Will Fleury and Denis Frimpong interview

Summary

Its fight week for Denis we speak about prep for the fight, his trash talk on the milder side with fatherhood, he speaks about how far away from title shot he may be and wanting to fight in Dublin Will has a fight lined up, he's waiting for a date to be finalised, we speak…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Kind: captions Language: en So, I've had the greatest luck this week. I was talking to Will about having an interview. Me and Dennis talk about having an interview. And just by chance, Will Flurry is over in Manchester. So, I've got Mr. Dennis Ring Pong and Win Flurry both at the same time. This could be half an hour of madness. We're going to see. But thank you very much for joining us. How are you both respectively? >> Yeah, good. Um, I'm fighting next weekend, so obviously the weight cuts in the throws of the weight cut, but I feel good. Had me last spar today and yeah, feel healthy, feel fit, feel strong. So, just the last little tuneups on the camp and then ready to go. >> No problem for heavyweight play. It's great. >> Chicken, the chicken and the spuds. Uh, Andy Stevenson's favorite dish um of yours. But uh you've both got fights coming up. Yours isn't 100% confirmed, but you've got uh good day. What is it? Good day. Good. Good day. >> Good day. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um former UFC, he was 71 in the UFC as well. Uh would do you reckon he's going to be your toughest uh test to date? And how how much are you looking forward to the fight? >> Yeah, I'm [ __ ] I think it's a brilliant opportunity. Like look, a guy who's seven in the UFC and why the [ __ ] he's getting cut, I have no idea. But like it's a beautiful opportunity to go in and prove what you're about. So like if you absolutely smash this guy that is a career defining moment. Very few people could deny [ __ ] me with very high level. Um that's what I'm setting out to do here. Is it the biggest challenge of my career? Probably. Yeah. But like look, it's just breaking it down in a different way. It doesn't mean that it's like it's a different challenge. He's a bigger man. He's a different style than anybody I've ever fought before. So now it's just like learning those things. getting like getting used to bigger bodies. That's why I'm over here in Manchester. Like there's not so many big lads in Dublin performance. So like even today that was my first time sparring with big lads in a while like and it is different. You know what I mean? The physics of that like you're not bullying people as much. You're not stalking him back all the time. He probably is going to come forward more often. So it's getting used to that. But like it's exciting as [ __ ] to be honest. Like look honestly when I got this fight I was just [ __ ] delighted because like my heavyweight division not too fight [ __ ] at the moment. It's all German [ __ ] [ __ ] and nobody really wants to fight. So with this lad at least he's coming in. He's giving me an opportunity to show yeah [ __ ] flurry's high level you know. >> You know it's a good fight like that since you've gone at Octagon just the momentum behind you and I like how they're pushing both of you as well especially uh Dennis does his own promotion as we've seen but that's kind of tapered down now obviously being a father uh changing religion has that it's not as personal anymore. Still, it's more about the person the the technical side of things. There still is a bit of grief. How has fatherhood treated you? And how are you treating your preparations to this fight? >> Uh preparations just like it always has been like even when I was going a bit above board and across the line, I I'd always like have the work behind that [ __ ] talk in the gym to back it up. Um because you almost have to back it up then, don't you? And you talk yourself up. Um, so in terms of that respect, I've just been doing the work as usual. Uh, fatherhood's been tough, probably tougher on me, me wife to be honest, is I'm I'm down here most of the week. Um, she's the one having to deal with a crying baby most of the time. So yeah, um, obviously just giving me extra motivation, as I'm not just fighting for myself now, I'm fighting to provide for my kid and provide for me family. So, um, yeah, just it it's hard like, but it's like it's not the hardest thing in the world. It's like everyone does it, you know? Well, not everyone does it, I suppose, but like everyone to this point, I suppose, for generations has done it in probably harder circumstances than I'm in. So, yeah, it's not it's not that big of a a deal. I don't think people make a bigger deal of it than it needs to be. they they like to feel sorry for themselves sometimes and uh make their life harder than it is. But just one more question uh for you Dennis before I go back to Will. Uh with if if you were to win and win in good fashion because we've seen obviously you improving fight on fight you're getting more accurate, more elusive. Um how far away do you think a title shot especially now that Shem has left the organization because that would have been a tricky one. You're eyeing up that title. Do you think how many more fights you think ahead of you before you potentially get one? Uh, I mean, when I win and finish this guy, I'm going to be on a fiveight win streak within the promotion. And no one else in the top 10 is on more than like a threeight win streak or a two fight win streak. All the other top 10 guys are actually on losing streaks or maybe a one fight win streak. Um, yeah, it's a no-brainer. I really after after I finish this guy, I should fight for the title. Kate has gone, you know, I don't know who Buie's got to fight book now. He's about to get smashed. Um, Legski hasn't fought in like a year. I don't know who else there is. Like [ __ ] Bdanovic is boring his balls, mate. The Attilla is on a two fight skid. I I don't know who else is there. Like, do you know what I mean? But we'll see what Octagon say. Obviously, I've got to get through this guy next weekend. Um, I plan to do that in dominant fashion as usual and then and then we'll see, you know. But if I'm gonna be fighting top 10 guys and like like they've got to get the checkbook out also. You know what I mean? I'm not gonna fight top 10 guys with 15, 20 fights for the same money that I've just been fighting guys with five, six, seven fights. Do you know what I mean? Got to show me the money as well. >> Yeah. Know cuz cuz like that you do bring in the views and you do bring the attention to to the fight as well because of your personality and and will obviously you're heavyweight, you've got light heavyweight. There was talk of middleweight after being up at heavyweight. How hard would it be to get back down there? That'd be a long process. And would it be a long process of being inactive? >> No, not necessarily. Um, so obviously I'm trying to put on a few kilos right now because I'm fighting a guy who's 130 kilos. But the way I'm looking at it is I have this fight in December. I'd hope to be about 112 kilo at that stage. I'm a little bit less than that now. I'm about 107. Um, if I get there, then that's what 12 and seven is 19. So, I have 19 kilos lose to get down to light heavy. But to be honest, when I get anyway big, when I get anywhere near 110, I lose weight very quickly. So, those four or five kilos just come off me within a week or two because I'm kind of moving around a lot. I just don't eat as much as I should. Like for a big heavyweight lad, you know, I'm not like I eat a load, but I look at what some of the other boys are doing and I'm like, "Okay, I'm nowhere near that." Like, and even just [ __ ] physical size, like as in I'm a relatively small heavyweight, like >> you feel like you're almost trying to get up to heavy. >> Yeah, exactly. Yeah. It's like a it's an effort to get to heavy. So, like I feel like getting back to light heavy is no problem. Now, light heavy to middle that might take a bit. So, I don't know how long that process is, but I know that Murdov has to solidify the belt. So, like he's the interim champ now. He's got Engage in the tournament still. Who knows how all that plays out, but there's a situation there where there's going to have to be a fight to solidify that belt anyway. So, let's say I go in a smash bed in December, right? Then I have a hopefully, please God, some [ __ ] light heavyweight contender shows up and hope because right now there really doesn't seem to be anybody. They offered the fight to everybody for October 4th just because of this mad situation that's happened the last few weeks and nobody wanted it. So there actually genuinely isn't a challenger. Like everybody who's been offered to fight me in the last couple of months has refused. So if they get somebody at light heavyweight, great. I go down I fight light heavyweight. Probably I feel like I could make that by like March, April again. No problem. And that kind of be a nice break fight. It's going to be like a big fight. there'll be a big camp. Like it's already looking like it's going to be a three-mon camp now. So like getting a week or two off after that and then coming back in and rebuilding after April is good. If we get April, great. And then hopefully we're off and whoever else solidifies that belt, you know, maybe Zack wins that fight. Who the [ __ ] knows? But whoever that champion is at that stage, sure it's unbelievable. So double champ coming down to be a triple champ. Leo after showing smash 71 guy in UFC was 130 kilos. Now he's going to go out and win a middleweight belt. That's [ __ ] historic [ __ ] That's legacy [ __ ] And that's what I'm here to do. >> Yeah. And you spoke when we sat down and talked and you talked about your legacy and and I felt at the time I think there's a couple of fighters that are overlooked and under at the time I thought you were were overlooked or undervalued. Richie Smund's another one uh who was completely I don't think he gets the flowers he deserves. That guy's an >> a chance to prove his worth now in the next couple of week like you know October 4th there Richie is going to win in Smash Booing who's a legend in the sport. I have a lot of respect for big fighter, but like I have no doubt Richie's gonna absolutely destroy him. And I don't talk like that normally just because the guy's Irish. Like Smullan is at a level and he's been at a level for a while. And he is one of those guys who like, man, show up and watch Smulan bar. Show up and watch other guys in the gym. Like Smolen is doing things that very few people are doing and he's doing it to high level guys. So, I'm excited as [ __ ] to watch that guy go and show what he is and hopefully he continues to get the platform because in fairness after he smashed [ __ ] obviously they thought Borink was going to smash him up that fight with your man afterwards. But it's one unfair play to him. Showed exactly what everybody in Ireland already knew. The guy's an absolute tank might then smash him. Your man can't even do the next fight now. So, he's filling in for him. But after he smashes Bookie, I think he's in a great position. And hopefully they continue to see what he is and promote the [ __ ] out of the court like >> Yeah, I think so too. I think Smallen is is completely I don't want to say overlooked or underrated, but I just don't think he gets his flowers cuz he's he's not as vocal. But you with the with the double belt and looking for a third, when you look back on a year ago before you signed with Octagon, how happy are you that that the way it's panned out, your career's panned out in Octagon today? >> Yeah. Like, look, I'm extremely grateful to get the platform to finally do something special. Um, and that is what I've been given. No doubt about it. But let's be honest, mate. I did special things to get here. I showed up for my first fight with a broken hand. You know, after I did that, I was like, okay, all bets are off and every door is open now. Because like that wasn't just like, oh, my hands a little bit broken or whatever. It was in three pieces. Like, my thumb was in bits. you know, I've had to have two operations on that since like um so I think over the space of my career and even after coming back off the band and all that, I've proved I'm willing to go out there and do things that very few people would do and put themselves in positions very few people would be willing to. I still feel like for the legacy I should have and for the level I'm at, I haven't gone and shown what I can do fully. But I'm like, look, I know that now is a lot different than a year ago. That's amazing. That's great. But I'm still salty. Like deep down inside I'm like I have so much more in me. And it's the determination to continue to show that until it gets to a point physically that I can't. So the next three, four years for me are about like it's not like oh you'll get another fight or oh you'll get another fight. Now it's about doing something genuinely special where it's like oh [ __ ] will Fury was incredible guys. Don't forget that. You know in 10 15 years they'll be like when Fury won that third belt at he went and smashed that and then maybe he [ __ ] gets a shot in the UFC at light heavy. Who knows? Who the [ __ ] knows? But like the door is still open in my mind, the door to everything. And there's a lot of possibilities out there. And I feel like I'm in a place now where I can go and exploit those possibilities. And I feel like with the head space I'm in at the moment, beautiful things will happen. And it's just about making them like continuing to allow that to be a possibility and then chasing the thing. Like it's not easy, but it's very enjoyable. You know, when you get into that head space, there's kind of a pleasure that comes with like the goal doesn't feel like pressure. The goal feels like something you want to run towards. And yeah, it's a lot of running, a lot of work done, a lot of work to do to get there, but it's like class. Can't wait. >> Yeah. Know, I can't wait to see what you continue to do in Octagon as well. And and Dennis, you've got your fight coming up. Like I said, you hoping to go towards a title shot. Um, you're currently obviously Will's over there with you in Manchester. we see what Lone Murphy doing and there's another guy signed to the UFC. What's it like kind of being in the gym? Because obviously you made the conscious decision to to move over and how do you feel being in this gym has helped you professionally and in a personal sense. >> Yeah, like obviously getting out of the comfort zone of being around like where you've always grown up is a bit different. having to adjust to a new place and stuff. And like you say, over the last few years, I've seen it because I've been in the gym, but now you're starting to see it with like obviously Louis being signed to the UFC, AIA doing what he's doing the UFC, Lone doing what he's doing, the UFC, and like Luis and all these other guys doing high level, you know, and um yeah, I think it's just my turn now to sort of show what I'm doing next week. Um, my goal has always just been a world title. I never really like set a goal of like, oh, I want to be a UFC champ. I just wanted a world title. Uh, I think Octagon world title sounds very good. I also feel like where octon octagon's at at the moment, there's space for I don't know how many belts there is altogether, but there's space for within the next 12 months for five of those belts to belong to Irish fighters. So let's say Will goes down, smashes bud, goes down and gets the middleweight belt at some point. Smullen smashes Bookie. I believe he wants to fight for the featherweight belt which is vacant because Kate was the champion as well. Lightweight belts vacant as well. Kaitton was a champion. So, you know, and then there's other there's other guys that probably could get opportunities that like fly away. I know Gary Rooney is a flyaway. He's still up and coming. I don't know. I don't haven't seen when he's fought last, but he could be another guy that they could sign if they decided to come to Ireland and do a Dublin show. And you could have like a big Irish invasion of Octagon. Um, I know Bellator don't really do the Irish shows anymore. We We're probably missing a bit of MMA in the Republic of Ireland at the moment. Um, last show they done was in Belfast. I don't know when the last Dublin show was PFL >> December 23. >> 23. So, what's that? Nearly two years ago. So, there's space there for a big promotion to be doing that and to be coming over with, you know, five Irish champs. Well, three Irish champs and five belts. I think that could be the next big thing and the next big wave of Irish and May and inspire other fighters maybe to say, "Oh, that that's a route for us. They're doing big stadiums. They're doing stadiums in Europe. They will fought in a a football stadium with like 60,000 people." So, I don't know. The UFC is not the be all and end all. I don't think anyway. Obviously, that's the Premier League, but like mate, if you're playing in La Liga, you're not going to be complaining. Do you know what I mean? I kind of want to expand on that a little bit because like I've talked a lot about that Dublin show and you know making it a reality. The thing that I've felt in the last like year and a half that I've been with Octagon is my god they have an amazing MMA scene in the Czech Republic. Like it's so much healthier than the MMA scene in Ireland, you know, like and it's just different. And I don't think you you'll understand it until you go there and you experience it. Like the mainstream media are very interested in MMA over there. Me beating Carlos was on the national news the next day. like their state media channel covers that like you know [ __ ] me being a double champ in Ireland means that like okay octagon aren't the big piece organization in Ireland but like whenever I go to Germany it's like mad respect to you know anybody who knows me like whoa flurry double champ like right it's it's a way bigger deal over there obviously right and look like that's just a personal thing in a way but like they're seeing there's kids at the events like when I I was over for the Carlos um and the till fight the third one right and I go out of the stadium at like half one in the morning and there's just a group of kids like standing there waiting to get autographs when I leave the stadium no parents around like they're there like 200 meters away but they're not like no security lot loads of drunk people not a lot of cooked up 21 year olds looking for scrap created and cultivated a much healthier scene than we have right and that's real we have to acknowledge that >> it's like a it's like a family event people bring their families in that for the day >> yeah and it is just like a day of entertainment type of thing. So like culturally that's really different to what we have in Ireland and we like I don't see that being that like it's going to take a while for that to shift but I nearly feel like if some promoter in Ireland came over and saw what they're doing and was like [ __ ] if we could just make this small scale and it's slightly bigger and slightly bigger and slightly bigger. There's a huge opportunity to do that because like when you get Irish people behind something, we are a great culture for supporting our own, right? And like you're we've proved in other sports, you know, with soccer, with rugby, with all sorts of things, but the amazing in Ireland's very [ __ ] dead right now. Like look, we're talking about Paul Hughes now. Like what Paul Hughes has done is incredible. He's beat McKe. In my eyes, Pet off, please God, he goes out, wins that second fight. Like fair play to the guy. He couldn't have done much more to build himself a legacy. And yet that show in Belfast was half like, you know, they had half the stadium open and even that didn't sell out. Like that's real. Like people want to big it up as much as possible. Like fair play to that guy. He couldn't have done much more. Like he deserves a sold out stadium, you know. >> Yeah. >> But it wasn't. And you know, they're even more into fighting in the north than they are in the Republic at the moment. So like >> we have a long way to go before we cultivate a healthy scene. Yeah, >> that's keeping in mind as well that like in Germany the likes of like an Echerling will get announced on on a show just Erling don't know who he's fighting. no other shot fights on the card and 80% of the tickets will be sold out for a 25,000 seater stadium. And like if you ask Irish people who is Christian Echo, most of them don't know him. He's not done what Paul Hughes has done. He's not on the level Paul Hughes is to be quite honest. >> But they get behind him. Um, and to be honest, my opinion is I I do think the MMA scene has been soured a little bit by antics of MMA fighters maybe, but at the end of the day, most of us are just sports people and like as much as it's a bit of a brutal looking sport, like we are just going out there and doing our thing and we work hard and that's it, you know. Look, and I'm not going to get into why it's the way it is, but it is very, very different. And I would encourage anybody who like doesn't get it to actually go to a show in Germany or go to a show in the Czech Republic and feel what it's like and see the difference in culture and difference in atmosphere because like look, as Octav like you don't get [ __ ] ridiculous money. You're not going to like buy a gaff after two fights or like that. But my god, you get massive like if I after knocking out guys in stadium like in that show in Frankfurt that he was talking about like I wasn't even a big name back then in whatever but like the level of like oh my god that was incredible and all the fans are so respectful and it is like it's like wow this is a really nice thing to be part of right and that's a personal experience as a fighter but you can grow something out of that like the culture of that it like everything there is a seed to create a bigger scene We like when I come home I really don't feel that at all. We kind of have a scene of like I see that good and it's like well no we we've class to compare ourselves. Most of the fighters over there they're much lower level but like the support is way bigger. So like even now like I'm struggling right because like all them German lads that I want to fight they have leverage just because of the fact that they're German and they have a fan base. I'm Irish. That's supposed to be a good thing. Jeez like I don't have much of a fan base. I think I'm like a fairly big character. I'm pretty easy to get behind in a lot of ways. But like >> I I have more fans in Germany. I have more German fans than I have Irish fans. And that's just going by my socials. Do you know what I mean? Like statistic statistically more Germans get behind me. >> So it is a bit odd. Um, and like in order to like I I think where we're getting to in order to get Octagon to see it viable to come over to Ireland and not fail like they did when with the UK expansion. I think Irish fans have start are going to have to start going to the Czech shows, going to the German shows, getting behind us, showing Octagon that there is a fan base there to be exploited. Not in like a bad way, but like that they can grow something there. they can grow the brand there and eventually make it like so it's a household name there. I I think I don't I don't see a bad thing. >> I think there has to be a bit of a cultural shift and I like I'm not holding my breath for this to happen but like if I was to look at it and be like what could make an Irish show realistic. It'll be the mindset of people going back to like well MMA is actually a sport. Those guys are really dedicated. It's really hard thing to be good at. Whereas these days it's that thing of like is he 15? No he's a bit [ __ ] then. And it is that American attitude like and look we're like everybody watches UFC and they're affected by the attitude of commentary and of the like general culture of that thing. And when you have two like you know 40 50 year old commentators going like oh this kid or a 35 year old guy who's like 12 and0 you know or whatever the guy is but like you you look at it like you're like this guy's got no skill set but call him a kid you know and he's noble fighter and they're not giving this guy the respect he deserves. That attitude infiltrates and what OT have done nearly insulated like really not very good fighters to be honest from that attitude and then people are willing to buy into it. like look at the effort he puts into his train and look at the effort he does for this and like there is something genuinely beautiful about all of that and selling that isn't that hard when you get it right as in when you create the right like attitude and the right promotional tools like you know getting out the right sort of videos and getting out the right sort of countdown content and all that sort of [ __ ] then you create something where like people are buying into a product and they're buying into an attitude and atmosphere that we just are nowhere near in Ireland right now. Um, >> keep in mind he he fought with him. His hand broken in three pieces. These Germans can't even show up because they got staff five weeks out from the point. You know what I mean? These these lads are pulling out left, right, and center. I checked the stats. Yeah. On the birth rate in Germany since 2020, it's plummeting because they keep pulling out. You know what I mean? First [ __ ] St. Petersburg and now now >> Dennis here having kids, you know, not pulling out. >> I mean, I don't pull out, mate. I'm having I'm trying for a second. But you know what I mean? These lads are pulling out of Frankfurt and Hanover and all now after pulling out of St. Petersburg a few years ago. But listen, some of them aren't even sick. They're just they just don't want to fight. They just say, "Ah, do you know what? I'm done. I'm retired." Retiring like two weeks out from a fight. It's mental to me. Whoa. It's just an attitude difference, isn't it? >> That's what I mean. We have a lot of very good real fighters in Ireland right now and I don't know if any of them will get the platform to go and express the talent that they have and if that ends up in the case that's very [ __ ] sad and I don't know the answer to fixing it. I don't I just observe this difference massive difference culturally a massive difference in like the overall scene and I see like a level of arrogance nearly amongst like certain Irish people of like we have amazing amazing we have amazing pilots we [ __ ] am amazing you know and we do we like I honestly think like this thing of our golden generation our golden generation is [ __ ] coming up you know like the lads I see now in the gym are so down in comparison to lads that I started training years ago like even like when came up to SVG talent level wasn't very good. Talent level now is incredible. Like some of the guys who were coming out, they're going to be really legit prospects if they get the platform to go build themselves out. Guys can't make this the sport. They're going to go off and be plumbers or be whatever they want to be, you know, they got to make money at it. And if there's no platform for them to go and do that, [ __ ] >> Yeah. No, I get you. Especially with the talent because obviously I'm on the ground at the scene and I think amateur level I could sit there all day and make cars and cars of of guys fighting each other but when it takes to step up to even trying to get pros on an Irish show like I've been asked to help match and I'm finding it hard a lot of lads don't want to fight each other and I think me and you will could probably have another conversation on what you've just said and and and go out a bit more on it because it's actually something I'm really interested in. I think it's a cultural thing. MMA is a lot nicher than people think. People think it's huge. which is not really in Ireland. It's the same people I see at the same shows and when we go to PFL as people who don't or Bellator whatever it was people who didn't really understand the scene. Uh but this is something that I might hash out with you another day and we can try and unfold the different layers to it. Uh but for now you obviously you would like the the the Irish show like I said there's a lot a lot to come over. There's been a couple of Irish people to go over. Brian Manning's being signed as well. He's another inciting prospect. I think that's the correct move because how do you feel about the promotion you get in Octagon? I think the way they highlight fighters is fantastic. Like they're on par kind of with UFC like Bellator didn't do that when you were with Bellator uh or or or PFL. They don't they don't highlight it. They tell the story behind the fighter and that's what I try to do with interviews to show that these guys and girls are probably harder working than anyone in the room. Uh some of the sort of a way. So yeah. Um what you think of of the Irish going over? Obviously, we had Jack McGuire. I think they brought him in, brought him up two-way classes to I think they wanted Rousey to smash him. Then then he triangled him. You've got Brian, you've got Richie just talks of of maybe going in. How do you find Octagon as a platform for yourselves and the promotion that they do give you because they've really got behind G2? >> I think it's sick. Obviously, I've been there for a couple years now. I I gotten to be on a TV show, Tough Style. was a bit mad, but like yeah, I I I think like the little unplug thing that they do where they come and fill you in and stuff like that. The buildup I I think it's great. Um and like like you said, I don't think like Bellator really do it as much apart from like, you know, like the world title fights, that kind of thing. Um, but yeah, I I just think maybe a few more Irish lads on the shows, maybe a couple girls on the shows. Be honest, I haven't really been following the the amateur scene in Ireland that much, but I I know that there is talent there and I know that there's a lot of guys coming up and once you're like two or three and0 in Ireland, like you say, no one really wants to fight. You have to go outside and get fights. So why not go and batter a few Eastern Europeans and Germans? >> Well, I'll speak to like look, Octagon given me an incredible platform to go out and prove myself and like I was saying I've done things about prove that. But I'm really grateful for the fact that I got that and they do a really good job like you say like there are those countdown videos and I'm like I'm someone who's in a pretty unique position because I can't compare. I've been with Bellator, I've been with the BFL, I was with DFC and I'm trying to CFC actually were pretty good with that sort of stuff as well. Like I've been to reality show with them, but even like the week I was down in South Africa to go back and fight the guy outside the reality show, they were doing all these countdown type videos just creating a bit of like was constant content being created. Octagon are the best. I felt like that as in you know whatever I'm like and they tried to do it like in as budget as possible, but it's still actually quite well done and like their staff, you know, they by far the biggest staff of any promotion I've worked for. They are a media production company using a vehicle of MMA. Yeah. So, I think that's that's the big difference. >> That's a great way of phrasing it. Yeah. Because like they're looking to constantly show what this is and that's great because like nobody under like you go to PFL fights like so look I fought in Stokart at that time and I went off. I was like five six weeks later I was over in Orlando with Carl and like I was only over at Stukar for like four days or whatever it was. And in that they had like two countdown videos with me in it like you know they got a lot of footage of my parents because they just saw my parents hotel and were like oh so they filmed them a load of little stuff like that that they were doing and like even they got me to do a few like little Instagram reels with them and all that sort of stuff. Carl was in Orlando for a week and they made him do a load of random [ __ ] He did like an interview with that guy coach all this bollocks right didn't put any of that out. It's just like what what's the logic behind this? who like who okay this and who makes these decisions and I look that's their prerogative that's their whole thing but it's like nobody gets who Carl is nobody understands what he's about nobody understands what motivates because he talked about a lot of really interesting stuff about like his dad and getting him into fighting and all this type of thing so like you look at it it's like let's sell a story here and Octagon sell that story really well and I'm really heartened by the fact that they've signed a few Irish fighters even Brian Madding there recently like who's a character as well so obviously They get that there's something to our culture that we're good crack and that we're like we're going to go out and promote fights and come in and fight because like in a way a couple of months ago I was like sure that's nearly a problem for them because they're selling to a German market and a check market you know and like central European market essentially like it's I I don't know the answer but like they're doing a great job of what they're doing right and the Irish fighters are fighting like we're good fighters but it's like how do we create a home fan base. How do we create a fan base like indigenously that are going to be able to give us a bit of leverage to go and like I'm a double champion in that organization, right? And this guy like Vpasani there yet or this morning or whatever it was was going on. He's like you're not selling in Germany. Oh, you're not whatever. It's like well I'm not [ __ ] German and I'm coming in in Spanish like you're nowhere near the level I am and like same with Vos and same with any of these [ __ ] But it's like they actually have a degree of leverage that I don't. It's like right they have a home audience and I [ __ ] don't. And that really pisses me off. And look, that's a personal thing. That's my [ __ ] [ __ ] to deal with. But like, it's sad that we don't have that scene. >> It's not It's not our job. Our job is to train, get in there, and fight. And but but >> I mean, it's not our job to figure out the answer of how do we enter the Irish market. That's on the promoters. That's on like the fans to be honest. Like that's that's the fans job. >> Our job is to be class. And I think we're doing a pretty [ __ ] good job of that. What are you now? Five and all. Five and one in >> five and one. Piece of [ __ ] Four and0 here, right? You know, double charge. You know, this guy >> I only I only lost to an Englishman which works again. >> Uh no, I've really enjoyed this conversation. It's been a really good dynamic. There was a lot of good things talk about. I got to let you go. Is there Dennis? Obviously, your fight's coming up first. So, is there anything you want to say before you go about your fight or or anything in general before you go? Obviously to the Irish fans, tune in next Saturday on the pay-per-view. I don't know whether they can see whether Octagon can see where the pay-per-view is being bought from, but hopefully if there's enough pay-per-views and they'll they'll pull us over to Dublin. I've yet to fight in Dublin and I know I'll do tickets in Dublin. So, I just I've not even fought in the Republic of Ireland since amateur. So, you need to get get these to know that the Irish fans will be different to the UK fans. You know what I mean? There won't be empty stadiums. It will be a full stadium. There'll be a lot of noise and we'll show up for our lads and yeah, Peter Gabal going to smash your head in. >> I will for yourself. Anything you like to say before you go? >> Yeah. So, it looks very likely my next fight is Martin Budet and that'll probably be on the 28th of December in Prague. Um, I'm going to go out there and try and do [ __ ] incredible things again and again and again and I have no doubt that I will. So, you know, enjoy that journey, lads. And like I'm not doing this to represent Ireland, but I do represent Ireland because I am [ __ ] Irish and I love that. Like, you know, I'm incredibly proud of that fact, right? But like I suppose I'd love to get a bit more support from I'd love to get a bit more of a wave behind Irish MMA and like I'm not the guy to do that maybe because I've had the positive steroid test and all that sort of thing. But like I definitely think that culturally we need things to become a little bit different than what they are right now. And maybe I can be part of like turning the direction of that ship a little bit. So we'll see. >> Yeah. You know, I you've brought up a really interesting topic and I would be friends with the guys in the L triangle. I'm going to discuss this with them as well. Um the the same as well. But best of luck to you both. Thank you very much. I got extremely lucky that two of you here at the same time. This is just like I could imag No, it's not as good as win a lot. If I win a lot, I'll tell you. But thank you very much. Best of luck next weekend. I'll be watching as always. Hopefully we we get your fight confirmed soon. And uh yeah, enjoy the rest of your evening. screen. >> See you soon,