Aaron McDonald interview PML 11

Summary

Aaron McDonald is a professional fighter fighting out of team Torres, he joined me to speak about his upcoming fight on PML 11 against a very tough opponent in Tomáš Cîgánik but is looking fir a second successive win and finish on the promotion. We talk about his maturity as a…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

[Music] okay so I'm here with Mr Aaron McDonald who's going to be competing this weekend he's going to be competing against someone I'm quite familiar with as well I'm very familiar with Aaron I have good relation with him obviously fought out of irland he fought the who of amateur went on to octagon he's fighting this weekend so I'm gonna have a little bit of a catch up I enjoy talking to so how have you been it's been an exciting couple of months for you it's been a a change let's say a couple of months you've been away uh everything that's gone on with octagon and the the fight that you came back and won so how have you been how's this year been treating you H well David lovely love you to speak to you again mate so uh it's good speaking to you again man but H yeah it's been a [ __ ] it's been a great year man you know I went out to Thailand in February and start of the year I was out there for three months came back fought in the PML H got the win there then was back for a month H actually got a [ __ ] illness like some bades in the knee and then H I was like right Focus let's get back out to Thailand back out to Thailand again and now we're here back in Slovakia back to do another finish back to back finishes against Mr shnack and uh I know as you were saying you know about znak but uh me and znak were supposed to fight four years ago H just before the pandemic so that's why this is interesting so what was the clan wars it was supposed to be on was it was for it was going to be for the clown War super lightwe a title I think because I think he just beat he beat Chad Riley and uh we were both in the same show and then I was supposed to fight him or was it for the Akuma title it was for it was for four title anyway and H yeah so God knows what what the the result would have been there but I know what the result is going to be this time you know so Sak's a tough man don't get me wrong he he's got good skills in some areas but uh I'm God I just feel that I'm in a I'm in a different place and I'm and I'm levels just levels above him in every department so we're going to find out on Saturday who is the better fighter and you know we could have found out four years ago but uh we're going to find out 2024 yeah no it's it's going to be exciting fight um like I said it's mad how these things come around obviously he moved back to Slovakia you've gone to octagon and all these different changes since you were supposed to originally fight and then it's like a full Circle it comes back again um but with that like you talked about obviously being in Thailand twice talk to us about uh your learnings from Thailand what you like what what made you go out there and what was your kind of biggest takeaways what's the training like what's the lifestyle because I I would presume it's like a fight a proper Fighters lifestyle there yeah yeah it's like the fight capital M you know what I mean it's it's it's it's um if I was to say any young athlete you know coming up in MMA I'd say get out to Thailand because the you can grow not even physically but more mentally I feel like that's what's happened to me as I went out to Thailand I've Had The Spar I've had the I've had to fight these dagistan these Russians I've had the you know everyone has these big H they say these big things about the Russians and pakistanis and all Scar the wrestling and all so I think that was the biggest thing for me going out there and T out there training tiger boy Tai was my mentality my mentality completely changed me like it's for this game you have to have a strong mindset and when I was out there you know I was get my ass kicked at the very start you know what I mean I'll be honest with you I have no [ __ ] I don't care if I said but by by the end of the first stint when I was out there I was starting to kick some ass so it was good man and I was starting to wrestle people and everything so just the levels that I have [ __ ] obtained just by being out in Thailand is massive like I have G so much as a fighter but not even just as as a fighter as a human being I've changed completely in my mindset is just in daily life as well you know I had a lot of [ __ ] going on in my life you know for the past two three years and uh you know 2023 me it was a [ __ ] it was it was a tough year for me and you know I basically I'm not saying that I had to get away and had to had to had to like run away as such like but you know I was just like [ __ ] this [ __ ] I need to get out of this environment that I'm in I was in I was stuck in a shitty environment and a r and that's why I was just like [ __ ] I packed the bags and out to Thailand and uh it's the best decision I've ever made David I'm telling you right now I made that's the best decision I've ever made and um I'm I'm a completely different fighter I I'm a completely different fighter and you will see you got a glimpse of it there in May and pml1 but this is PML 11 and you're going to see the [ __ ] you're going to see what I really truly am about David so um I'm so excited this showcase what I've gotten what I what I am what I am and uh I'm going to get the Finish there will be a second finish in a row there'll be two finishes in a row two WIS in a row so and I'm just going to keep this momentum and keep this going yeah it's good I like hearing all this positivity and all this positive stuff and like you said you didn't leave to get away but sometimes it change the sceneries what's needed because I know people who just stayed in one place the whole time and most most of my friends that have gone on to do greater things have kind of left the town that I've been in know that sort of way it opens up your horizons and uh new possibilities but there's something I want to I am curious about you said obviously you professional fight or going to Thailand right um and you said you're getting your ass kicked at the hour how hard is that to deal with and then like is that like does that just show the mentality and the maturity because if I was going somewhere and getting the [ __ ] kick out me for the first thing a lot of people would give up how hard is it to keep going like like what kind of a mindset do you need and to do that well like I'll be totally I'll be totally honest with you David it's like you know at the start it was [ __ ] so tough me the wrestl and everything getting wasn't I wasn't wasn't getting my [ __ ] kicked in or anything like you know but I was it was getting I wasn't winning rounds and but I just knew I have this deep I have this deep burning desire in my heart David that I want to be one of the top I want to be one of the best in the world and that's what just kept me going and I I love fighting I love training I love the game so I just kept on going and I just knew deep down I was like I will catch up with you boys I will get catch up with you don't you worry about that and then something just switched in the mind and then everything just started started to work out and everything started to but maybe David maybe it's not even just that the mental work outside of the of the cage the the the life that I was living um maybe that was what what brought me on and got got me um brought me the where I am because I changed so much in my life and uh you know I think that's probably the reason why is probably a good a good percentage of the reason why that um I am where I am now because of the changes in my life and my mindset and everything but that's probably why but I I never give up M even like I've got a heart like you know what I mean man and I I do wear my heart in the sleeve as well so I was [ __ ] there was some nights where I was going back on [ __ ] this you know what I mean but by the end of it me I was was like where are all these dagestanis I was like I was I remember you you you were walking in the train and go [ __ ] where they are they're all stand they're all standing up the top of the mat waiting for you you know what I mean and then by the end of it I was like w like they better be into there because I want a [ __ ] good good session you know what I mean so this the changes in in in everything have been great man and just the enjoyment and the love for for the game and for life again man you know what I mean it's it is it's a beautiful thing so um yeah let's just say a lot has changed a lot has changed in my life and for the better for the better but look you the thing is with life man is a roller coaster there's always going to be ups and downs there's always going to be obstacles in the way like even though I'm saying everything's going great you know there could there could have been something that's happened this week and and the universe is trying to test me but the thing is and I as well I've grown and I know I can I can handle these obstacles that are coming in my way before I [ __ ] was up I didn't know what to do I didn't know how to control myself I didn't know how to handle myself but now I do and um I just feel unbreakable now David I just feel like [ __ ] it's got it's just I just feel unbreakable man and my mindset is bulletproof at the minute so nothing can stop me and uh Thailand has a lot to do with that as well Thailand has has helped me get to that stage of my life and I'm in a good place and uh [ __ ] me I'm reading and all man you know what I mean I'm reading books and [ __ ] so H you know so um life is good mate life is good oh it's good and it's good to hear you so positive and and obviously you came from the Octagon you lost your pro debut but you got to finish talk to us about your last fight and how much it kind of meant for you to get that finished because obviously it was quite disappointing for yourself and not that we were disappointed but we were disappointed for you when it happened because we like we all love you over here when that happen so how for you to bounce back with that finish because for me I would that was like that's the Aaron I know that's the that's the Aaron when he's on Ball and he's on his day that's the Aon I know how did it feel to to have that finished well look I the funny thing was that before the fight you can ask anyone like uh I was saying I was saying it's going to be a rear necka choke finish I just knew it was going to be a finish the thing was like it only hit me after it was like I needed a finish you know what I mean like the to make the comeback like after my Pro debut loss H it was like I remember everyone being like Oh you needed that finish and I was like but I wasn't even I wasn't thinking like that you know what I mean I just was like I'm gonna finish him but I didn't feel like I needed to finish him you know what I mean so maybe that's I'm saying all these mindsets have changed and so I was I just went like there to finish him I didn't like because it just hit me that when everyone was saying oh you needed to finish because it made it so much better and I was like [ __ ] yeah that that is true but I wasn't thinking like that I was just going out there to finish him and that was simple as that and that's that's where it is now in my mindset it's like I'm going like the champ finish every [ __ ] time and um it was great to get the finish it was great in in the last fight but I knew I was going to get it it was no surprise that that that it happened and um you you got a glimpse of what I am capable of and um you know you're going to get more you're going to get more of a look into uh the true AR McDonald you know what I mean MAV Val so um yeah it's um the Finish was good but we're going to keep on going we're going to keep on going for finishes and that is it you know no no no boring fights I'm I'm looking to finish I'm not looking to [ __ ] H get decisions and be a decision fighter you know what I mean I'm going out for for the finish I'm coming for the kill like you know what I mean I'm coming to take ads like so uh that's why Mr Snak on Saturday even though me and seak have been very respectful with each other before we know each other we spoke we've spoke um so you know don't really want to say anymore but I'm coming to finish him and whether he likes it or not it will be done yeah cuz like that h a lot of Fighters have respect and you do talk among to each other but like that he's going to say if I was talking to him now he's going to be saying the exact same thing about you and um for me it's an exciting fight um I i' I've watched him briefly I know him to obviously Maga I was over in Slovakia I seen his fight there I think it's a quite intriguing fight and the fact with you is you're so well-rounded like you finished on the you you obviously got the rear naked CH you last fight but your your kicks and everything and I I Can Only Imagine David only got better and better since you've been in Thailand as well the levels have improved improved how do you see this fight kind of going do you see it standing you see it on the ground or are you just going to go with whatever way the fight goes or do you want to dictate it yourself you don't have to go into too much detail because we don't want to give away a game plan but like where I don't give a [ __ ] man where do you think this will take place more on the feet or on the ground because for me two is are more kind of boat lighter or quite good on on the feet yeah well look at let me put it like this David okay is is George St and gble Peter gble or something were absolutely [ __ ] scared to [ __ ] to stand with SE and Ain scared this St with Sak let me put it like that there they were [ __ ] they were shooting for him like there was no tomorrow and sign near got the [ __ ] finish in the third round against both of those boys but I ain't scared to [ __ ] strike with second KN so I'm going to go and show you the full the full package and that's why I'm I'm a mixed martial artist you know what I mean but my hands have come on so much my kicks have come on so much my grappling come on so much so you're going to see the full the the full spectrum the full package simple everything so um I'm dictating where this fight goes and um don't want to say too much but uh I believe I will finish him in the second round um and uh I don't want to say too much but yeah I'll finish him in the second round with the hands yeah well I'm looking forward to it anyways I see you're over in Slovakia now how does it feel like obviously as a professional fighter to go and to go to and see these countries and do things and to be to be fair they've actually brought you over quite was it yesterday you went over or was it no Monday Monday cuz a lot of places will kind of bring you in maybe just the day before weigh and like you've had a good couple of days there how does it feel as a pro Fighter for this to be happening to be going to different places like is this what you always imagined was going to happen bro this is this is this is the life man I'm living the life I'm literally living the life that I've always wanted the live I'm living like a professional athlete I'm flying from Thailand I'm going to Slovakia I'm going back home to Ireland I'm traveling the world man I'm fighting in different countries you know so it's um you you froze there did you no I'm okay now you still hear me yeah I can hear you yeah yeah bro so like you know I'm living the life man and that's what I've realized like I'm living the life and I'm going enjoying the journey now man and that's I'm saying they flew me out here Monday I've got this I've got the settle down in lakia I've got to see Slovakia um and it's it's it's just a beautiful Journey that I'm living right now you know that I'm in and there there is no destination it's just it's that's why I'm I'm I'm loving life now man because this is it's just like it's it's class like I've just flew in from Thailand puket now I'm in Slovakia then I'll go back home to Ireland then I'll probably go back to Thailand you know I'm living the life like these [ __ ] these films that you see you know [ __ ] back in the day with the fighting and all I'm living that life now man you know what I mean so even just realizing that myself um was a was a major thing like you know I I never I was just like I'm a [ __ ] I'm just I'm I'm just an athlete and just do this you know what I mean like as a FL GE came up in football came up in Gil I just did it I never was able to think about it and realize it and now I realize the journey that I'm on and it is beautiful man it is very beautiful and and are you relishing and taking in every moment as happens because a lot of people obviously you have a destination you want to get to and a lot of people kind of forget to not forget the L but they don't cherish those little steps as it happen are you cherishing each moment as it happens like that flying to Slovakia fighting on Pro shows fighting on octagon are you taking it all in or has it just been raised through or by the sounds of things you've obviously matured so it sounds like you're taking it all in but what's your experience with like are you cherish in every moment as it happens as a pro atlete yeah 100% man that's the whole change living in the moment enjoying every moment you know constantly everybody's living in the past of the future or whatever and even we're fighting we're like we are um we're Fighters like live for like four days a year if you get me right because they're training for four fights a year four five fights a year so all they're thinking about is those days so they miss their [ __ ] life you know what I mean so that's where I'm at now I'm man I'm making sure that I'm enjoying every moment I'm embracing every moment and and that's what I'm saying there is no destination for me this is there is just the journey and that's that's where you need to be mentally you know not even just for [ __ ] athletes but for Life man you need to you need to live in the moment and appreciate the moment and be thankful for the moment you know man God knows what could happen to me tomorrow and that's why I'm living now man I'm just living in the N enjoying the n and having fun and that's why you're seeing this completely different fighter because I am enjoying I am in the moment I am living in the moment and I think that's what I think that's what you should do in life in general I think you should just try not not try because trying is you're trying that's be like forcing but like you know a lot of Mind work that I've been doing is just like you know just being in the moment and appreciating the moment and being grateful for the moment like because we don't need anything else we just we just need this moment and and a good life and that's why you know we have to make sure that we appreciate the moment or else it's just gonna life's just GNA pass by yeah no I I I like everything that's coming out of you the positivity and not even just the changes of fighter the change as a person the maturity and how you look at things as well so it's been a very obviously productive year for you you're looking to get the finish this weekend have you like by the sound things you probably don't have any plans for next year but like do you have a rough idea of what you'd like to do or you just going to just this fight and then after that see what happens see and and you were gonna ask me that after I said all that I'm just gonna I just want to compete every other month every two months I want to compete if it's MMA or Jiu-Jitsu or whatever I want to just compete every month and then see where I get I'm still signed with octagon so um obviously they're allowing me to fight on PML uh so we'll see what happens with them but man I don't care I just want to fight I want to compete I I want to travel the world um and uh I want to see where this just takes me so I have no I have no set plans on um what's going to happen next because I don't know what's going to happen next I'm just let I'm just like sort of being like let's see what happens because I think that's more fun let's [ __ ] B crack you know what I mean let's just see what happens go get this finish then let's see what the next opportunity is let's gool get another finish let's see what the next opportunity is and that's why I'm living my life now man and it's [ __ ] great and uh that's that's why like on Saturday it's going to be [ __ ] it's going to be great it's going to be a great fight H hope hopefully Sak turns up it's it's in his it's in his backyard it's in his it's literally in his [ __ ] jy's uh Town um so is there pressure on him how does he handle the pressure I don't know I don't give a [ __ ] I don't care what he wants to do but um that's what I'm saying I'm going in there to [ __ ] half F man and put damage on him you know what I mean so um there is no sad plans I don't know what I just went off on one but there is no sad plans on H what happens next because I don't know what happens next I'm just in just being in the moment and uh making sure that I go and perform and um just relish the occasion they just embrace the occasion and and enjoy every bit of it I hope they boo me I hope they boo me they boed me last time and I hope they boo me again because I [ __ ] love that [ __ ] and I was a big Underdog and all this they [ __ ] a clue but I couldn't care about all that [ __ ] the only person I need to focus on is myself and that's it and that's what I've learned um you know with my last like fights before I was [ __ ] my head was there I was thinking about this I was thinking about that I was thinking about this now I don't care I'm focused on myself um that's why I said like things like you know some shit's happened this week and it's tried to [ __ ] the universe tesed me and testing my strength and testing to see if I have evolved and I have evolved because I I've been able to handle it and and and I don't keep care talking about this [ __ ] because I know how strong my mindset is now so it's like uh and then the thing is I cannot wait to go and perform I'm [ __ ] so excited to perform and um you will you're going to be impressed uh on Saturday so make sure he's all tune in it's on octagon.svg you know what you know what actually pisses me off I should it shouldn't piss me off but we this fight should be on octagon you know what I mean this fight should be on octagon this is a [ __ ] top top fight two top prospects coming up and uh it should be it should be on octagon but look we're at PML the PML are treating me good thank you very much PML so we're the first fight of the night on the MMA they've got the kickboxing mu a few fights at the start then they then they bring the cage in and me SAR the first fight so we I get to touch the cage first because obviously I'm the first one out so I get I get to touch that cage first and I get the feeling I get to make it my cage so um it's gonna be fun yeah it sounds fun and it is it is a fight that would would be should be on octagon like you said unfortunately it's not but like you said it is what it is you can only do what you can do and I think what you said I think because I asked someone this recently do you think the pressure is really going to be on him because like with with him being in his hometown in his back the expectations are High um the crowd are behind you do you think that adds pressure on to a fighter has you have you ever felt something like that before in your hometown you think at Pro level though it's even even it's even more intense then as well of course of course you're me fighting clam Wars you know what I mean I used to bring big big CES out to clam Wars and I used to embrace it I used to used to love it but it was [ __ ] there was pressure there you know what I mean I'm right here on my own like my Seb Sebastian's only coming out here on Thursday night you know what I mean I've been out here in my own like a lone wolf man you know what I mean so I'm um I'm a I believe that you know there is a lot of pressure on him but I don't think Sak is that type of guy that will have pressure gets him so I don't I don't I don't know but if it does if the pressure gets to him he's [ __ ] he's he gonna be done in one if the pressure gets to him because uh I think it's going to be done in the second round anyway but if if he is feeling the pressure and feeling the crow because I don't give a [ __ ] about the CR um he it's going to be a short night for him if he is feeling the pressure but I don't think he will be I don't think he will be Sig's a tough man um but if he is good luck to him yeah no I agree with you I don't think I think the pressure he's probably dealt with it before he's fought in Sakia quite a few times so I think he's going to be used to it but what I am looking forward to is this fight it's going to be a fantastic this is going to be an absolute like I said this should be on octagon this should be on a major show it's on PML uh so when this is actually when we put this out I'm going to put the link where everyone can go and watch it this weekend I can't wait to see it I'm got to let you go I want to thank you so much for your time is there anything you want to say before you go and best of skill this weekend the Signal's Gone Big Time [ __ ] no I can hear you now anyways I can we're back yeah perfect so is there anything you want to say before you go um no just well yeah actually yeah yeah yeah of course just say thank you for having me on David it's been a pleasure H thank you to all my team you know team Torres everybody thank you to Tiger Tha Tiger Tha um and you know thank you to my main sponsor on track technicians if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be able to do any of this stuff and uh yeah that's it I [ __ ] thank myself that's who I'm going to think I'm going to thank myself no one ever thankss themselves do they so I thank myself that I've made it here and and I'm here present in the moment and I'm gonna have fun on Saturday I'm GNA enjoy it I'm gonna [ __ ] and I'm gonna get stuck in M I'm GNA get stuck in and we're goingon to see a [ __ ] finish boy we're goingon to see a finish and it's going to be a good fight but uh toas ain't got toas toas I think is underestimating me so you don't underestimate me now boy I'm telling you [ __ ] hell like I'm a different animal I'm a different I'm a [ __ ] monster the minute my mentality I'm a mentality monster as well man so you know it's it's gonna be a tough night for him yeah it's gonna be a good fight I can't wait to see it and you and Snoop Dogg are the only two people who I've heard thank themselves so you're in a good category there thank you so much and I will be I watch you this weekend and I appreciate your time so much