Chris and Caitlin Dunne interview · ข่าว Ireland

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Okay, so I'm here with a fantastic story. I only found out on the night when I was doing Contri at Chaos. We've got Caitlin Dunn and we've got Chris Dunn as well. We we're going to talk about their story. They both fought on the same card. They both won. It was nice. I think the pitcher Nikki Coyle caught of of Y2 or maybe it was Nikki was one of my favorite photos I've seen from a show lately. Just uh the emotions of it all. But when I heard about So I thought it was really good. So I want to have you on. Thank you very much for joining me. I really appreciate your time. How are you feeling? Chaos is about a week and a half, two weeks out removed from it. How are you feeling about the event and how everything went that night? >> I'm feeling great and I really enjoyed it and it was good to get fighting on the same show as my daughter and I. I never really thought about it until was after the fight that everybody come up to us and said this is great, you know, but this was happening and that was nice. There's some buzz now. I said I would never do it again, but never say never now. You know, it was that enjoyed it. >> Yeah, I thought it was unreal and still buzzing from it. Like, so and like the post I put up a couple days before like about how we won our first our world titles together and then going into MMA being the same MMA card and then getting the chance to coach him as well. I didn't find out till the night that there I was in his corner. So, I thought that was unreal as well. It's good to have you there. >> Yeah. >> If I do anything wrong, she'll scold me. I don't know if they >> It was her time to give out to you for once. >> You're right. You're right. >> We always listen. >> And obviously what what did it mean? Because obviously I seen what it meant to you, Caitlyn. That like that picture I said that Nikki took was was fantastic. But I don't know. I think so. Was it yourself saying Chris that something like that hasn't been done in a long long time? Um, how did this all kind of come about that you you did it together? Well, Caitlyn done the virt we we joined CBJ there back January and then she decided to do virtous uh offer project and when she done it I just seen seen what happened that night and the whole B of it and I thought I would like to do that at least once in my life before I retired and that's how it all came about. I just joined Alpha Project to get a season photo with it and then I just started training with Daniel and Andy and Leon. One thing led to another and there it was doing the walk. >> And Caitlyn, how did you is that how you entered MMA as well? Through the Alpha Project and then you you fought on Vertus, was it? Yeah, we a boy from our kickboxing club said that they were having a BJJ beginner program and we joined into that and then there was chat like couple weeks later like they're all doing this get like from like beginning to nothing like to get in the cage and all and I kept saying to my dad like oh I think I'd like to do that like just to change up from kickboxing and then uh next thing you know that I was matched and I was like oh no I actually have to do it now and then uh come the night though it was unreal cuz I think at the time we had maybe 10 on the show or something. It was just a buzz all the boys trained with for weeks and then getting everyone seeing everyone walking the cage. It's class with your kickboxing experience before when you went over and you tried MMA like and obviously I've seen you fight now you fought Gemma. You fought on Chaos and obviously you're going to be looking forward to to more shows. Are you going down MMA completely now or you going to keep kickboxing as well? Or you could jewel them or or what's your plan going forward? >> Uh the plan is MMA, but I think I always keep like kickboxing side. It's good for the striking and the movement and stuff, but I haven't competed in it since the beginning of this year, but I hope like to do the odd competition. Maybe I'm doing fights and stuff next year. Just always keep it there. Obviously, I love it. like I've done it for 10 years, but like the goal is like MMA. >> And if you don't mind me asking you, is there any reason for that? Was it just when you went in, you felt it, or is there any people that you look up to? Cuz at the minute, we've got obviously some really good female fighters. You got Shan abandon in the UFC. Uh Danny McCormack, I think she is she's not fighting cuz she just had a baby. She was invicted champion. I who unfortunately lost there recently at Cagewires. Was it the actual sport or was it anyone you were looking at or was it just when you you kind of because people say when they do BJJ they just get hooked and then they get hooked into MMA. What was it that kind of like made you think okay MMA is the route now for me? I think with the kickboxing that I kind of went like as far as I could in it and I just wanted like a different challenge and then obviously the likes of Shauna Band she came from being a point fighter and like I seen that it was possible like and she was doing obviously really well in it and uh the likes Darcy we watched her fight as well she's unreal like um definitely all them definitely inspired me to cruer as well been training with her a bit and she's doing unbelievable And I just think there's a lot of girls in sport and it really like helped push me into it. >> Yeah. Chloe Closure. I'm glad you kind of mentioned her cuz I wouldn't have thought of her cuz she she's about to go pro. But for me, I've watched her from the beginning and for me she was was last year, the year four, she was probably the most improved fighter. And if you look at the top talent she bet like Sarah Elliot Sheran, uh Ava Cruz, these are all top girls that been around a while. Chloe came in and she's just been you leaps and bounds that she's been improving and it's good to see. But back to yourself, Chris, with the Alpha Project going into it, I've seen uh the kind of the prototype of it is in all different gyms. They call it different things as well. What was it like going in for you? And I'm not calling you old now, but as you obviously, you know, it's fighting is kind of a young person's game, you know, kind of coming in and they're starting from 10, 12, whatever. Now, how did you feel going in being one of the older people in the group, if you don't mind me saying that? >> Well, I didn't feel as much pressure because if I lost, I was the oldest, you know, that's the way it is. But no, I joined martial arts when I was 36, you know, and people told me then I was too old, but if you tell me I can't do something, then I'll do it, you know. I I like to prove people wrong, you know. So I went I went and I tried it and people heard about me looking to go and do it and thought you know friends and stuff to me they're not wise that you know and that drives me forward for some reason that's killing as well somebody said to us we can't do something you know we'll we'll do it wrong you know it's just the way we are way bred but uh no I I felt good getting on it I really enjoyed it you know the feeling the people like Daniel and Andy and them so easy to listen to so easy to your coaches, you know, the things they say and do. It's it's handy to pick up, you know, uh it just it's a whole new sport and just something to look forward to. That's that's what it's all about. I loved it. Just having all of it. >> Yeah. And like that there was other older people that would have been from different gyms. Brian Coyle who fought for the second time, obviously his opponent. There's another I can't remember the guy's name, but I was talking to him about doing the interview as well. And I think like you said when people say you can't do something I think especially at like like 36 or whatever there's a fighter Paul Reed I don't know I'll send you on his profile after he started fighting at 35 and I think he was 40 something when he finished and he had so many pro fights and he had a winning record he wasn't like a journeyman. Do you think that a lot of people think that their age in themselves is a mental thing that they limit themselves because of their age that if you actually put your mind to it, you can and you proved you went out and won that you can do it that it's a mental block and a lot of people just don't have the the balls basically to go in and do something like that cuz it's not an easy sport. >> Yeah, I think stops a lot of people. But if you take the time and go to the gym, make the time and turn up, you turn up, you can achieve anything. The nights are set out in front of you and somebody says to you, "Right, this is what you have to do. Turn up just, it's a lot easier to turn up. There'll be bad nights and good nights. There's nights I'm getting trumped at night, you know. Um, but there's nights you're doing okay. You know, you get a we buzz out of it. More bad nights than good nights, but you know, couple of ice baths, couple of saunas, you're not feeling too bad. You're achieving something." Like I started there back 10 years ago, and I used to sit and watch soaps every night. I haven't washed the soap since I started. I'm I'm training every night now. You know, I tell that to everybody that same line, but it's true. I haven't seen an episode of East Enders in 10 years. So, I'm out there doing it along with, you know, I started off watching K and then ended up starting it stop. Yeah, I haven't watched East Enders in about 20 years since I actually lived in the UK. And [clears throat] like like I said, going out and doing something productive in the evenings. And that's nothing against people who still watch soaps. Uh but going out getting that done, but you said something really nice there that I kind of want to pick up on and ask Hayton about the fact that he watched you and kind of in you inspired him to compete. How does that make you feel? >> Yeah, it's unbelievable. Like when sat back like just thinking before the war chaos and all it was just like how far we've come and all from I think it was like you kind of sat to me and was like right you need to do a sport here and he actually pushed me towards doing gaik and then I was like no no no I want to do the kickbox and I think my cousin was in it at the time and uh then it just started from there and he just was down every evening watching me anyway cuz I was what 12 when I started. M >> so he's done watching anyway and it's just slowly started but I think it's unbelievable that I inspired him to do that and get into his martial arts journey cuz it's usually the other way about so it's pretty cool. Yeah, I was actually sitting there on the bench watching her and she sent the coaches down and says, "Oh, Caitlyn told me that you're looking to start." And I was like, and next thing, a week later, I had the new gloves on me and the new headguard and I was up there getting getting battered basically, you know, but I loved every minute of it since, you know, keep the head down, keep swinging, you know, that's how it is. That's great. Loving the dream just maybe 30 years late, it's happening. So I can't complain it. >> Yeah. But like you said, the fact that you get at any age you can do it obviously when you get into diff like there'll be different rules set or you like find someone. I went training before I said I'm going to do a class and it was like 19 20 21 and I they absolutely I was like you know what it's not for me right? Um u once that you have good partners that are mindful with you stuff like that you can go and do it as for as long as you want. And that's one of the beauties about uh jiu-jitsu as well is you can compete into your late 50s 60s and jiu-jitsu guys will always say that they'll always say it's the least aggressive or kind of violent one while they're standing there with their knee brace their neck brace their shoulder popped out they'll say it's the safest one of the combat sports but it depends on if you're competing or not but in in relation to the alpha project uh going through it what would be the biggest positives from uh and it doesn't have to be just one, but from what did you find the biggest positives from it? [clears throat] >> What do you think? >> Um, I think the project helped like everyone in the club kind of bond cuz we were all we all had the one goal like we were all fighting on the same night whereas like sometimes it can be lonely like if you're the only one who's in fight camp and like you're the only one that has a show coming up so everyone kind of slacks off and they're training cuz they don't have anything. We all had like we had a big group especially this time for chaos we had 14 fighters. So it was a big group of us like coming in every Sunday for the extra sparring and everyone pushing each other along and we were doing like fight simulators and all. So I think just the bond with all the boys that like I didn't know like 10 months ago and now some of them are really good friends >> that's the same for me. It was good to, you know, especially the last week coming up to Alpha Project, everybody was in such a buzz. We all went in and went to recovery together and stuff and done the ice bath and get all ready and it was just a good buzz that week and good bond for the whole team, you know, to get together and support each other that night which I find brilliant, you know, with some ro when we were coming out on the walk, you know, and it's just something you dream of doing like or you watch on TV and you think, you know, could I do that? Could I do that? I'd never be able to get that chance. But having those shows around Ireland, it's brilliant that people love you get a chance to do that. See that for one night, you know, brilliant. I would tell anybody now and I can give it a go at the title. >> Yeah, cuz this I think this with the Alpha project there's about four gyms involved now. I believe I can't remember exactly. I know Evolve uh yourselves is causeway involved as well or >> and obviously that's where it kind of started from. So like there there is that opportunity for people in those areas and in other areas. So for people who are watching this that might be inspired to take up uh in January. There's always going to be beginner uh classes in January. They usually last maybe 12 weeks, 20 weeks. It could be whatever. So if anyone is interested, check your location. Check the gyms nearest to you. And if you're unsure, actually shoot me a message and I'll be to point anyone that's interested in the in the direction of what gym and what courses that they have. But for yourself, Caitlyn, going on, it's like that, it was a it was a fantastic story. You fan uh and a great night and I just I immensely enjoyed it. It was just such a feel-good moment. Um just being around and commentating on it. Um but for yourself going forward, you've had a busy year this year. What's your kind of plans for next year? Obviously, nothing set in stone, but like what's your kind of goals or ambitions for next year? >> Well, I have a amateur debut. It's set for March on at Sigma the all women's show. Um but before that I hope to get in a few grappling competitions. Now I got blue my blue belt as promoted there. Hope to just obviously be tested against very very good girls and I think that'll help improve my jiu-jitsu for MMA and then throughout the rest of the year I hope to get at least like three or four fights in at least hopefully more. And for yourself, Chris, will we see you fighting again next year? Is it something you're planning on doing, or was it kind of that one and done? Or would you like to to do it again? Maybe come in on the alpha project and and maybe compete against someone uh again. >> My wife told me it was one and done on the knife. That's exact when you said that there. And I said, I know, boy, that's it. But now I've got the bug. have told her last week that I'm thinking of doing it again, but I can't do the alpha project. Andy was trying to match me there versus my daughter. So, uh I think I would like to do maybe another fight to pay off in May. You know, I'll keep mine bit farther apart. Takes me longer to but I'll give it a go hopefully. But we'll see how but the only time I can get a chance. >> Yeah, cuz like I said, no time is better than the present. and like that if you have that feel, you have that bug and then five, six, seven, eight years time down the line when you might not be feeling like you're feeling now um in like in good shape, ready to go again. Um you might regret it, you know, that sort of way. But I'm not saying that cuz I don't want your wife to give out to me for encouraging you. [laughter] So this is he makes his own decisions. But on [clears throat] the terms I actually want to kind of loop back to that as well in terms of fitness and stuff like that. Even if it for someone wasn't to compete, would you recommend people to go and train some sort of combat sports Chris? That that would be kind of I hate saying it on the older side that might think that it can't be done, you can't get in shape and and how does it make you feel to get into the shape that you did and be able to get in the cage? And what would you say to someone if they were on the fence? What would you say to kind of push them uh towards training whether they compete or not? >> I would recommend it. I am always trying to push my friends and my relatives and brother-in-laws. I'm trying to get them all into kickboxing or BJG, whatever they want to do. But it's just great to go to the fitness and meet people and it's great for mental health and for men out there ladies too, but you know to get out and about because everybody doubts ourselves and I just think it's great, you know, that we can all go to a class and enjoy ourselves and meet other people. That's kind of what it's all about at the start. For me, it was I joined for a lot of fun and I ended up my black belt and kickbox and went up through the belts and BJ which I recommend for older people which is really good. Like it's really helped me like my movement and my legs and everything. It's a lot easier on the body. I think me some people would say it isn't but definitely is for me. >> I don't know. But I done one class and that was it for me. So I can't really go into it. But um in terms of and I like what you said there about the mental health cuz um obviously in the times of today where cost living and all these there's all these different factors in life that has made life very difficult for a lot of people it's it's an outlet as well uh to go in like you said there's bonds with people people might be going through similar might be going through something else to help bond and to help it because I think Jordan O'Neal runs I think it might be near near you. John O'Neal runs I think every Friday night is at 7:00 he runs a free class for mental health for MMA which I think is really really good as well. Um, and I think the mental part of fighting especially doesn't really get looked. I I think it's coming into it more, but I think it gets overlooked. Like if you hurt your leg, you go to the doctor. If your head's not right, you should go to the doctor. You should speak up and you should get it looked at as well. But no, I I'm like I will be looking out for yourself on Sigma because I actually seen that that show. I've been talking to the person who runs it and I hopefully I'm going to do some interviews and stuff coming up. So for your amateur debut, I'd love to have you on Caitlyn. uh for yourself and and talk about it. Obviously, with your amateur debut, it might be a bit Joe, sometimes people will they do want to do it, they don't want to do it. I'm here as an option, not as a necessity. And I'll always be here for fighters if they ever need anything. Chris, I want to say congratulations. What you've achieved and what you've done is fantastic. And the fact that you done it together and made that night so special and it was one of those things I don't really get like kind of thing, but that really hit me in a sort way. I was just kind of like this is just a special moment. And uh I just want to say congratulations to Bowie for what you've done and I'm looking forward to see what comes next. I'm going to let you go, but is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out or anything? I just want to thank our coaches obviously Andy and Daniel like it's they made it possible obviously with Andy and Jason running the show to get us both on it and just even the mental aspect of it like Daniel and Andy's helped us so much like push through hard training and you know when you feel like you can't do it obviously coming off a loss on my last fight like they really helped like push me through it and yeah big thanks to them >> thanks to Leon and Daniel team I for getting behind us and supporting us that night. It was a great crowd I think sold 400 tickets like there was some balls all the night from all over. I didn't know who they were is great. Just want to thank them all for Thank you, Dave. >> Thank you for >> No problem. I really appreciate your time. I really appreciate this conversation. I said I kind of wish I knew about beforehand, but I'm kind of glad I did get together. Like I said, sorry about the delay. There's a lot of shows, a lot going on recently, but I'm glad we got it done. I'm going to keep in obviously with you going forward with your amateur thing, but I'm going to keep in contact with you, Chris, and see how your journey goes in this if you do go and fight again. And and I'll pick you up at it just if you're interested. We we'll come in at different influence, different stages, see how you felt. So people, like I said, people that might be a little bit old that want to do it can see you and see your perspective, see the benefits, see the ups, the downs, like the cuz I don't want to just show when it's all good and pretty. As well, when it's not nice as well. People need to know the the the positive and negatives cuz it's it's not always 100%. It's always not plain sailing. So, if that's something you'll be interested in, I'd like to keep in touch with you and we could kind of pick up at certain intervals and and talk about. But, Caitlin, you're someone I'm going to be keeping an eye on as well going forward as well cuz I I really want to try and help push the female scene and I think it's been uh being pushed here now at the minute and you can see with the amount of girls competing. But it's been a pleasure to have you both and I will talk to you again. >> Thank you, Dave.