Shea Cleland interview

Summary

Shea Cleland is the Cage conflict champion defending his belt in one of the biggest amateur rematches ever, the first fight stands as my fight of the year so far this could top it. Both him and Damien are two of the top flyweights in the country this fight is not to be missed

Transcript (youtube_captions)

So, I'm here with one half of the main event at Cage Conflict this weekend. It brings on a rematch that saw fight of the year, in my humble opinion. What that means to anyone, I don't know. But, there's not many calls rematches in at amateur, but there was a massive call for this one. Um so, I'm talking to Shea Lealand, one half the Cage Conflict champion. Thank you very much for your time. How are you? How are you feeling? It's fight weekend. You're going to be fighting uh Damien once again. Yeah, yeah, all good. All good. Uh training's went well. We're getting close now, so starting to get a bit excited. Um can't wait. And then, obviously, with the with the first fight that went down, it was like I said, it's my fight of the year. It's potentially going to be It's going to be up there with fight of the years. Uh how did you feel that fight went? I thought it was a very even contest. It was It's It's one of those things It's It's unfortunate someone has to lose because that was so good. Did you feel you'd done enough to win at the time? Yeah, it was It was definitely a fun fight. Like, I took a lot away from it. Uh I learned learned loads, like, great back and forth. Um at the time, and even now watching it back, I still think that I'd done enough. And I mean, a lot of people texted me and told me after the fight that they thought the same, like, but when it's as close a fight as that there, you know, I don't really feel that I've really too hard done by because it was so close. Yeah, it's what Like, if they'd said, like, for me, I wouldn't have argued if anyone's hand got raised. The only reason why I was just so immersed in just the skill level and just the heart and everything that Anything that you want in a fighter, you two boys actually put into that day. And it was like, at such a young age to be fighting at that such a high level, like, your future is is is going to be massive, and so is Damien's, I feel, as well. I think you're two potential superstars. Like, when you look at the likes of Damien, you fought with Oliver, who you bought who you beat before, and I think the first round in that was pivotal where he did he did win the round, but you showed massive fight IQ to just keep him on the back and not make a mistake uh for nearly the whole round, I believe, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah, the whole first round he was on the back and with about 10 seconds gone he was already on the back. Uh started a bit slow that night. But, just stayed calm and uh I I stayed calm and then he he couldn't get the finish in the first round, went into the second round and picked it up a wee bit more from there and ended up getting the win. But, another fight that I learned lots from like, so every fight just keep learning. Yeah, cuz cuz a lot of fighters could have easily just made a mistake or just given up and and not had someone like Misalucha on your back for for that long because he is he's tricky when it comes to grappling, very tricky, and and you done it And what I noticed about you is you fight kind of the best of the best. You've gone to the nationals, you've fought all these people, whether you've won or lost, at least the fights that you want to improve as a fighter because a lot of people You see a lot of people will fight people who maybe you think you're going to beat, but you go into these fights, obviously you think you're going to beat them, but you know it's going to be a close fight. Do you seek out the best fighters in the country to fight? Yeah, absolutely. Like, in amateur there's I mean, there's no point. What's the point in padding a record? Here I'm here to learn, get better, and take all the tests now before I turn pro. Um so, every fight I'm just trying to fight the best and get better from it, to be honest. Yeah, and with this fight this is going to be in the Devenish, and you won this belt in the Devenish obviously cuz of his cage conflict against uh Kieran, who was a hometown favorite uh the hometown boy. Like, how was that going in and defeating someone in their own backyard and taking their title? Yeah, I I I like it sort of getting to come down in their own. Maybe they have a few more uh people that are watching them. But, like it's like a wee bit I don't know what it is about it, just I prefer that, mate. So, going into obviously the match this weekend is going to be the same day. Damien's going to have a huge crowd and you're going to have a huge crowd as as well because I know you're you're both really highly supported. Are you looking to try and do that? Try and cause the upset for the hometown boy, keep your title uh which has been put all on the line now. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, definitely. Um I'm bringing a bringing a good crowd down again too like but that's not to say that he'll he doesn't have a good crowd as well. I just want to show like so uh I'm definitely looking to put them all quiet. I'd say that I'd say that and and in between what I've noticed between yourself and Damien, there's been no between the two of you there's a there's a huge amount of respect for each other I think cuz of the skill levels and obviously the first fight you went through. There's no [ __ ] talk, there's no back and forth, there's not huge social media presence from the two of you leading up to the fight other than your training. So, like when I look at you as fighters this is when fighting does the talking. You don't need the extra this fight has enough. How has your training been going since the last fight? Has there been things you've been working on? Obviously you don't have to go into details but is there things you identified in that last match up where you can try and nullify him in this fight? Yeah, training's been perfect really like the last fight I mean it was only 10 weeks away like so not much is going to change in 10 weeks. I can see this fight sort of playing out near enough the same as last time as well. Um but I can't really complain. I've just been putting in the work and trying to get better again. Cuz I know that he's going to be doing the same here like so if I don't if I don't match it then he's going to get away and if he doesn't match it then I'm going to win. Yeah, and I love that attitude that you're you you know he's he's in FAI, he's training every day, he's getting better for this fight because he will probably want a more definitive win. Uh a more definitive win to kind of close out the this uh this rematch. Whereas you know yourself you need to keep getting better and and that's what I think the sport's about, is just constantly pushing each other um to get better. But, I think it's going to be an absolute cracking fight. Like, I think it's going to play out kind of the same and be be a lot better cuz I think the two of yous would have improved greatly since then. But, um like, in terms of your We both felt each other out now, like, so we know we know what to expect and I know that he's putting in the work and he's he obviously knows that I'm putting in the work, too, like, so I think this one should be even better, as well. I think so. And and you actually brought up an interesting point. Because you felt each other out and you kind of know the way their movements and stuff, and that would have been stuff you would have been downloading into your kind of brain as you were fighting, and you know that going forward. Is Is that a help Obviously, that's going to be a help, but it could also be a disadvantage that he didn't You might come out with a different style, he might come out not totally different, but you might change things up just a little bit to keep it looking fresh. Yeah, that is it's going to be weird, like, I mean, I've never I've never done it before that I've had to fight someone for a second time, like, so this is going to be weird to just to be doing it again. It's just going to maybe feel like, well, I've already did this before, like, so it it's going to be different, like, but I mean, again, it was only 10 weeks ago, like, so not much is going to change, really. No, I I think it's going to be a fantastic fight. Obviously, you're in Team Torres, you've got Decky McAleenan, uh who runs your fighting championship, and I remember at the time uh just watching just watching it, and I've had Decky on many times. Um so, like, what is Team Torres, and what do do the likes of uh cuz a lot of people spoke to me about Decky. Obviously, he's he's the showrunner, he's one of the the top fighters, if not the top fighter in Team Torres, he's in Cage Warriors. Um what does the team mean to you and Decky mean as like a captain of the team? What do What do What's that kind of relationship like? Yeah, Decky just sort of does everything, so he does like Um but no, Dagi's massive help to me. Does everything that I need. Uh I I'll do it like anything that I ask him, he'll do. And me and all the boys in the gym are really We've all been training hard, putting in the work. And we're just getting better as a team like, so Yeah. Yeah, and obviously Kieran Brady is someone from your team as well, and he recently made his debut on a on Cage Warriors. When you see someone like Kieran who's just come out of the amateur ranks go straight onto Cage Warriors for a debut and with you putting on a performance like you have with the fights with Damien with Owen, uh how much hope does that give you that once you go into the pro ranks that you could be straight into Cage Warriors or or that is the route for you because Kieran has done it so soon in his pro career? Yeah, it's class seeing Kieran getting knocked out and done like I mean, me and Kieran do rounds on rounds on rounds every week like. Uh so, it's it's unreal to get to see that there and I know that I'm not that far away from that either like. Yeah, no, you you're you aren't that far away from that and and you're quite young in the amateur scene to have so many fights. If you look back on years gone by, people were in their mid-20s that had two or three amateur fights and then launched straight into the pro. Uh I think the amateur scene the way it is now is fantastic. What do you make of the amateur scene, the amount of shows we have, and the skill level at amateur with the evolution of MMA with where we stand now, and Irish MMA as a whole cuz I think at the minute we're one of the hottest countries with so much talent coming out of it. Yeah, definitely. It's brilliant like that they have so many options like uh shows, how many shows be on. Uh like if if one fight did fall through, then you can go again the next weekend like, you know, you don't have to wait too long. Um but yeah, the level's really high like as well, like even for even for flyweights like Dagi that I'd be watching. Um I know how high the level is like and I know there's probably more or fights out there had in my career. Yeah, no, 100% there is so many fights and I was just saying I done that piece on you earlier, yourself and Damien. I think the flyweight is probably the deepest division. I'm trying I'm pro as well. I promote quite a few as well. Um so, other than obviously you're not going to look past Damien, but there's obviously other flyweights that would would catch your fancy. For me, I'd love to see you fight potentially another FAI lad in Kieran Coogan who I think is another one of the best, but that's something for the future. How much do you weigh come going this week? Obviously, you don't usually have that much to cut. You usually come in relatively comfortable, don't you? Yeah, yeah, no, weight's all pretty good. So, that's getting a bit heavier after every fight now, but uh it's still a easy cut like for me down at 50 or down at flyweight like so. Um weight's good. Just going to have to do a few more easy sessions this week and then make weight Friday morning. And that's all Friday rock. And then, yeah, like I said, it's one of the most exciting amateur fights that can be made. Uh what's fight week like or fight week like for you? Obviously, you've got to the day you're going to be your hard training sessions are over and lead leading in this more kind of technical stuff, concentrating on weight which you said you don't have many issues. Once kind of Monday hits, does the ball start going to this is happening this week? Or does that wait until later in the week? Or or how do you expe- how do you experience fight week as an individual? Oh, yeah, sure. Fight week that I've had like the closer I get to the fight, the more exciting it does get. Like I know it starts to feel a bit more real that it's all going to happen again. Um all the hard training done like and then it's just a few easy sessions, keeping loose, getting a sweat on, just keep the mind fresh. So, I enjoy fight week like I do. Like it. Yeah, it it is. It is. And then, obviously, you've got the day of the fight and then, obviously, with the fight, obviously, if it goes in your favor, would you be open to then a third a trilogy? Or you just want to get this fight out of the way and see what happens after because there's so many more shows that can to for the rest of the year. Yeah, maybe like I don't I don't know. I'm just focused on Saturday here at the minute like we'll get Saturday out of the way, get a get the win back. And then we'll see what happens after that though. Yeah, no, it's going to be a fantastic fight. I want to thank you so much for your time. It's been an absolute pleasure having you on again. I know I had you on a while ago. I can't wait for this fight. Best of skill. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out? Uh just thanks to all the team, uh coaches, all my teammates and shout out to all the sponsors for the help as well. Uh couldn't do it without you so. Yeah, no sponsors uh play a huge part in MMA and especially amateur MMA because you like that you work, you train, there's so much money goes into it and they're essential I think to the fight game. Thank you so much. I'm not waiting to I'm not missing this fight in person. Last time I was at a wedding, a two-day wedding on the Sunday I couldn't get up and drive I was like no I can't. I watched it from the house. I'm not missing this one. This is going to be an absolute instant classic I feel and I can't wait to see it. Thank you so much. Perfect. Thank you.