Senan Coakley interview · berita Ireland

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Fansview MMA host Dave interviews Irish featherweight Senan Coakley after his early professional run. Coakley describes the path to his pro debut: an impressed visit to Fight Academy Ireland in Belfast last November, an amateur win in December, and a guaranteed Cage Conflict pro debut where he beat James Wamsley despite Ramsey’s toughness and an early capoeira kick. He credits Fight Academy Ireland coaches Pat and Liam Shannon, plus Craig, for helping him integrate elbows and knees from his Muay Thai background, and says he has used knees to the head in both pro outings. Coakley praises Fight Academy Ireland and DCA as gyms where coaches invest heavily in fighters, recounts roughly ten straight weeks at Fight Academy Ireland when he could not return to Dubai, and breaks down his Cage Warriors Scotland win over Lewis as a coach-built game plan against an opponent who underestimated him. He contrasts amateur’s shorter, weapon-restricted sprinting style with pro’s tactical five-minute rounds, notes viral pre-fight heat with Kory, and says he enjoys hostile away crowds. At 22 and 2-0, he leaves matchmaking to Liam Shannon, is open to PFL Europe 4: 2023 Championships and a quick late-2026 turnaround, and looks ahead one fight at a time rather than booking ahead. He also discusses John Mitchell’s cancelled Kazakhstan card and Mitchell’s push toward the UFC, thanks sponsors and both home gyms, and states his long-term aim to stack wins and reach the UFC.

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Kind: captions Language: en Okay. So, I'm joined by another one of the another person that I followed since the very start of their amateur career as well. And it's been a pleasure to to watch him grow as a fighter and as a person uh throughout all this time. Um I want to thank you very much for your time. Thank you very much for joining me today. How are you finally? It took you a while to get your professional debut out of the way. I know there was a lot of ups and downs, but you finally got it done. I know we spoke just before. How did it feel to to finally get that off? because you did have to take an amateur matchup before you ended up going pro. Was it frustrating trying to get the pro and how did it feel to finally get it and especially on cage conflict cuz that place is just a melting pot of absolute madness. What? So talk to us about the frustration leading up to trying getting it when you finally got it and what it was like uh having it on Cage Con cuz it's one of the best shows in the country. &gt;&gt; Yeah, of course lad. It's 100% the best show in the country lad. That definish is mental on a Saturday night lad. I love the madness of it. like there's no one uh there's no one better for the madness like that and uh do you know what it wasn't too frustrating you know at the time I didn't really look look at it like that you know when I went up to FAI there last November you know Pat and Chando like were very high on me and they they were very impressed and said like look we know your level we'd love for you to go pro but when the amateur fight come up like you know I was just buzzing to be able to get in and fight you know like I think I fought I think I fought like uh 15 times now in the last two 2024. So started 20. So yeah, two years, bro. So in two years I fought 15 times. Like so I was like, and that's including amateur and pro. So to be honest, when they just said there's a fight there, whether it was amateur or pro, I was just buzzing to get in and do it. Um, so I won that then in December. And then obviously once that fight was over, Sand was like, look, you're guaranteed to fight on Cage Conflict. I'll make sure to get you matched to your pro debut, all that. So then I was like, great, sweet. So then I was just preparing then to to head back to Belfast and and do the training camp and get it done. &gt;&gt; And obviously going going pro, you've got knees and elbows and obviously we know who your family is, the the stock you kind of come from, why Thai kind of background. What was it like being able to implement them into your game? And because your your first opponent that Case Confict man, he was a tough tough cookie. H you hit him with a lot. He didn't go down, but what was it like introducing because you had some really good knees, you some really good elbows. Were you relishing to be able to use those weapons within uh within a fight? &gt;&gt; Yeah, man. Yeah. Like look, my my whole career h since when I started Mito, you know, the the whole eventual dream of when you start MTO, you want to fight a class, you want to be able to elbow. So, when I knew I got I was able to use them elbows, I was buzzing, man. And I knew with Shando there with Craig helping me, you know, there was there was so much there that allowed me to finally put them into practice. And I think you seen in the fight, man, I was throwing them from everywhere like like I think one of the commentators, I actually only watched that fight again there the other day and one of the commentators, I'm not sure if it was Paul Hughes. I think it [snorts] was Paul Hughes, but he literally turned around and he was saying like that, you know, for my first fight, you know, I' have no problem throwing them in. You know, some people take a while to find the range that I was whipping them in, lad. And so was he. He caught me. I had like his back at one stage and he threw us in an elbow and he caught me like at the side of the head and I was like, who's out there hitting me with a lump hammer? Like what the [&nbsp;__&nbsp;] on there, lad? But um yeah. Yeah. So, look, I was put I buzzing through that the knees to the head, you know, in both fights. In both my pro fights now, I've used them a good bit and I'm only going to keep using them, you know. I'm only going to keep getting better with them and uh implement them implementing them into my game. &gt;&gt; Yeah. Know, you were very you were very fluid using them. But that's obviously the years and years of training and with obviously your brother uh being around that scene. Uh did he actually did catch you? He caught you with I think was it an upkick as well? He caught you with one or two shots and I was like like this lad. &gt;&gt; Yeah, it was more No, it was he was on the ground and he threw like a mad capuera kick and it hit like it hit my head like I had my hand up obviously but it it hit my glove and I was like I was like and that was like the first 20 seconds and when he threw that I goes right this fella is a mad [&nbsp;__&nbsp;] But honestly, fair play fair play to James Ramsey though. I have to say man he was he was the toughest fella I think I've ever fought. Like I was I was actually just sore from hitting him like you know what I mean? I hit him that many times flush to the body to the head to everywhere and he just kept coming and kept coming and kept coming you know so fair play fair play to him and you know 100% I can see as he moves up the level I think he will shock a lot of people with wins you know because it takes you know I think if I didn't have the the amount of experience I had I think in that fight you know that toughness probably could have played into the part in the later rounds but you know I've done it so many times now that you know I knew okay once I knew he wasn't going down after all the shots I threw at him in the first two rounds I knew in the third It was like, "Right, take this thing out of your shots. You know, if the opportunity comes, it comes, but you're not going to start this punch. You know, he he'll zombie walk through here. So, just keep picking your shots, keep touching them, and uh pulling away." Yeah, cuz it looked like he wasn't going to go down and and that just shows your fight IQ as well because a lot of people, especially when people might get overzealous when they've got elbows and knees and and they might try and rush to finish and then potentially gas yourself out. So, it just shows for your first pro fight the the fight IQ. And you talked about having experience there. you had an extensive amateur career. You fought the best of the best. Uh I've heard you talk multiple times about obviously when you went and you wanted to fix the wrestling h cuz you realized that was a gap and then obviously in your cage warriors fight you done a lot you done wrestling and you were the aggressor and stuff like that. Is is that something are you happy with the levels that your wrestling have come up then especially with going to FAI? Like what a gym to go to. Have you noticed your levels since joining them? I know obviously you you do between there and Dubai, but what's it like training with those people on a daily basis cuz they're just born winners it seems like in that gym. Lad, you you know it's it just it just sh showed me when I joined the gym and how much they welcome me in and how much Pat and Shando care about the gym. Like lad like they are there all hours like the two coaches, you know, they put the work in. You know, whatever about the fighters in FAI, they're clearly very high level. You know, you have the likes of Patty, you have Paul, you have John Mitchell, you know, you have all the boys there that are so high level. And then when you look at the work that Pat and Chando puts into that gym and even Shando like investing in literally probably the best gym in Europe right now in terms of facility wise, you know, I think FI is the best gym in the world. But in terms of facilities, you know, probably one of the best gyms I've seen in Europe. And again, it that's just down to Shando investing in his fighters, investing in the facilities, wanting us to get better. And same with Pat. Pat's always in the gym. He's always trying to bet to you. And you know, growing up, I always had that with Collie and Craig. They were always in the gym. They were literally like like Collie and Craig were in the gym from half 9 in the morning to half 9 in the evening ping doing classes doing looking after the gym admin all that. So, I've always felt that, you know, when a coach is giving me that much respect and give me that much energy throughout the day, you always get better on their fighter show and look at DCA and look at um FAI as well. You know, it's a it's a real credit to the two coaches how much they invest in the fighters and uh you know, it showed them my level. You know, I done like I think I done like 10 weeks straight in FAI there because the war in Dubai and stuff was going on. I couldn't get back. But I was happy to stay in Belfast, lad. And you know, honest to God, man, it was it was unbelievable. I felt like the level I improved was was mental. And going into that second cage fight or the first Cage Warriors fight, my second pro fight, I was saying to myself, you know, I've put all this work in and like I know how good I am. Like I like I know on the mats in the gym and I think everyone in the gym and my coaches know how good I am. So the pressure for me going to that cage fight is, you know, it's not about how good my opponent is. is if I can turn around and put and put that work in and go into this fight now and show everyone how good I am. That's the pressure I wanted. I put so much pressure on myself in that cage war fight to stick to the game plan to pick the opponent apart cuz you know he was no joke you know I I knew going into it how good of a fighter Lewis was. But I don't I didn't think he knew how good of a fighter I was and he underestimated me and that was the last thing he'll ever do you know. So when we went in there and the game plan worked perfect, I was just like, you know, I was half in there saying, "Fuck everyone. [&nbsp;__&nbsp;] you. [&nbsp;__&nbsp;] you." I was like, "Do you know what? I am sick of this," you know, and I was delighted. Then when when I put the game plan in place, you know, that whole fight went so perfect because of the game plan. My coaches picked John Pat and Chando picked the perfect game plan like down to an absolute tea. And you could see in the fight he was lost. So even in in his post speech, he said he has to re-evaluate his whole game. you know, I wouldn't go that far, but I just think our my coaching and the the work that, you know, the work that he put in to me was just like above above and beyond for me, you know what I mean? And it really made me see the levels that I can reach in this sport. &gt;&gt; Yeah. Cuz when you came in obviously everyone was quite high on you because of the background and we seen that you you speak about when you went on that losing streak and how that that change that lit a fire on you and I think you haven't lost since those have you? You've gone on IMAPs. Uh you won the belt before you went pro and then it just shows you're like you said you went in with a game plan. How much does game planning and fight IQ come into professional more than amateur? Because Joe Zone Andrew you go in and you just not that you don't have game plans but is it much more you need to have it a lot more going into pro because there's so much more at stake. &gt;&gt; 100% 100%. And I don't even think it's it's more at stake. You know, it's the three five minute rounds and it's the big shows, the big walkouts, the big pressure. And as well as that, like with amateur, realistically, yeah, you can sprint for the 9minute fight in amateur. You know, you can sprint, you know, I was guilty of that when I fought Jess Paulo at amateur, you know, he just smothered me in the cage and I couldn't really do much. And that's because at amateur with the three-minute rounds, with the no elbows, the no knees to the head, the restricted weapons, sometimes it's not always the technical fighter, amateur that does does the best. It's it's someone who who's willing to sprint and willing to go far there. But in pro, it's so much more of a tactical game of whose game plan who can stick to their game plan, whose game plan's going to work better. And I think it suits me so much more with that because with my fight IQ now going forward when I start going up the levels now and and fighting more. I think you'll really see me come into my stride by following the game plan and picking people apart, you know, because I have such good eye in there. I have such good game plan or such good eye in there. Like when I go in, I can see what shots are being thrown at me. I can see where shots are landing and I know how to exploit them, you know. Whereas with amateur, it's hard to pick them shots. When someone's just running at you, throwing wild shots or running at you trying to get you down and you don't have elbows, you don't have knees, you don't have proper clinch positions, you know, because even in the clinch, let's say, bro, like, you know, sometimes in the clinch, you can't put your head in certain positions when you know someone can elbow and someone can knee to the head. But in amateur, you can. You can be a bit more reckless. So that that's what I think. But I think the pro game is just going to suit me a lot a lot better now. &gt;&gt; Yeah. And that's obviously been obvious in your first two fights like that. It's been and it's been two tough fights as well cuz usually sometimes when you go in you see sometimes you might get not not a gimme fight but like some people will fight something that you think is going to win. But when I was watching that first fight I was like this is like this boy could show this is a tough fight and and that will stand you going forward. What was it like performing on Cage Wires? I know they're back in Dublin. Obviously, we'd love to see you back on it because we know how much Dublin means you. But what was it like to get that call for your second pro fight because that's quite an achievement as well and especially at the young age that you're at. &gt;&gt; Yeah. Like look um Shando I think Shando just said it to me and he was like look there's a fell here think it's the style it's a stylistic good match up for you. What do you think? And I was like Shando like this is your decision bro this is not me. My coaches are there for a reason. You know if they tell me to fight someone I'll fight them. You know what I mean? I I I know fighters will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. Real fighters will, but it's up to coach to to, you know, give the best advice and pick your career path and all that. So, when he said it, I was like, "Yeah, let's go. Let's do it." And it was exciting, you know, fighting in Scotland. Um, I think it was the most the most all the videos that went viral on that on that night was literally all my videos because, you know, again, I don't mind talking shite, but I don't start it cuz I'm not a bully. you know, I'm not going to start talking straight to someone if they want to be respectful. I can be respectful, you know, I'll stick my fist through your face like in the fight, but I will be respectful forehand. But the minute I heard that thing that he said, it was like genuinely I couldn't. The only way I can describe it is that Michael Jordan reel where he literally says and I took that personal. So the minute he said that, I was like, it's on. So, you know, I'm sure I'm sure Kory has appreciated how much I did put into the pre-ight and and the the actual fight itself and and how much I I wanted to put on the show and um yeah, things are looking good for Kors Dublin as well for me to be honest. &gt;&gt; Yeah. Know I we'd all love you to come back here because we know how much Dublin means and especially with being away and and and I think I don't think fighters kind of take it and especially at amateur they kind of take it for granted. see like you would have fought in Dublin in cage legacy and stuff like that and people think that that's always going to be there but we see now that there's only really one show in the Republic uh regionally which is Elite FC. Do you think when people get the opportunity to fight in their hometowns at the likes of Amateur and all to relish it more did you relish it at the time or is it something that you look back and go I could have took that in a bit more or did you take it all in when you did because you always bring a crowd &gt;&gt; lad I just walk in and have a scrap like it doesn't matter where it is. Do you know what lad? Sometimes I actually liked a bit of uh the away days. You know what I mean? Sometimes I like when there's a crowd booing you, you know? I'm sure you seen from my walk out, lad. There was like the whole place was booing, lad, and I loved it. You know, sometimes I like the bills, but again, bro, I'm getting in there to have a go. Like, you know, we can talk about game plans as much as I did before on this call and I can talk about all that. The end of the day, you are getting in there to have a scrap. You know what I mean? So, wherever it is, I'm going to go in and perform. So, it, you know, there's not about taking it all in and all this. like you know I'll I'll take it all in when I'm retired and I look back and I say Jesus I've done a lot of stuff but for [snorts] now lad I'm getting in there and scrapping lad I'm getting in there and having a go. &gt;&gt; Yeah you know and we look forward and hopefully we will see you on the cage warriors card if you were to compete on it would that be your last kind of fight of the year or would you be looking for something else towards the end of the year because I know for your first two fights it was a quite a quick turnaround wasn't it? Are you looking to do something like that again or are you just going to take if you do get fight on Cage Wires and then just kind of see out the rest of the year? that just completely depends on um you know let's say I get on on KJS Dublin you know and then there's a show in October yeah let's do it or if there's show in November whatever you know whatever Shando thinks you know he picks my fights and if he thinks yeah let's do a quick turnaround let's do it if not you know let's not let's wait till next year I'm still only 22 you know I'm 2 and 0 right now I don't like to talk about what I'll be in the next fight I'll get in and do that and then we'll see what's happening after that but again I won't be thinking about you know future fights and booking more fights. Right now, the goal is get this out the way and if Shando says we're going to fight again, we're going to fight again. &gt;&gt; Yeah. Know, 100%. And like I like that because a lot of people, especially when they start going on tears and I think you said it previously, you kind of start getting carried away with yourself. And I know I won't say the fighters, but they've gone professional and they've looked past people and then have ended up to regret it instead of looking at the person in front you because your most important fight is always your next fight. it's not going to be your end goal because you need to win your next fight to to get to the end goal. But I one of the things that I really like about yourself and John Mitchell seem to have a really good relationship. There was a a kind of an incident there in Kazakhstan where he came out he went out to fight you all went out traveling with him and then the whole show was called off. What was that kind of was that that see when you a couple of people have told me I got kind of bit of information off everyone. It sounds like a boras skit or something like what was that kind of feeling being there and what was it like seeing John who struggles to get matched then be disappointed with something like this which is something that could have been taken care of by the promoter and should have. &gt;&gt; Yeah. Yeah. No, look again it was unfortunate what what happened um for John you know not for the the show or the promoters whatever they done they done you know whether it was lies whether whatever happened but you know at the end of the day it's unfortunate for John that he didn't get to fight and you know he get he end up getting the fight then on cage conflict so look we forget about it now and we move on but again at the time lad you know me and John are fighters lad especially John lad he's a he's a tough one mentally he's a tough one physically lad like he takes stuff like that in a stride and he'll move on and he'll he'll look on the next one. And that's what he done. He went on then he said, "Right, next one's this, next one's this, next one's this." You know, and please God, he'll be in the UFC by the end of the year. And that that's what he's doing, you know, if if he thought he was if he thought he was a lesser fighter, you know, he could have stayed fighting on them region. So like now he's pushing to go on and to get to the UFC. And you know, we're all backing him like all the boys in the boy, all the Irish lads, FA, everyone's backing them now to get into the UFC cuz, you know, it's the it's the elite level and that's where we want to be. that's where we believe we all belong, &gt;&gt; you know, and I think he's at like cuz you've got uh the ultimate fighter, you've got contender series, there's so many different ways in and and John Mitchell has a really like you said, John Mitchell is a like a fighter fighter. He's one at a thing and and I really like the kind of relationship that yourself, him, Paul and all have over in Dubai, banded together, and you all seem to stick together. I seen even Nathan Kelly flew over as well. He's another absolute gentleman of a person, one of the nicest people I've ever met. Um, but I just I I've I've been really impressed. Obviously, I've been impressed with you since the start and and just been able to watch you go has been an absolute pleasure and I can't wait to to see the rest of your career unfold. Hopefully, uh I get to see at Cage Warriors Dublin. Uh but I'm going to let you go. Is there anything you want to say before you go when you want to shout out and thank you so much for your time? I really appreciate it. 100% Dave to all the sponsors to 3DB especially to David where God's plan where's vision and to Sunny Sanga as well Papa Fam for all them sponsors and to my two gyms back home as well um FA and DCA shout out to them I wouldn't be where I am without them and then you know again we're planning a busy year to the end of the year and I'm focusing on the next fight and that's the crack and eventually then we'll we'll stack them wins and we'll be in the UFC before we know it. &gt;&gt; Yeah. No, 100%. And I can't wait to follow the journey and follow you into the UFC and then with and then the run that you're going to have there. So, I want to thank you so much for your time and enjoy the rest of your day. I really appreciate it. &gt;&gt; Thanks very much, Dave. I appreciate that, brother.