Kyle Heery interview

Summary

Kyle Heery is making his highly anticipated debut this weekend at Wrath CC, having a wealth of experience doing five Immaf competition and a host of novice f

Transcript (youtube_captions)

All right, it's my pleasure to be joined by Kyle here. He seems to be around as long as I've been around. I remember seeing him a lot throughout the years going to IMS and stuff. He finally makes his amateur debut. We're going to talk a little bit about how hard it's been to try and get his amateur debut, but it's just around the corner. We've only 3 days left really. How are you feeling? How's fight week? And how does it feel to actually be making that that amateur debut with the frustration that has been going on? Yeah, I'm generally buzzing for it. I was meant to be fighting on Cage Conflict there a few weeks ago and uh I had two pullouts for that and I pulled out 2 days before the fight like. So, it's been very hard to actually get an opponent that's willing to fight me, so uh it's hard to wait on my youth experience to step forward into amateur and uh get someone who's willing to take the risk really. Like but uh with fight week, yeah, I'm buzzing to I'm just buzzing like everything's going well. My weight's perfect, best I've ever been. Um and yeah, that's really it like. Yeah, I I cuz we were talking just before we came on here as well and obviously I'm part of I've done the matchmaking. I took a little bit of a break, but I was talking to Arnold in between and I was saying to Arnold cuz I cuz I quite familiar with you cuz of of all the IMS stuff. So, it's going to be very hard to get someone like you a 0-0 because I think you're so experienced and and the level and that's not saying about anyone. It's I just think you're so advanced. I think uh you just with everything that you've done. But, like how like how frustrating has that been for you because you just want to get in and scrap. Like how like especially when it's 2 days before a fight and I know stuff does happen, but like to have that many pullouts in a short space of time must be like is this ever going to happen? Yeah, sure. I was I was very frustrated in my last one getting a pullout the week before 2 weeks before I think and I was like oh well, I got a match and then I got a replacement who was a debut. I was like grand a debut for like stay stay at same level. Everyone else is in sort of cuz I'm getting flung into the deep end basically, which I don't mind cuz I'll swim with them big fish like. But, um I don't like it's just yeah, it was frustrating especially 2 days before and everything built up. You're like weight's been made whatever getting to make weight. And then 2 days before and the reason for my last one was literally cuz it was who I am. And even though I I think the main like I think I'm getting a lot more credit cuz I I'm the one who who posts all of it. I'll show everything. I don't care. I'm an open book. Like you can know what I'm going to do and I'm still going to do it to you. And uh like I don't really mind, but like the next wave of youth MMA is going to be crazy going in and I don't think a lot of them a lot of people are realizing until it's too late like. Yeah, no 100% like I I said that there's a group of you I can't remember a lot of them. There was Alex. Is it Alex? Alex Manning, yeah. Uh there's there's there's a load that was in your core group and you're kind of the next you are the next wave coming through, but I want to circle back to something. Were were you actually explicitly told it was because it was you? It wasn't like oh, I'm sick and the day said Yeah. you're too experienced. But, at least look The fellow before that was an injury, but then this one was literally like yeah, we only checked who he was 2 days before the fight, which I was like what? But I think when you see his achievements now it's like Oh, sorry sorry, that was my fault. No, I get cuz a coach won't want to put their fighter in if there's a potential that they could get get hurt. So, don't sort of way, but look you can say one thing at least they were honest about it and said look, we think he's too advanced and that just goes to show, but um coming into obviously this amateur like you've been waiting for for a while. It's going to be it's not too much of a drive for you, I don't believe. Um like how do you feel cuz you've been in the IMS and you've done like you've had loads of novice fights as well. How do you think you're going to relish this like cuz you've done the IMS before, so going into it you're not going to be nervous you're going to be nervous seeing going into this event with the crowd and stuff like that or do you think it's going to push you on? Probably push me on like with the IMS, a whole country's cheering against me. I don't really I love it like I cuz anytime I'm fighting novice they're up north, it's I'm not going to have much of a crowd. Maybe a few people who are close to me. But, and then going up to Rath, which is where my opponent's from basically. I believe. So, he's going to have the home crowd and uh good few boos I'm assuming. Like I love the pressure. I thrive under the pressure. >> [snorts] >> But, um nerves I never really get too nervous before a fight. Like this whole week I'm just buzzing. Like my main worry is literally just if he'll make it to the fight. Cuz with the previous ones Yeah, no I know I can imagine. I can imagine, but look I was talking to him yesterday. He seems to be on track to weigh in. Obviously he's on point, so look um and that's what he's looking forward to fighting as well. Um yeah, like you said getting there you've you've done all these different experiences. Countries cheering against you. I don't think he'll get booed, but I just think it'll be it'll be a bit silent. Um see that's what I always wonder with home fighters. Does it put more pressure on them then because they're there because they're in front of the home crowd? Well, it it depends on the person, but talk to us about your gym. Obviously I've great time for your coach. Talk to me about your relation with Paul and and how you kind of went into MMA. Uh well, the gym currently is doing very well. The youth squad is doing amazing. All the IMS lads are it's going to be some next wave of lads like Dean Brean, Jamie Byrne, all them. Like Brad Molloy, all them are doing really well and then amateurs we don't really have too many now. Zacky got a beautiful knockout the weekend that left hook and the dance moves after. But, and then it all it is all down to Paul and Kieran and the other coaches like like the work Paul puts in especially for the lads who are doing well. He'll put in that extra bit. And it's just the little things he'll tell you or they're like attention he'll give you is next to like it's next to nothing you're getting anywhere else. Like it's great. And it's great to have a coach like that who's whose whole intention is to see you get better and it's it's great to have like. Yeah, I like what you said that if you're putting in so much effort, you're going to receive it back and and I think coaches don't get the credit they deserve because he's like that with you. How many how many athletes does he have that he has to coach? Different styles, different personalities and then have his own life and they're not making huge money here. Like so so there's not like it's a money thing. So, it just goes it goes to show with love and obviously Kieran Clark like I don't no words need I need to be said about Kieran obviously, but are you looking to have an active year? Obviously you've had the pullouts. You've got uh your debut coming up and then there's so many shows. How does it feel to have that many shows and are you looking to stay active because there's so many shows? Yeah, like I'd fight every week if I could like. I I just want to keep fighting. I don't really care. Give me like whoever it is I never really turn down a fight. There's no reason to. I'll fight anyone and just keep I just want to get the momentum rolling with this one and keep it going. Yeah, no I'm so glad that you got cuz like I said it was I was like I don't know if we're going to get a match. It was a bit dicey. It was here and there and then we we well, Arnold got it done. So, yeah, look I'm going to look forward. I'm going to commentate on your fight. It's going to be a pleasure cuz I have seen you coming up through the years and you've achieved an incredible amount through those years and we will it's fight week, so we're concentrating on this fight. I will have a long form interview with you and and I I will want you to kind of explore and go down that avenue, but for now I'm going to let you go. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out? And thank you so much for your time especially so close to the fight. I really appreciate it. No worries. Just shout out to everyone close to me helping me through out this whole fight camp and every fight camp I've had. All the coaches in the gym and everyone, all my training partners. And yeah, it's going to be some fight, some performance. Yeah, I I can't wait to see it. Like I said it's going to be a pleasure to commentate on it and then see you in person as well. So, thank you very much and I will see you on the weekend. Thank you very much. Good luck.