Sean Kelly interview

Summary

Sean Kelly makes his professional debut this weekend at Chaos fighting championship we speak about his amateur career, the camp for a professional fight plus more

Transcript (youtube_captions)

[Music] okay so I have Mr Sean big Stu Kelly here with me today this is the first time we've actually done an interview with just the two of us it's been other people with so it's a pleasure to actually finally interview on your own uh you've got your professional debut coming up this weekend on chaos how are you H thanks so much for your time but how are you how are you feeling this it's fight week you're not far away now uh well when you get to this point that c on can uh H I'm I'm a bit tired but you know what I have a good support network so uh the misses she's taking a week off work now so I can sit up and rest easy for the next week and just prepare for the fight at the weekend because normally I'm just run off my feet see between the children and getting the gym twice a day and just trying to jugle life in general man it's it's not easy it's not easy at all but like I say have a good support network and uh from today on like I say just going to sit my feet up do a about stretching maybe a about late running just get ready for the weekend get ready get ready for the action yeah and that's something people don't actually realize when like obviously you're making your professional debut and and to your am and you see Pros like um Andrew Spinda still works he's still manager in Ali like people don't realize that there's not a huge amount of money in this and and how hard is it to balance all this and especially with kids as well because kids are wild cards like you know it's not the same what was yeah so like how hard is it to balance it like is it something that you just kind of get used to over time or is it just like I said with kids kids are kind of wild cards it's not the same every day so there's something new coming up how hard is it to balance it because people don't see that they just see you fight they don't realize you're like everybody else but you do this as well as working like how hard is that well it's about of a paradox because on one hand I not earth my Fe you know my M has a know a good career that she know she has to come up there because it's it's a decent career and uh so between the I'm up in the morning I'm training and then I have the kids and then you know I'm back day training and it's it just seems as if all day every day I get up at the crack of on and run off my feet all day long I get to my bed late at night and it's just runs and repeat it at the same time if I do have that you know like I'm r with as well and I fear well what would my life be like if I don't have you know that although my structure involves no all gas no brecks all the time if I didn't have it i' be [ __ ] concerned with what I would be doing with my time if I don't have all that in my life you know my kids are a bless and I've recent actually Rec I said that that's the me life you know I love and believe this m stuff I do I really do like but uh the mean the life they me is I was put on this Earth know they have children and R them and that's it but yeah me too don't get me wrong I quite enjoy that as well so it's nice to get out of the house too twice a day and uh you know trade about a l with some of my MERS so H like I say it's a paradox I know you run off your feet and exhausted 247 but at the same time if I doesn't have it or the kids and the MMA I would have nothing so it is what it is man it's it's a hard question to answer to be honest yeah no 100% it is like that I like I think a busy mind is a good mind cuz uh the devil makes work for Idle Hands you know the sort of way there's probably on Horizon all and here the M being a prime example like so I I only started doing this man when I was 25 and like you say you know a devil makes work for Idle Hands you know I wasn't up there much hard than being a Jesus I just I wasn't doing much with my life I wasn't going nowhere I got a decent education and it wasn't serving me any benefit at all and like I said I wasn't doing much in my life other than went through the motions and then when I turned 25 Co had uh completely uprooted my life and I just decided then at that time you know I was just going to do what I love in life and what I love doing is you know raring kids and fighting people and like I said to compl part to to P opposites but I've find MMA then and I've just been going full Bard for the last four years and here like I said man you know it was only about two years ago I was fighting in shards and here I am now I'm going to go pro this weekend and I'm going to tear through this Pro R I'm going to go across the water I'm going to do what I can do overseas and that's the plan man that's the goal yeah and and when you first started MMA did you envision that you would be making your pro debut like was that always in the distance like when you first started did you think you were going to compete did you think you were going to go pro or was that just steps that came along naturally along the process so when it when it started IED and I really like this you know it was on my just I really really enjoyed it and uh I get on this I had I don't matches as a white belt i i w 145 of them and I thought you know what I'm good at this so I set myself the goal of uh just go andove that was my goal because I recognized at the time I was like I'm 25 years old most people that make a career you know they've been doing it since they were Napp so obviously I was trying to be realistic with my goals I thought you know what see if I could at least make it that far Go Pro and drop a few elbows on somebody's skull I'd be happy to that there but like I say the the vot of my LIF for four years and I've got there already I feel like I have an hour luck of years left I think so I've had to reevaluate those goals and they've since changed whereas at the start of been happy they just go pro now I have bigger better Ambitions and uh I'm going to see them through you know I make I I tend to set targets and smash them and go right past them and this be no difference so set myself some more new gos and I'm going to smash him too yeah no and like that I can't wait to see you perform this weekend um I've seen you perform a couple of times live with the with the pro uh debut coming up you talked about elbows there how's the camp gone have you been drilling those elbows drilling those knes you look like you're happy to be able to use these extra weapons uh well uh the camp the camp was we thought it's you know it's count was a say Manus I thought we Tor ACL twice I Tor cor burst aard drum [ __ ] broken tles my feet you name it man every Camp's the same someone comes up and you just have to train till your training around it and then hopefully be as close to 100% as you can you know come fight time uh now it's been uh it's been a weird to see get used to the elbows and stuff uh I never when I Invision go improve I just thought that was going to be great I'm going to get the start El boys in the head and once I started actually doing it on the the gym with the guys it was like learning a whole new martial art entirely you know when they set them up and when they use them in the range for them and I've also had the accident where I've been in a country guys and they've pulled my elbow pad down and I [ __ ] bleached them with a bare elbow I've done that a few times as well unfortunately so uh it's uh it's it's interesting it's just an our level to the game man I'm glad the experience uh hope hopefully I'll get to do this here weekend uh you know against somebody to know they signed off with some of the guys in the gy probably doesn't sign off for me bleaching them a bar elbow but here like I say per accident I have the pods on they pull them down the clench and my reaction on that we pocket of SP because that's what we're learning on the gym they pull a p and I come over the top and next thing I know I'm apologizing Jesus I recently put a pad man in the hospital and everything man these accidents happen you know Jesus Christ so well look they have to realize if they're going to pull your pads down there's consequences to the actions that you uh that you do and especially in training and in that type of an atmosphere and obviously like you said it's accidental but these things do happen um with your opponent obviously this weekend uh we've seen him fight obviously on the island before have you looked much into him have you looked at his what he's good at what he's bad at have you got a game plan obviously I don't want you to give it away but like what what way did you plan on approaching this and and and how do you find them as a competitor uh well as a competitor now his record his record's bad like he is his record's bad but I've looked at the guys he's fighting I think he's like when he fought Brian and he fought he fought an guy in England and he took a fight against undefeated young up and coming Sten boxing not long ago as a gamer like it seems they take the hardest fights which I can I can respect on that hand because that was something that that was the same Mantra that I followed myself you know when I started because like got to say I started L game I said to my coach cuz obviously coach is try to find easy fights I said to my coach when I first get on the amateur SC I haven't got much time on the clock so when I fight the absolute best opponents know they bring myself on quicker no he's been doing the same and taking his losses which you know is fair enough uh know what I've witnessed him I think he FES himself as a body boxer is Jiu-Jitsu is not going to be up to my standard but you know what I'll give him the I I'll give him the courtesy of standing bang him with him I'm not going to [ __ ] dive in there and just double leg him and [ __ ] rag uh he's going to make the Trap over here to my hometown and fight me on my no he's going to fight me on my hometown so I I'll like I say I'll give him I'll stand there and I'll bang with him I'll you know trying to make it a fun contest I'm not going to just [ __ ] drag him the floor line top him like I'm trying toate him like you see some boys do on the scene I'll actually I'll try and put on a showe for the boys for the fans and obviously you know Jordan's a sort of boy it strikes me just want to go on there and they vience well I'll give him vience that's what they want that's what they'll give yeah no I think he is complete a gamer and like that he will just fight anyone like you said you fought the best at hire like Jess Peter halpenny Dino driscal Brian you find when instead of fighting like that like I don't want to say easier fights but less skilled Fighters you learned more from fighting these people even though you may have lost some of the contests oh yeah 100% here manable shout out too and like I threw my hands up I I couldn't give a [ __ ] man I really don't see this right see know going forward a pro it matters it matters now see amateur I was seeking out the best and you know just in my coach as my witness you ask him I had his [ __ ] per head on on he was picking out these fights of this guy fre of that guy fight free I've actually turned down fights against opponents because I thought no it's it's too L than of opponent give me someone else I want the best I want who who sitting rank at the top that's who I want the fight the Champions that's why my fight and I was I was inviting them to my hometown they fight me on our show I wanted the very best but I want any [ __ ] no chance no easy matches and I thought that was the best way to bring myself on like I say I was limited in time and my age so I wanted they fight the best and thankfully you know I thought like you say know BL a br a pul [ __ ] even D Man a bit D and [ __ ] he was one short boxer so like I say that's when search for even even when I got mat with him man I sent Jerry this is how [ __ ] soft the amateur scene is I sent Jerry the promoter of verus over 10 people over 10 names every one of them with positive records every single one of them uh have been training longer than I have been training and the only person that came back to me was den and that was after I don't even know if he if he received it it came out of nowhere I sent them all these names I got zero responses sorry I got zero yeses I got a few shitty excus uses and then eventually te popped up and said he tiet I thought [ __ ] you know what happy days and even when I was getting ready for that air fight I tore my [ __ ] corne and bur meum a few weeks out from the fight and I actually pulled from the fight and then asked j a week before the show I said have you got this they match yet and he goes no nobody seems they want it you know there was one offer there but they don't want the match and I said you know what I'll go on and I'll [ __ ] fight him half death half [ __ ] blind I'll do it if nobody else will do it that there my mentality always has been you know it's just a first just a type of fighter I am you know obviously coaches me including includers will advise against that sort of stuff but you know what I what I not going to change ever you know I maybe they too I can't remember the question well so [ __ ] it no I I like the way you went in the direction that you went with the the question I can't even remember what it is now myself but I like the went with it but um yeah it's just that like you're just a fighting person you fight anyone like you wanted to fight the best and you fight anyone and just talk to me about chaos obviously you're going to be Main Event in it you've been there plenty of times before obviously it's your hometown how does it feel to be making your pro debut there was that always the plan was to make it there in your hometown the millennian form what a what what uh what a place to have it in like how are you feeling about about the whole event in itself um B for you made a like it's a Sal show you know I get my tiet allocation they always give me about 40 50 give me 50 tickets and like I've sold them and then I've had an [ __ ] TW 20 or 30 people saying can you get me a ticket can you get me a I'm like show sold out so I'm going to get the headline on on my hometown and I sold out show thousand people there so that you know [ __ ] I'm B flat there know whoever like I said man I'm a gamer anyone any time any place that actually it wasn't my initial like there wasn't this grand plan for me to have like Sho going crew uh when Brian fought Jord Heath I don't know if this is public knowledge or not but I'll [ __ ] say it here and now I had actually volunteered myself on a week's notice they go down a fight Brian make me Pro deut on a week's notice and go down a fight Brian because they weren't too sure if Jord was going to show up for that fight but uh you know Jord is a gamer I showed up and F and uh I must on that payday unfortunately and I wouldn't mind it getting a br again I'm sure he might have seen some stuff on S in the last few days what you me and uh uh we not get on there too much but uh trust me out there is coming I I won't get into it too much because obviously I've seen what's going on but at the end of the day this is this is your week this is your professional debut we can talk about that after um after the fight after you get done what you need to do but we're not looking past Jordan right and I and I don't look but what's the plan for you like the way I skipped over that didn't you what's the plan for for next year are you looking to stay as active has been a pro or my the fights I took this year must be about six or seven I'm not even too sure man but uh So the plan anyway the study here I've set my goals anyway uh I would like to run it back with Ben Johnson me you and Ben Johnson have actually done you have a lot of time for B man he's our complete gamer we have very similar fighting styles uh and I spoke to him about potentially Mak debut against uh myself no obviously since you know what transpired in the past I would like the advice I should give him I like man get get an or fight K1 MMA whatever it is you know get the ring roll stuff see how you're feeling and then potentially me and him could do it on his shoe up uh and aaa's a good shoe run by Stevie stev [ __ ] A1 and their JY too or some gems are [ __ ] bluffers man but Stevie and his crew man they seem legit like So the plan is maybe if uh somebody in the amateur scene has a [ __ ] balls they pipe up and fight B so we can shake out some ring rust and then maybe I'll get a we debut against him if we can get somebody else in after that in my year you know happy days I'll do it but at the end of the year there's a [ __ ] myy [ __ ] bald Jester bastard myself deep deep in the South he's he's my ultimate goal for the end of next year I fa tiet [ __ ] fruit that's actually yeah there are two good fights obviously you were supposed to fight Ben Ben that's the only fight that's the fights I want man that's what I'm after like I said man I ain't looking to I'm not looking to [ __ ] P record I'm looking to get on there I'm just [ __ ] wreak havoc with likeminded people unfortunate thing is there's not a way lot on my boats but you know I'll keep searching yeah hopefully like that the Ben Johnson fight was one I was looking forward to he is actually fighting on your Championship uh in December so he is going to shake the ring R Stu so we'll see if that transpires next year the Brian Manning W I say when this comes out I say he's gonna have a few things to say about the interview anyway always [ __ ] they say that always something they [ __ ] say um but I just want to conate on you your pro debut going into it what's what's like what's the the buzz been like in the gym with you making with you're making your pro debut like what's the buzz like leading up especially chaos is a home show for everyone what's the buzz like at the minute oh the buzz is good man the buzz is good and you know what we have see the on the gym Jesus man we must have about 20 young you know uh young kids and teens and no guys all starting to cut their teeth in the AM or go nous or no IM or whatever it is so I'm the GM of me am our one proof fighter and then we have a ton of kids no don't get me wrong I don't like they I always say I'm a you know I'm a I'm a soldier I'm not a good leader I don't try to be a role model then on like if they're going to do anything to is I don't do as I [ __ ] what's the saying do as I say not as I do that sort of way but uh you know I just like I said the I good that there way they see me now I'm going pro they see the grass that I've put on the hardw work I've put on them trying to push all these kids along too because you could have a 100 people come on your door and they're all hungry and young and eager at the start and you'd be lucky if you can know keep peling by the time you're H in the amateur scene or even [ __ ] Le last not again going pro so I'm hoping that maybe they can just follow my path well maybe maybe pack a few easier fights but uh do as I've done you know stay dedicated to the cause you know see when hear people with the excuse me like I have a job and I this I I just be like listen L have two kids at home I'm running off my feet every [ __ ] day I'm going from one going from one job to another job don't be give me excuses just get out your ass in the gym Eat Right train well and uh hopefully so you'll mix on yourself someday I'd like to be a part of to see all these young STS we have at the that's of mine I would like to be there and watch them you know come through the ranks do well and uh like I said I just want to be a part of all that but the buzz whe the guys are good man like I said they're all young teens just cutting their teeth and they see me go and pro and they're all Buzz not for Tops and I iy got a heap of jerseys made there uh you know four the fights we are probably going to see a see a pank for is going to be all those all those boys showing about our support so uh know shout out to all all the Young on and Evol and uh that's a good bunch of kids and I look forward to seeing them do well in the future yeah so like from what you're saying you sound ready um you look ready and it's going to go down this weekend at chaos um I'm going to let you go I want to thank you so much for your time because I do understand it's a busy week for you it's a big week for you as well is there anything you want to say before you go and and like again appreciate your time so much uh just the usual man uh I want to say thank you and Shout out my wonderful M Rebecca for all the support she gives me to do this with the kids obviously involved the gems that have helped me get this year far which was uh team evolv in da the Rhino gems in the Northwest being om Causeway Lov and my K1 West Bank so thanks to all lemons for preparing me and getting me ready for all the advice and all coaching and uh on which very last one I shouldn't forget especially my coach J M who tolerates my uh personality more than more than I probably should uh most of our boys would have Chuck me now but you know I tell he's hanging on on there so fair play him so just looking forward to this like Jord he too for of the balls they come over here once again the and fight uh you know in somebody else's backyard so fair play to him yeah know it's going to be fantastic I can't wait to see it I think your personality is one of your your your better traits to be honest I think here and I don't need to [ __ ] dress up in a coin costume i l d I am who I am I'm not so [ __ ] fake I'm ask 100% 100% anyways thank you so much and have a good evening and I will see you on Saturday I will 100% be there I getting a lift I'm not going to miss any buses this time okay oh goodbye I'll see you this perfect thank you