Ucha Nadirashvili interview

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Ucha Nadirashvili is an amateur MMA fighter representing holohan martial arts, he is currently 5-0 heading to the world championships next week looking to take home gold. He speaks about training under Paddy his previous experience in France and going over with 4 other Holohan…

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Okay, so it's my absolute pleasure to have Ucha Netherash really here with me. Last time we spoke was just before he won the Virt which was probably one of the best cards of the year in my opinion and he's going to be heading over for the IMAS. Uh I believe it starts on the 2nd the 1st of the 2nd something like that isn't it? Um >> yeah sec 2 second in November till the 7th. So the first the 1st of November will be all the registration stuff, the rules, whatever whatever and the second is when I uh I get to fight when first fight. >> Yeah. Yeah. And how are you feeling? Cuz I look cuz I look I always refresh just go back to people's types and I've noticed one of the things that's kind of unique about you is you fought on every time you fought you fought on a different show. You might have fought in the same uh county or or region but you fought on a different show and then obviously you're going to be doing this. Um, how do you feel coming up to this and what weight are you actually going to be fighting at? Because obviously the day of weighing, are you going to go up in weight or have you managed your weight to kind of come down to what you would fight at a lightweight? >> Yeah, I'm feeling good. I'm feeling good. Um, obviously I thought I was only just looking back at a few messages there yesterday or the day before on WhatsApp and I only realized that I've actually only moved from jiu-jitsu because I did I did jiu-jitsu for a year and it's been only a year or two two years two years and a bit since I moved to MMA. And um, obviously when you first move you're trying to get the fundamentals down. So that takes a bit of time as well. maybe 6 months it took me to kind of getting into the groove of sparring and whatever till I was like okay confident enough to step into the ring. Obviously jiu-jitsu translated over somewhat and then the wrestling uh the wall wrestling bits and bobs on the wall wrestling as well. So it was it was maybe eight months into my MMA journey uh where I actually stepped into the octagon first time on Akuma. Um and within the year I think I had the five fights within the year. So, I've tried being busy. I've tried to be busy. Um, and I've texted multiple promotions whenever I could, trying to get all the cars that I could on. And obviously, the f the France opportunity came up as well where I got to represent Ireland, which was a very, very good experience in terms of just traveling, going to someone else's home and whatever international kind of which is kind of given me that confidence going into Georgia now as well. Kind of been through something similar. So, um, yeah, the way the weight I'm going to be fighting is 74.8. So, that's super lightweight and, um, it's obviously the same day weighins. So, you can't really be like cutting water because that'll affect your performance. So, I've just been on a diet. H, not not nothing too crazy, but obviously when you limit yourself, all the snacks, all the whatever uh, takeaways, you're it's kind of like the forbidden fruit that you you want, what you want, what you can't have. So, uh, I'm on kind of that boat at the moment. But overall, I'm feeling very confident and eager to get into the ring and, uh, get over in Georgia, acclimate to the weather, acclimate to whatever, and, um, step into the octagon on November the second. >> Yeah. No, we we were actually speaking before about the the the likes of the takeways and stuff. You're I think the algorithm knows when fighters are are coming up to a fight because, you see fighters post and I was like, are you teasing yourself? And they the one of the fighters actually said to me that you just kind of said as well that you kind of look at this stuff and you're waiting for once you do finish because like the day off like waiting every day on day off is going to be difficult. So you've done the right thing and moving up slightly so you don't have to cut water. What is going to be your first meal? Have you decided when you come out or have you decided? >> I have actually um sure all the like I'm originally from Georgia so I know all the food spots. I'm over there for holidays, usually every summer, every winter. So, I know all the good food spots, all Georgian. I love Georgian food. I'm not sure if you've tried any, but if you haven't, you have to. Uh, so I'm going to be bringing all the boys that are coming with me. H, whoever's up for it. I know all the spots after the tournament of a day extra that I'm staying over. So, I'm definitely going to eat a bit of hink ali it's called. It's kind of like dumpling with a minced meat inside with a little broth. Um, and a bit of hatchupi as well, which is basically just cheese bread and um, yeah, I'm just very looking forward to it. And it's also like what you said about the little uh, algorithms. It's you interact with it and it's kind of like a mental thing as well. You get mentally stronger. You're like, "Okay, the chocolate could be there in the corner." But now I'm at the stage where I'm like, "Oh, no. I'm not even tempting me anymore." Do you get me? >> Yeah. Because obviously you've got the task at hand. And obviously with you being from George as well, like you were saying, it's it's it's nice. How does it feel to be returning home? Obviously, you you you fight here and you've been away from home for a while. What's like to be returning home to compete over in your home country? That must be that must be amazing. >> It's actually very exciting. H I know all the boys, I got a lot of friends over there as well, family as well. So, they're all texting me when when's the event, when you fighting, what day, whatever. So, um, it's going to be very exciting having them in my corner as well. It's going to be just like down Cork where I've moved from Cork, so whenever I'm down there, I still have fans and people shouting my name. So, it's going to be um a pleasure to kind of perform in front of them as well. And, um, yeah, it's going to be just a great experience, I think, represent them because I I'm kind of representing two countries here. It's not just Ireland. Obviously, I grew up here and my MMA was shaped in Ireland and I am I consider my MMA to be more Irish than Georgian because I think there two different styles. Um, but yeah, I'm just excited to represent two countries. >> Yeah, I love that. I love when you see that like said Dennis Ring Pong goes out and he represents I I I've going to hazard a guess. He's probably going to kill me. And then he has the Irish flag and his flag and you see with loads of fighters and I love that. I love that we can this cuz MMA brings people all together. You know, yourself doesn't matter background, country, religion, wherever you from or or whatever you believe, there's always a place for you in MMA once you're a good guy with good intentions and and I must say you're a great guy with great intentions. But in terms of your last fight, you won the Vertus belt on possibly that card on paper was so good and rarely does it live up to be so good when it's there and it actually did. What was it like winning winning the belt and being on a card like that? >> Yeah, the virtuous card was actually one of the best cards I've ever been on. Uh just the whole way it was organized, the interviews leading up to it, the social media kind of side of things as well. Um it was very um kind of what I imagine UFC or a highlevel professional organization to be like. So, it was a good experience overall. And obviously, my fight kind of ended in a way that maybe I didn't see I didn't see it coming like that. I thought I'd get in there, get a good experience, get to let go, let my hands go, let my striking go, display what I've kind of been working on the last few months in the camp. But, um, I think things happen. Um, that's the way it was supposed to be. I've kind of come to terms with it on the day. I was kind of not that I I didn't think I deserved it. I think I put a lot of work in, but it just felt like a bit kind of bittersweet. Obviously, I got the title and whatever, but I didn't get the experience, the full experience. Obviously, going through the motions uh backstage, getting your hands wrapped, and you're going through the different motions of getting ready, warming up, getting into the ring. That's all that adds up to your experience overall as an MMA athlete. So, I'm grateful for it. But yeah, it was a great card. I'd love to go back on it. >> Yeah. Well, it's on again, I believe, in April as well, so hopefully we'll be seeing you on it defending your title. But in terms of I've noticed recently with yourself and Abdu, there's been someone in the gym doing a bit of promo work and stuff for you. I'm actually, believe it or not, I I was I was watching it and I I kind of reached out to him and I'm going to be doing some work with him with with a fight or two in the coming future. What was that like? Especially being an amateur, you're five fights in and having that kind of attention on you and and having those things cuz like you've done a lot of stuff in your first five fights like you said that will prepare you for pro. You're getting this media stuff done which a lot of people don't get until they go pro and you've done the traveling. Do you feel like at the minute within fighting experience uh traveling experience media experience do you feel that all this is happening at the right time and it's going to prepare you then for for the future? Yeah, I think all of these things are kind of falling into place and I believe that I'm on a path. H I'm a religious man. So I I look at it as God has a purpose for everybody. H I think this is my purpose. this is what I want to be doing and God is putting these things in on my path to get out there and kind of experience it all and get used to it all because when I do get into the UFC I will be ready and I'll be able to kind of perform whatever I'm doing whether it's a press conference or social media so but um yeah Ry Ray came into the gym h obviously met Ray true Abdo and obviously he sees the potential in in both of us. So, um he proposed the idea to kind of film leading up to the IMAFS just a bit few clips and um I'm I'm always open to things like that because as I said I'm going to get take most experience I can in all the aspects of MMA not just in the ring. So yeah. >> Yeah. And what like see see the way I watched the video it's like about four or five minutes long or something like that. It's the mad the amount of filming you actually have to do to just to just get that. I remember we spent 4 days somewhere for like a 25minut kind of mini documentary and it was just filming constantly filming. Uh but it's it's good that you're getting experience and like I said I think the traveling is invaluable as well because you don't want to be doing that for the first time as a pro because like for way cutting and stuff you want to know okay I need to start this at this time. you need to make sure the country you're going to has the certain products that you need or or like products. So, I think at the minute like like you were saying you with fights in the year because sometimes like that people just splash onto the scene and you're one of the people that have splashed on the scene and and people have taken notice on. But in terms of going over with Abdu, what's it like having a team? Is he the only teammate that you have going over with you? And what's it like to have a teammate to go over with you? >> There's about five of us from Hulahin Martial Arts going over. So, myself, Abdo, Daniel Clooney, Caleum Leech, and Sarah. Um, it's good to not be going alone. I'll tell you that much. Uh, it's good to have a team behind you. Patty's coming over with us. So, Patty's always been in my corner every single fight. Whether I'm the only one on the card or there's four or five of us on the card, he's always been there in my corner. So, h it's very, very good to have familiar faces around you when you're going into battle. And again, that France experience, it was h very um out of my comfort zone. So I I I'm actually very happy that I did I did take that opportunity and go over there because I didn't have Patty. I didn't have Abdo. Um and it was just a very out out of my comfort zone. But uh it's good to have them now in my corner. It's very good. Uh adds adds to my energy, adds to the overall vibe and uh I think it make things much easier. >> Yeah, like that. So I actually I I wouldn't mind. I shared a thing about Caleb and Sarah had told me. So that was my apology for forgetting about them and Daniel Clooney someone who's making a splash on the scene as well. But going over like I said you've got Patty with you. He's been at Lowe's IMAP. Sarah has been there as well. Do you think that's going to be like you said the last time you went out your com you went on your own obviously you're cornered by other coaches now you kind of have you've got your team there like to balance it. Is that more of a a kind of reassurance? Because obviously you've got the for France it was just the one day and then it was it was the fight like whereas now you've potentially three, four, five fights depending on your thing. Is it good to have them for reassurance cuz they've been there and done that especially weighing in every day which I would presume is extremely difficult. >> Yeah, 100%. Like Patty's one of the wisest people I know. Obviously Kevin Morren is as well and uh I know for a fact that if I'm going through anything I can go to either of them but Patty's obviously my main coach. I train with Patty so it's very good and it's very reassuring to have in my corner over there if there's anything to do with my weight if I'm maybe whatever he can he's going to be there. He's he's been through that with um other people. So he'll be there to kind of help me and whether it's mentally, physically, or whatever it may be. >> Yeah. Cuz cuz like that it's good when you're like it's good like that Kevin warn someone I have great respect for as well. But obviously you yourself said like that with your coach, you're going to have certain keywords and certain judges code words and stuff as well that you know if he says do the Kabib let's say you know exactly what to do. So it's it's going to be that bit and then as well do the corner can't hear. But one of the best things I think about IMAP is there's so many different languages. if they don't. But then again, a lot of people have English as a language, so it might be harder for you to hear what they're calling, but I think it's better when both corners don't know what they're calling. You just go, you do your thing and they go do their thing. But, um, in terms of the team that you have going over is fantastic. How do you feel at the minute at Hulahan? Because there's like it goes in kind of waves. There was a couple of years ago Hulahan was there was a load and then there's transition period like Sha are going pro and you've got Gary there now and then the likes of you really coming to the forefront like yourself and Abdu could be fighting for titles on all so many different shows. Yuzan's fighting for titles, Daniel Clooney's fighting for titles. We wanted to get Sarah for a title but obviously we had to move our show. You're all kind of got gold in and around gold. How does it feel right now in the gym, bro? >> Oh, there's a good buzz in the gym. Good buzz in the gym. there's a a lot of us kind of on the same wavelength. Uh we all we're all coming up together kind of a thing and we're on kind of same level and we're developing together and we're learning from each other and we're learning apart from each other and now we're coming together and sharing amongst each other. So it's a very good environment to be around especially at whatever what level I am at the moment in my career. um we're all kind of growing together and we're soon to be pro like that kind of level. So, uh I think that's the best environment for me. Uh and I've been growing tremendously last year, last year and a half, just developing constantly. And now with the addition of Gary, um it's like him being that pro that you need around the gym and he has a lot of wisdom to give as well. So, I'm learning a lot from him. Uh, and yeah, it's just a good buzz in the gym. Um, yeah, it's just a pleasure to be around all the boys, honestly. Yeah. One thing I noticed, you're all very selfless. Not selfish, selfless because I talked to Zan and he I was saying you're going to call for the the featherweight elite because that's why he usually want Superman away and he said, "No, I'd rather Daniel Clooney fight for that." like is that the kind of uh because I actually put a comment up the other day a lot of gyms do feel like family gyms whereas I think Hulahan feels like a community would I be correct in in that statement in >> 100% [snorts] 100% yeah just it's not just uh kind of fighters we're kind of friends as well number one uh there's I don't feel much of an obviously as fighters you're supposed to have an ego but with with each other we don't really h there's nothing that like I have like let's say technique wise and I'm sure Gary will be saying Dan knows the same app does the same. If there's something like that I want to learn or someone notices something about my game, they'll point that out instead of, you know, somebody's be very kind of envious if you're doing good, they wouldn't like help you get better kind of a thing to kind of keep you in your place. But uh that's the thing I love about the boys around me at HMA. H we're all supporting each other. We're all helping each other grow. So that's the kind of environment I'm talking about why it's so good to be around and why it's helped us grow tremendously last last couple of years. >> Yeah. And you can see as well and there's a question on the IMAS as well because obviously as you progress you don't know who your opponent's going to be. So you can't really go in and do like you can't go and research everyone in the division because you don't know who's going to pop out when. Do you think that's a benefit or it could be a negative? I think I think it could work out both ways. I think like as a fighter and especially at the stage you're at you'll just go out and kind of do your own thing but also if you don't know who you're you're get I know you'll know maybe the night before will you look at them then just to see their kind of basics and what they do all the time or what way do you feel about not knowing your opponents until you're there? Yeah, to be honest, I don't really like do fight study against my opponents. Obviously, I get the general gist of like, okay, he's a jiu-jitsu guy, he's a striker, he's this, he's well, whatever. But I just at this stage of my career, I just work on my my game and my holes and uh just trying to be as wellrounded as I can be. So whether if if I'm as a striker or if I'm as a grappler, I'm I'm able to either strike with them as well and I think I'm a better striker or I'm going to grapple with them and I always have a solution to their kind of problem that they pose. Uh so that's kind of where my head's at the moment. I haven't really been looking into my division. I'm expecting all the Russians and all the Eastern Europeans to be grapplers. obviously kind of the west to be more striking based but I know at this stage and 2026 the boys are going to be wellrounded and um there's not much point in my what I think there's not much point in studying their game in detail do you get me so it's just I I try to be the best version of myself that I can be get in there and kind of figure it out then >> that's one of the best answers I've heard I really really like that answer is because like for me I think as an amateur stamp your own style, do your own thing and worry about them. I know as the things go on and uh there's more on the line like a pro or maybe title fights like big title fights before you go pro amateur. Yeah, there could be case of then, but also you've got Patty Hulahan who's an absolute genius. And like I said, you've got Shauna and Gary there as pros as well with that experience and other guys who have a wealth of experience. But we're not looking past the task ahead. But will this be your last kind of outing of the year or are you looking to if you come back fit and healthy with the gold uh are you looking then to compete again or do you want to just call it a day? you've had quite a busy year and just see and see uh enjoy Christmas and then kind of move on to next year or or are you looking to compete at the end of the year? >> Yeah. Uh to be honest, I don't know. I don't I'm not really looking past it. I've done that. I kind of made that mistake before where I've booked two or three fights because I was so eager to get fights and uh fortunately now the second fight fell through. But I I noticed that kind of having that something booked and something to look look for forward to down the line. It's kind of put my focus or pulling away from my focus on my what was coming up. So I'm not really focused on anything outside of IMAFS at the moment. That's my main focus. We'll see when I come back how I feel, how healthy I am and um what what shows are available. >> Yeah, there that's that's why we moved our show from November. IMAPs, H Chaos, EFC, and you're all within the one month one. Like we can't >> I'm so excited for that card. >> So, so excited. >> I I know they've lost a fight or two, but you're still looking at seven pro fights. Six, seven, eight maybe. I don't think that's ever happened. I know six has happened on Cage Conflict before, but if they go past the six, I think obviously that would make history. I'll have to look more into that cuz I can't say for certain. But what does it feel like as a as a fighter? Uh, obviously you you you were living in Cork stage, but we don't have a huge amount of shows down Republic and the shows up north are fantastic as as you've you've been on a lot of them. How does it feel to have a show like Elite with that many fighters on it, pro fights, and then highlevel amateur title fights? It's just I'm looking at going, "Wow." And then Chaos have a show the same day. I think they five pro fights, high level amateur. How do you feel as a fighter that the the fact that we can have two shows on the one day, have potentially 12 pro fights and high level amateurs and that there's space for everyone? It just goes to show that there's amount good amount of options. How does that feel for you to go, okay, well, there's so many shows high level. >> Yeah, >> you you've got those options. What does it feel like as a fighter to have those options right now? >> Yeah, it feels it feels very good in the sense that like when I first started looking to be matched, there was not many shows happening like every other month kind of a thing. So now that there's like promotions like EFC being so successful, hopefully it motivates other people who are thinking about starting maybe small promotions cuz EFC is now a bit it's it's a big promotion. Uh they're going to have multiple pro seven profiles as you said. So I'm seeing EFC develop into a very successful organization and um maybe down the line it's just going to be pro fight. So that gives other people the opportunity to start up their own things, their own promotions or organizations for amateurs. So um and I don't know, it's it's definitely not this, but I always see I have a lot of boys on the EFC card that I know and I'm always excited to attend that card and attend that uh promotion whenever they do throw a card together. Uh, and I'm very looking very much looking forward to the EFC on November 14th as well. As much as um I'm looking forward to all the meals I'm going to be having after after Georgia. I can imagine it's some card. Then you've got your the week after. I think they three or four profile McDonald's versus Kieran Brady which is a s for me that's a cage warriors level fight. It's just crazy what's going on at the minute. And it just goes to show the the the work that's been put in in Irish MMA from from everyone. And hopefully see hopefully if EC can have at least a full main card every time for pro, hopefully there's a chance to get on something like fight pass like FCC in the UK. Uh I think almighty there on the zone like I think if they were able to do that, it's going to give a lot more coverage to the fighters. But look, I've really enjoyed this conversation. I'm going to let you go. Is there anything you want to say or anyone shout out before you go? And thank you for your time. Thank you for your time, Dave. Uh, yeah. Can I um I'm going to shout out my sponsors. Uh, so I put out a post looking for some sponsors, whoever could help me out cuz MMA is not government funded. I'm sure you're well aware. So, going over to Georgia, I was about to file for bankruptcy. So, um, shout out to Elite Electrical, um, EMCM Construction, obviously, Bua Fear, and my friends and family for, um, helping me get to Georgia and allowing me the opportunity to compete at the Worlds and represent Ireland. So, I couldn't have done it without them. Shout out to all the E boys. >> Perfect. Thank you so much. I can't wait for you to go over there, bring home the gold, and then once you've got the gold, get that food you were talking about. And I want you to send me the recipes if possible because talking about the food and I was actually thinking of doing this going forward when I interview a fighter, get a recipe off them, do the meal, maybe do some content on something like that. But that's something for 2027. But enjoy your evening and thank you so much. >> Dave, thanks so much. Thanks for having me on. Enjoy your evening.