Cormac Burns interview

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Cormac Burns is an amateur MMA fighter representing FAI, he competes at Cage conflict this weekend in a fantastic scrap against Ruairi Burke, we speak about him taking on coaching in Ardoyne MMA and coming back after injury

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It's my absolute pleasure to have with me Mr. Cormick Barnes, someone who I haven't spoken for a while. Uh I see him in and out of shows and it's always a pleasure to meet you when I do meet you at shows. Thank you very much for joining me. How you feeling this fight week? Obviously you came back in in March after long spell out. How does it feel to be at fight week? What does your fight week look like? >> Thank you for having me on by the way Dave. And fate week for me is just about recovering the body, letting the body rest up as much as possible, focusing on the weight cut and just enjoying the last we bit of camp. I a camp for me is always the hardest part to get through. I love the the fighting. It's the most enjoyable part for me. So the camp is the hard thing and once you get to the end, it's like fight week. Get to just relax the body, make sure it's going into the fight 100% and then just focusing on the last bit of weight. So relaxing, taking it easy, focusing on the weight, and just letting the body recover. That's what my fight really looks like. >> Yeah. I do Do you Would you cut much weight? I suppose you you're fairly tenured as an amateur fighter. So I'm assuming your weight cuts now are kind of I wouldn't say like to position, but I'd say you don't have to cut a huge amount of weight or it's it's hugely under control. Uh do you have to cut much weight? And what's the what's I'm assuming you're water loading right now then are you? >> Yeah, I'm currently water loading and usually at the start of camp I'm usually around 75 76. So it is about a 10 kilo cut from the start of a camp. I think it's normal for any athlete especially when they do weight cuts that you do develop some sort of eating disorder to where you're out at camp. You don't know when you're going to be cutting again. So you just enjoy the food and eat as much as possible. But it it's been good. As you said, I've had a couple of fights. I know my body. I know how to go about the way it cuts. Um, and that has come over time, which I'm I'm grateful for, too. So, it hasn't been too bad. Um, and it's just managing it, isn't it? And being smarter with it, especially as I'm getting a we bit older now, so it doesn't drop off as easy. And you have to be a we bit smarter with it. That's definitely for sure. But it's handy enough. And when you know your body, you kind of know what to eat, what not, you start cutting stuff out. And it's mostly just as you start to get closer to the fight, it's more about replacing stuff rather than toning it down. I I sort of go from like dark chocolate to more yogurts and like from snacks and stuff and then the meals, you just sort of cut down on the portion sizes. Um, but yeah, it it comes with over time and experience as well. Yeah, it's I I think when I see people cutting weight obviously 10 kg from the start of a camp to the end actually isn't bad in well I suppose at the at the weight class maybe is it it isn't bad because I've seen people cut 7 kg overnight which was ridiculous in a sauna I I felt tired just looking at them but you brought up something one thing there as well and I think it was Yanick McGee who said it because obviously he does nutrition that a lot of fighters get complexes with food because of weight cutting. Is that a thing that you would see yourself in yourself that like you said once you're out camp is it just like you want to eat everything? Is it just you have this kind of weird relationship with food because you've restricted yourself so much that you want to splurge? >> Yeah, I think I just I think most athletes to cut weight even within the likes of boxing and stuff having the weight cuts. I think when you're out of camp and you've got no goal in mind in terms of a fight that you can just enjoy the food, I think it does create a bad relationship with food for sure. Having a big weight cut weighing in and then after a fight, you just sort of splurge out and enjoy everything and anything. And even the week after a fight, you don't even be hungry. You're actually sick eating, but you're just saying, "This is so nice. I just want to keep eating." So I think it definitely does create a bad relationship with food, but I think most fighters go through the same thing in terms of when it's a fight to know to have to dial in and then after a fight it's like when is the next time I going to be cutting so you just sort of eat and enjoy everything. Um but it's interesting that isn't it? I've heard a few fighters for sure defin. Yeah, it's because I because I think Yanick then a lot of people would get Yanick on for a camp but then obviously after the fight they'd be gone. So a lot of fighters like kind of blew up like that and they said you know what we're going to stay with stay with him after the camp just so cuz he if you actually see what Yanick Yanick's fighters would be eating ice cream and jellies and all the week fight week and I'm like what the what is this? So obviously he's got it he's got his way worked out and uh that's one of the things he noticed was fighters. Not to the extent of Patty Pimlet now because he he gets mad big. He does. [laughter] He he doesn't even look like the same person, does he? >> 100% looks like he's eating Patty Pimlet, doesn't he? [laughter] That's exactly the thing. like outside of camp, you just splurge out and you just enjoy the food and you know when you get a date or when you get something lined up that you're going to be dialed in and you have to you have to stick to it. The camp is only a short period of time and if you cheat yourself within the camp, it just makes it harder the closer it gets. So for me, it's just not worth it. So I like to make sure especially 3 4 weeks out that I'm really toning in. I cut everything out and then it does just create that bad relationship with food straight away after you just splurge out and you're eating everything and anything and even when you're full up you just keep eating. It's it is a bad thing but it is a part of it as well and it's something that you're definitely right after camps maybe I should manage my body a we bit more. It's something I've been actually thinking about this camp. So, it has even even just replacing some of my foods with some of the stuff I've been eating. I I'm a big sweetie man, so I love I love chocolate and sweets and I just love food. Food's amazing. But it does create that bad relationship with it 100%. >> Yeah. No, food is amazing and I I be the same because I don't have restrictions on weight. So, if I see something, I'm a big sweets person. Chuck, I have a really sweet tooth. I I could buy a four pack of bars of chocolate, but I I could, but I won't because I'll eat the four bars of chocolate within the day. Do you know the sort of a way I'd be the same as you would? And again, I buy like a pack of sweets or a couple of bars of chocolate. I make sure I hand them out. Means I eat less. [laughter] But >> that's a good idea. I'll have to find out when you're handing those bars of chocolate out. I'd be up to grab one. But it's >> the next show. >> Yes. >> Case conflict. They're going to be up at Case Conflict. >> It's my son's 21st birthday. Uh >> not tomorrow. What's it? Friday. So Saturday is his party. So I can't be missing that now. [laughter] >> I'll be watching I'll be watching Cage Conflict from the pub on my phone. Uh fair play, >> but I wish I was cuz it's the atmosphere as well. So talk to us about obviously you're fighting Rory Bach. He's well known. You're well known. Two like I dare I say veteran amateurs because you've had you've on the amateur scene. You've probably two of the fighters with the most amount of fights there is. There is a couple of more but cuz we're kind of we're in this transitional page stage where there's a newer kind of generation coming to through and you have a wealth of experience. How do you feel fighting Rory? Uh, and what you think of him as an opponent? H, and do you do much study on him or do you leave that to Pat Shando? >> Yeah, it's a good question. I um I think he's well experienced. I know he's game. He's fought some high level fighters too. Um, so I know he's going to be tough, durable, and he's he come for a fight always. Um, I do like to watch my opponents just so I have some sort of understanding of what they throw and how they go about things. So, I do watch back all their fights, but I do put my trust in Pat and Shando just to guide me and keep me on the right track as well. And you can't go wrong with everything that they're teaching you cuz they're, in my opinion, two of the best coaches in the world. And when you put them together, it's just a perfect dream team. So, I have all my faith and trust in them. But go I do like to go back and watch whoever I'm fighting just so I have an understanding of what to expect when I step in there and what sort of looks I'm going to see and some of the shot selections. But I trust Pat and Shando and everything's up the Ammons and I trust their coaching fully. Uh but I I always like to watch the opponents. >> Yeah. You know that's good cuz at the start when people going into the amateur career I ask people and I would be like obviously I don't fight but I if I was going to approach it I wouldn't look at you know at the early stages when you're like debut two three or four fights but obviously you're getting into the the higher end of amateur sort of sort way. So I think it is essential that like that see like with your weight cuts now are getting better and stuff like that that these all these things are preparing you for a pro. So I can see why you I'll be the same. See, I think at the start I think a lot of people get too obsessed with the opponent when they try and look at them. Whereas obviously you're a lot more mature uh your coaching and stuff like that. So you can uh deal with these things in a different manner rather than going full force. But um you're going to be fighting off the occasal Rory there. He is no quam stepping into uh to Devonish against a home fighter. What's it like to have that home crowd behind you? >> It's amazing. I think the the atmosphere of Cage Conflict is probably the best in all the shows that come out of Ireland. I think even when some of the bigger shows that come, it's hard to match the atmosphere of the Dies, especially when it's a cage conflict. Damian McGwigan's main event, loads of other fight academy fighters, like it's just hard to beat that atmosphere. The whole thing about it, the even even the fights, the fights are always good. I think in in summer there was a cage conflict and it was mostly a novice card as well. I'm not too sure if you remember but every single fight was amazing. The atmosphere of his class and majority of them was all novice fight. So no matter whether whether it's novice amish is always a good setup and Pat and Shando always do a good job with the matchmaking the setup and and the way it's run. I think it's such a good show and it's hard to beat the atmosphere in it. >> Yeah, I I think it is for me. It is probably the best atmosphere. There's a couple of shows that I think every show has their kind of pluses and and what makes them different and that is definitely it. I would not like to be an opposing fighter walking in, but some fighters do try off that. I think I don't think it bothers Rory that much cuz he's fought a lot of your your fighters on that show. Um, >> so h he's he's a game person to be going in. You fought obviously in March, but then there was there was a bit of a break before there and me and you were just talking before you came on, you actually got injured as well. Do you want to kind of talk about what happened in that off time as well cuz you've gone into coach and talk to us about how how what's that like and and like how did it feel being out for so long? Was it frustrating as a fighter? And you can talk us through. >> Yeah. Um so I was out for I think two and a half years. I get injured. It was it 2 and a half years ago, but it would have been at the end 2023 in their assured that I get injured. It was the third time I'd sprained me ankle and I'd done it in sparring and they had come down on the back of it and it was actually Emmens who heard a pop. Um, and it just it was the third time it has happened to that ankle and it just took a wee bit longer for it to recover. The first couple of weeks I was like I could I just got a wee dog. I was literally crawling up and down the stairs and I was trying to keep him occupied. So straight away I knew it was going to be a bit of a longer process and getting back and then after a few weeks of being out the corgan bars Henry James and Sean they opened up Ardone and then they asked me to coach over in it. Um, which so it was good that I had the few weeks off just to get the ankle all back to normal and then they'd asked me to coach which can't be involved with MMA cuz having a break and having an injury it's for me it's hard in the mind. I think you're going from training a lot having a focus and then everything just stops and you can't even do anything of what you were doing. I find it hard even to go watch training sessions or even watch it on the TV. I I find it hard. So it was good that they had asked me to come over and start coaching and I kept me involved in it and then it gave me a different perspective. Um and it was coaching and being the athlete is two completely different perspectives. So it was good for me to stay involved but still have a different aspect of it in terms of me just sharing the information and the knowledge that I have and then helping people put that together. Um, so it was definitely good having that. If it didn't, I probably would have completely took a a break from MMA, but that camp involved somewhere and all. Um, and then when the time was right, I was feeling good. The body was starting to come back and then I made the the move back up to Fed Academy to get training again. That was at the start of the year. It would have just been before the new year. So at the end of last year and then from January, Shando said about fighting in March. So kept ahead down, got a training camp done, got the win and then I had a after I had a few weeks off and then I was back training but it wasn't as consistent and that there's why it's took me a wee bit to get this this fight again. It's just trying to find the balance with the coaching and the training is my next thing that I'm just trying to figure out. But it's slowly all coming together. And I love the coaching side of things. I'm actually going to be moving some of my coaching up to fight academy now. Um, so after the fight, I'm going to be moving some of my one-on- ones, most of my one-on- ones up to fight academy and helping out up there. And then I'll still be taking the wrestling class over in Arduine. So for me it's just trying to figure out the balance of coaching and fighting cuz it's it's both take up energy and both are two different perspective. One you need to be switched on in terms of if you're going like if you're going in to train you're focused on you and whatever you're whatever's on your mind for yourself where if you're coaching you're going in to help others and like being able to talk to people and break it down. And so it's just two different aspects and that there's the next part that I'm I'm just balancing out. But I love the coaching and I I love the training side of things too. But going forward, I think up in F Academy, I'll be taking the one-on ones. I'll be taking some classes and then I'll still be over and out taking the wrestling classes. Um and hopefully have a my main focus is the fight. So, it's just trying to figure out all the coaching around the fighting. Um, and one way or another it'll work out, but I can't tell you exactly how it's going to, but one way or another will. It it it's just like over time it's just like bedding in periods. And I think it was it was actually sounds quite crucial that h obviously the boys in Hardy found you uh and got you coaching at that time as well cuz like you said you would have taken a break. Do you think that helped as well with you with maybe not maybe trying to rush back to fighting as well that at least you had something else to have you occupied? Cuz I know when when fighters can't fight, they want to get back and sometimes they come back when they're not 100%. Do you think having the coach in there stopped you from coming back too quickly or is it would you have never have come back too quickly because you know the risks involved with the injury? >> [snorts] >> It it's a good point that um the the coaching definitely kept me within MMA, but if I wasn't coaching, I probably would have just took a break allgether and maybe just took a few months to myself. I can't I can't tell you exactly what I would have done, but even when I was coaching and there was people going to fights and stuff, people was asking me, "You not buzzing to get in and fight?" And I was just happy to be here because it you've know when you're fighting every show you go to you're watching who's around the same weight as you how is their performance whose people you might be fighting in the in the future. So it's for me it was good just to go as a coach and have no expectation just watch as a coach watch they enjoy it. Um but now I'm back competing every show go to I'm sort of watching fights in fatherweight. I'm always watching who could I potentially be fighting who's going to be ones who are going to be up and coming. Um so I I enjoyed the break off and it was probably good that coaching kept me involved with it cuz it's definitely improved myself and I've definitely learned a lot from coaching even as an athlete. There's loads that I picked up just from the coaching side of things. Um, but if I wasn't coaching, I I probably would have just took a break. It maybe would have been two years, but or near 3 years, but it definitely would have been a few months to a year. I I can tell you that for sure. >> Yeah. Know, I can imagine because like that at least with the coaching there, you were still involved. [clears throat] It was keeping you busy. And then as well, you're you're getting to grips with coaching like like you said, when it's you training, [clears throat] you're focused on you. But when you're coaching, you've got you could have 10, 20, 30, 40 different personalities you have to deal with. Not everybody learns the same way. Not everyone can do the techniques the same way. Like, you know, the sort as a coach, I think I think coaches don't get enough credit sometimes because obviously the fighter has to put a lot in. the coach not just for you like everyone sees just say Conor McGregor that made it but no one looks at who John Cavanaaugh had to coach like that that didn't make it in a sense you know in a sort of way and how like with Liam and Shando there's probably loads of lads that have kind of you've seen them they've come through and then they've kind of just dropped off or they've gone out and but you still have to kind of coach them one question I've got for you is are you more nervous for your own fights or your students fights >> it's a very good question I try not to get nervous at anything, whether I'm coaching or whether I'm fighting. When I'm fighting, I'm there. And I just try and embrace it and be as present as possible. But when I'm coaching, I just try and give the best advice as possible. So, it's more two different mindsets. If even fighting, I'm like, I'm just here to enjoy it. Go out and put everything together. This is the moment that we've been practicing for for months. where as a coach you're like, I hope I go out and do all the right calls. I hope they understand what I'm saying. I hope I'm just switched on within the moment. There's sometimes where there's long days of coaching at advance where it gets to the end of the fights and I'm like, I hope I don't even know if my call was good there. Sometimes I say to Henry, I I was calling stuffer and I think I was calling the wrong thing. Um, so when I'm coaching, I just try and be switched on to make sure that I'm given basic simple instructions, but instructions that I call in the gym and that they're switched on with too. So, it's just like two different mindsets. >> I actually like that answer. I like that answer because a lot of people will say obviously they're more nervous for their their students fighting, but the fact that you're talking about mindsets is a completely different view that I didn't look at before and now I've got another question in my arsenal to ask people. So, I'll be remembering that because cuz anytime I meet you, you don't seem like the nervous person. You're always calm, collected, like you don't rush anything. You just so it's it'll be done when it's done and you just you don't seem like you get caught up like in getting nervous, but obviously you're not looking past Rory. Are you looking to have another fight this year or are you going to wait until next year or what's the plan? >> [snorts] >> I would love to have another one before the end of the year, but it's whatever opportunities come up and everything's up to patent shandle, too. So, if something comes up and they say that it's all right for me to go for it, then I'm I would be more than happy. But, as you say, Rory is the the next thing that I have to focus on. He's next couple days here, we'll get to go. Um, so he's my main focus, but I would love to be out before the end of the year again. Um, but again, whatever is meant to happen will happen and just enjoy the process. That's that's my mindset on at the minute. No, I love it. I love it. I got to let you go. Thank you very much for joining me. One more question before you go, though. What is your go-to meal? What's the first bit of food that you do go for after a fight? Like, what's your kind of And not in terms of sweets, in terms of like a meal, whether it's a kebab, a pizza, pasta, whatever. What's your kind of what's the first meal you go to after or do you have one? >> It's a pizza. [laughter] Pizza. I love pizza. Even the the native weighins, I might get a pizza just to fill myself loads of or to fill myself with carbs. I love pizza. Any takeaways I would prefer pizza over anything. So neither the fight I'll definitely be getting a pizza. Bernie actually said to me too. Straight after the fight, me and him will be getting a pizza. So, [laughter] I'll definitely be having one. I'm sure he'll be having one, too. Um, but it's a pizza for sure. >> Good choice. Good choice. Is there anything you'd like to say before you go or anyone you'd like to shout out? And thank you once again for your time. >> Thank you for having me on. And thank you to the Patton Shando for all the work that they put in for the even the gym and the training partners. It's unbelievable the facility that they have up there. And a massive thanks to all the training partners who helped me and put in their time and give me we bits of information as well to help me. And thank you as well to Corgan competitions. They have helped me the past few camps and it's a massive help as well. So I appreciate everyone who's helped out even if it's a small bit even if it's a wee bit of information or done around with me and Jim. I really appreciate it and a massive thanks to Pat and Shando as well. Without them it wouldn't be possible and I wouldn't have the knowledge that I have. So big thanks to Em. >> Perfect. Perfect. Best skill this weekend. Like I said, I won't be there unfortunately, but I will be watching. >> Thank you very much. And I hope you enjoy the party as well. >> I will. I try. I'm trying to stay sober at the minute. So, we'll see how that goes. [laughter] >> Yeah, it goes. And as long as you get the fates on, you'll get to see >> see some good stuffs and it'll be a good atmosphere. And even if you do have a we paint, you'll still get to enjoy them. >> I will. I will. That's what I'll be watching this cuz there's there's a couple of taste like I' I'd love to interview everyone but trying to get around with times and stuff like that is hard because there's some really really good fights as always. But one thing obviously watch it through the screen I'm not going to get that atmosphere though. That's one thing I do love about the Devonish and Cage conflict. But look, thank you very much. Enjoy your evening and I will talk to you soon.