp a style, your style because if you're just constantly defending, >> you don't create an identity as a fighter for yourself. I believe. Um, so no, I I get that. I think obviously, but that's what you have coaches there for, like obviously Decki, Rory, and whoever else may be coaching in on the coaching team as well. But how with the diet, the dieting down, >> how have you found it? Because obviously you can't cut a huge amount of weight like like so close. So I'm assuming you've had to diet down in the weeks. How's the diet dieting been? >> It's good. Like I think I got the fight like 5 weeks out and I was like I was like 82 82 and a half which was like scary like when you first heard it but once I like started dying I'm already like down to 77 here and it's like it's mad to even think I fought at 77 and I'm that week now. So like it's it's nuts. Um it's like I was like even for my last fight like I cut the week out I was like 81 and I like cut down to 75. So like yeah it's not too bad like cuz I was with Yanik so I have all I was with Yanuk last year so I have like his plans and how to do it all and do it right. So just like taking those plans and then going to Tesco finding all the reduced chicken and buying it filling up the freezer. That's what I've been doing. No, as you should because like that one don't let food go to waste and two as a fighter we all know especially as an amateur fighter as well because you don't get paid and even when you do get to a stage you get paid at pro you probably know yourself it isn't a huge amount of money till you you reach the kind of top echelons of the UFC win it's like 10 and 10 or 12 and 12 I think in the UFC so no that's it I don't think you man in my Testos when they go on sale there's literally people waiting because it happens at the same time every day and you see people waiting It's such a hobby of mine now. I love going every day and I just feel I should probably buy another freezer because it's so addictive just to see what deals you can get on foods. >> Yeah. And especially like that high protein foods there for you and like that. Just chuck them in the freezer and then there you go. So hopefully if you ever run and get a sponsor, hopefully it's a electrical company and they can sponsor you a freezer for >> freezer. Yeah. Swear a [ __ ] >> that. >> But yeah, there's another thing I want to touch on. Obviously, I've seen you you've done a lot of like uh vlogs and reals and stuff for for Instagram talking about kind of as a fighter what you go through and this that and the other and there's a lot of very emotion motivational stuff in it as well. So, I wouldn't uh say fair play for doing it cuz it's not easy to get especially when you've got a camera and you're not talking to someone, you're talking to yourself. I struggle with that myself. Um >> yeah, >> so how do you find that as well? But yours, See, the thing is when it's a finished product and I watch your one, I'm like, that's really good. But I know if I was you, I'd be sitting there cringing doing it. But when you actually see the finished product, it's really good. >> See, I don't watch them. They would make me sick if I watch them. I just like record it and then like get away. I just post it cuz it like it's just like fights that they don't matter. Like once it's up and people watch it, it's over and then people forget about it. So, um I've just used it to like help my mindset for fighting. Like um like there's a part of me that doesn't believe like I get in the cage and fights. So now I have to make these videos of me like punching people and it's like oh my god I actually do do this. Like this is like this is nuts. Like I can't believe I get in the cage. Like it's mad to even think in like 15 days I'm back in the cage to punch someone in the face and get punched. Um but like that's why I did it like I started doing them for myself like for that reason like to try and like make myself more confident in the cage. And then it's like it's mad like I get people messaging me like um I've had like one guy it's like all your videos are help me like through my divorce and I get constant videos like messages like that. It's really cool to get that because I'm not like yeah need now it's like trying to help a bit people but it's really for myself. >> That's just Yeah. >> So sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Yeah. But it's just like it's mad like just by helping yourself like you can help other people without you even knowing. >> Yeah. Exactly. And that's always I'd say they always say Joe if like if you're it's it's kind of like when you're on an airplane they always say take care of yourself first before you help other people >> because then you're in the best position to so obviously with you helping yourself. How does that feel to you? Cuz I've got messages before like oh I really look up to you and your page and stuff and for me I feel like an impostor like when people like but it is heartwarming as well but I'm like what do you mean me? What kind of feeling do you get? Is that is that heartwarming feeling that you've had that effect on people that you've been able to help them through and especially a divorce which is a is like it's like a very dramatic kind of time in someone's life. >> Yeah, it was like that's with my brother like I was I wouldn't feel like I'm one of those type of like it's not like I'm an influencer but like people look at me like almost that way. It's like I'm like but it's like I am doing what that person would do. Um, but it's just weird, but like it's sort of strong and like so we do like cold dips as well every Sunday and like that's a big thing. And then like in my town like we've started like a group and all and it's like we really are helping people and it's just started from like doing cold dips and yeah posting on social media. >> Is that group that is that the mentality group? Is that is it that one? >> Do you want to expand a bit more on that group? and then we will post a link to the the the page for uh when we actually be sick >> if you I actually forgot that was one of the things I wanted to ask you. So if you want to just explain to the people what it is what you do and why you created it. So it started off like my brother and his friends they would do cold dips like because they just like suffer for like mental health or anxiety or drugs or whatever and but my brother was keep telling me to come to cold dips. So I was telling him like no cold dips are gay get I'm never doing this with you. He's like, I'm not going to a sun I'm not wasting my Sunday drive an hour to go with some water to drive back. And then I went and I got hooked and I just go every Sunday. And like it's really helped me like with fights. Um so that was like September and then it was just like the group just kept growing and growing and then like a couple of like the ones that are really into the cold dips and stuff were like right we can make this a group and now like in our town like we like have the cold dips every Sunday. Um we have like football on Fridays and then like on Saturdays sometimes it's like airsoft in and other things. And then in September here there's another group starting in Bombbridge. Um the stig initiative um as for a kids that killed himself a couple years ago, Jack Murray. So mentality and the stig initiative are having like a charity football match to raise as much money for the stig initiative that's coming to Bbridge to help young people with uh mental health problems. So it's really really cool. >> Wow. Like fair page. I would say for someone at that age to do something like that and like that to be thinking about other people and other people's mental health and like you said it's a it's nowadays especially with kids it's mental health is essential and getting them the services and stuff like that. So, I want to commend you for what you and your friends are doing. Um, and you how you obviously don't think the cold dips are gay anymore. You obviously inspire. >> I know. I'm obsessed. Obsessed. >> It's the It's a good feeling in your body. I think it feels like it reset. It kind of like if you're tense, it loosens you. I think it's a it's very good for your body. They say you should do it once a once once a day. If like once a week is kind of okay, but people say you should start your day with it. But I couldn't imagine doing that every morning. >> No way. Yeah. I I just like it because it's like you don't want to do it before and you don't want to do it when you're in there, but you get feel good after. And I just take that mentality to like life and fights now. Like like see before fights like I don't want to do it. And then it's just like but it's like I know I want to do it and I want the buzz after. So it's like it's like a whole it's a it's a horrible experience going into fights for me. Like I really I really don't like it but I love it. It's weird. >> Yeah. It's that's what that's what I seen. Who was it pull up? I think it might have been Nathan Chambers actually and he brought up it's like oh I can't wait to fight like for my fight when it's announced and then it goes to fight week and it's like what the hell am I doing like that kind of >> it's kind of like obviously there's the excitement you know what's there but is is that like I think all fighters go through that it's like a a a selfdoubt not a self-doubting but it's kind of like what am I doing here maybe it is selfdoubt that you're just kind of like how is it balancing that how do you kind of get like cuz obviously you said you want to get in there on so when you get those feelings What do you think about and what do you do to try and say no we are going into fight like what kind of helps you or or if you have found anything that helps you? Even like well like my last fight like like I knew like I had the skills to beat Ben but like all week like I I just sort of thought I was just going to lose like because I was just sort of like you see whenever they like Jackie told me about like I was going to fight someone else and then I was like oh have to fight Ben and it's like oh I don't want to do that and then it was like well if you want to fight on this day you have to you have to fight on you have to fight him and it's like right okay so I I'll fight him. Um, but it's just like I I know I have the skills and it's just like it's almost like being reminded that you can do this. Like you should have heard the voice dec you can like you're literally one of the best in the country if you put like if you just put it together and it's like I was able to show it on that night actually. It was like I whenever I walked into the cage I felt so loose and relaxed. But up until that point I was I just was going in there to lose until I made the walk which was really it was really cool for like next fights is like I know like I can be heing it not wanting to do it but once I'm in there it's like I'm in there to win >> you know 100%. I see like that I think cuz cuz he knows your skill and I talked to Ricky and I've talked to a couple of people from the gym as well and what I like about obviously with Decky Molen and obviously Seb as well is like that is they're not just coaches for for technique they're mentors they're guide they're your guidance >> and they're very good what I've noticed that is they're very good at when people hit those moments like like to Ricky when they're feeling low when they're not feeling like they're the best being able to put that belief into you which is a skill in a sense Because if you you can train people all the technique you want, but being able to change someone's mindset to go from negative to positive is a real skill. So congrat I want to say fair play to your team and Seb, Deky, and whoever else as well that coaches you because >> yeah, >> one thing I've noticed about that, Jim, after talking to Ricardo in the last one, he said he was kind of down here and Deky and Seb brought back up here and then he went and smashed his next fight. So it's all about the team you have with you. Like he was Seb was saying like he he had game plans for Ricky and Alish for their last fight and all the only game plan he had for me was relax. It's like how can you keep showing relax and not stress about the fight? >> Yeah, cuz they they obviously know your skill level and they obviously see is that that's where I don't want to say lacking because it sounds disrespect but that's obviously where like there's a bit of tension. There's a bit of push back and that's where they know if they just get you to relax your skills will do the talking. So I think it's like >> kind of like a mental block sort of a thing with with fighters, you know, the sort of way, but it's really good coaching by them on on a personal kind of level for uh confidence and motivation. But how does it feel to be going in and and fighting on Vertus and then what's your plans? Well, no, we'll just stick to what's your what's how does it feel to go in and be fighting Tail for the belt? >> Um yeah, it's cool to be just fighting for a lightweight belt. Like it's good to be back in like the title picture. Um, see I don't really I just like I would even really Yeah, it's cool if I purchase like this is a good show but I just care about getting activity. So like hopefully find on Virt and then just like if the body stays fit and healthy like get on Wrath, get on Key Conflict and then fire an IR like that would be that would be the dream but probably will have like injuries or something like that to stop me from fighting one or two of them. But I just like activity. I I think it's just good for my mind like not falling out of like fight camp just keep training and keep so I'm only get better like I definitely can feel like the activity is whenever I'm striving like whenever I have the long fights it's the nerves get too much for me. >> Yeah know and I get like you said that kind of at the start of the interview as well. You have to have a day ahead and you can see that you can see obviously with other fighters who retire and stuff and how they kind of go. Obviously Dustin Porier, you've seen obviously the recent incident that >> and that's down to that's down to like you said like all you know is fighting. So imagine him after the long career he's had and then having to just stop >> and then what is there to do for a man in their their late 30s they've shown a sort of way but you you're looking to stay very active. You're looking to stay very active. You name >> you've named what four times before the end of the year. >> Yeah. See, I don't even actually like fighting, but I just I like it's like it's such a weird thing in my head like where I don't like fighting. Like I don't want to actually fight on these shows, but because I don't want to. It's like because I have to now because I don't want to. It's like I have to. It's It's mad how how it works. It's mad how it works like that. But like that obviously if you stay fit and healthy that I would obviously look at you for for a fight on Wrath in some capacity. But we'll wait till you get through this next fight. That's right. Is it >> focus on the future after that because you like you said you never know what happens in the cage. >> Yeah. Yeah. But I need to first off I need to make lightweights because I've never done it before. So I need to get that ticked off and then then just pick what weeks like if it is like seven like I can fight from 70 707 like >> yeah it's a good range then. Well, and and obviously if obviously you're going to make this weight successfully and all, how do you feel then being able to kind of go between those weight classes because you're going to have a lot more options for fights, huh different styles and stuff that you can face? How does it feel if you do it like if you make it nice and easy and and you think, right, I can do that again. Is that like how does it feel then to have more options in different weight classes? >> It's just it's so much better instead of like sometimes I feel like it would be almost hard to get like I remember speaking to Ben after our last fight there and he was like, "Oh, it's like who are we going to fight next?" And it's like that's a good question because like we've already fought a lot of people on the scene at Welterweight. So like we has to be the move for me to fight people that size and fight like just other people. Um yeah, just likely opens up a lot of options if I can just I haven't anyone there. >> Yeah. Yeah. And like that you said said to you and Ben cuz I've noticed it cuz all the divisions go through stage and I notice at the minute the the welterweight is either people like yourself and Ben that have a load of fights and it's a load of just one and two and zero. >> Yeah. >> So like we can't match you against them because it's too vast of a difference. You know the sort of way. So I think it makes it the right move because like I said you can move down to lightweight. A couple of these welterweights could have a couple of fights, get up to the kind of same experience as you, and then there might be more options then again. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. But just need to get like I just want to fight the best the best amateurs like there's like there's still welterweights that I haven't fought yet and there's a lot of lightweights that I haven't fought and then even there just seems to be a lot active like even super lightweight becoming real busy I think. So maybe if I can just stick around that would be handy. >> Yeah. No, it's it's good. You're open a lot of options and like that as well. The the good thing I like is the activity you're after right after this you'd like to get on them, but you're going to obviously you're just focusing on on the fight in hand. But look, I'm going to let you go. I've really enjoyed this conversation. Once again, I'm going to put that link up as well. Like I said, I commend you for what you're doing uh at that age and and helping people around you with your groups with the mentality thing and then the Stig. Well, I'm going to put that up once I get this up online. I'm going to help share it then as well. So, we'll talk about that. >> That's perfect. >> Anything you'd like to say before you go? >> No, that's perfect, Dave. Thanks so much. >> No problem. Thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate it. Hopefully, I I think I might be there at Vertus. Uh I was talking to Jerry today. He said there's something happening next weekend as well, so I might be at that. Uh >> yeah, >> but we I will see you if if I won't if I'm not there, I'll be watching it online. I want to wish you the best of skill going forward and enjoy the rest of your day. >> Thanks very much, Chief.