Craig McGrattan interview

Summary

Craig McGrattan is a professional MMA fighter, training in Team KF he's currently 3-0 as a professional after a fantastic amateur career Every professional fight he's had has been short notice, we speak about always staying ready to fight, what it's like training at team KF…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Okay, so I'm here for the first time with Mr. Craig McGrant, someone I've had a a lot of interest in. I've watched his whole amateur career, very excited for his pro career. We were just talking kind of before we came on and how much notice he's actually had for all of his pro fights together and it doesn't even lead up to one full camp for one fight. It just shows you with the gym he's in. He's in team KF, Chris Fields, um Tom King, and others there. You've got Gabby, you've got so many others, and they're always always ready. H you have to take another short notice fight. So I appreciate your time. Thank you very much for coming on. How are you feeling? >> Uh good. Yeah. Yeah. Good. Uh as you were saying there, it's a short notice, but I kind of just train all the time. Not really not a big believer in camps. Like I'll just train until unless I can't train or I'm too tired to train, I'll take a day off, but uh train all the time. I think if I had uh like if you told me I had a fight six weeks before, I wouldn't have actually been able to get much more training in than I was anyway. So uh yeah, it's it's all good. Yeah. Um, bit of weight to lose. Um, nothing nothing crazy, but uh, yeah, a bit weight to lose. So, you know, bit fatigued just with that. Um, but other than that, yeah, good to go. Confident and not not too stressed. Nor stressed, but yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. I like that weight cutting is one of the things that I've I've watched people do. And for me, I'm just like other than just getting in the cage and fighting. We should have, doing, this is also for me is just so kind of out there. But I I get why you do it and I get the the benefits that MMA brings to people and between discipline, motivation, stuff like that. Keeping people out of trouble is another one. But we were talking about all the the the show fight. So do you want to explain how much notice you've had for each of your pro fights so people understand how how long you like I said you're ready all the time but a lot of people what three months, two months. What's the total amount of time that you've had for your obviously this going to be your fourth? >> Yeah. So my very first pro fight was last year, April. I think that was about uh about three and a half weeks notice, maybe a bit less h for a show in Denmark. Then my second one the last year as well in October that was I think 17 days. Um and then the one my last one so my third profile that was two weeks notice and this a week notice. So, uh I'm not going to try to add up the max in my head, but uh yeah, not a whole lot of know. Uh again, cuz I was saying it was you train I train all the time like it's not really like the proponents preparing for me, not preparing for them. I kind of just that I'm confident enough in my skills that I feel I can go out there and just it's about skills and yeah. >> Yeah. And you had like that, we won't touch too much on the amant career. You fought people. You fought the best of the best. Yeah, J Lock was one that springs to mind. That was a fantastic fight. I really enjoyed that fight. Do you think fighting these hard people because I' I'm starting to match the show and I find a lot of people are saying no and it might not be for whatever reasons, but I think if you're kind of same experience, same level, I think you should just fight each other because whether you win or lose, you're going to gain often. Do you think fighting those people has really benefited you going into the pro? >> Um, yeah, definitely. Yeah. Like I think at the core of it, like for me anyway, like the reason I wanted to do MMA at all, it wasn't for the [ __ ] flashy ring walks and pulling some sexy ring girl. It was just because uh like I love the idea of fighting the best person. It always appealed to me. I thought it was killed when I was a kid and I used to love scrapping thinking when I was 8 years old I'd love to fight the best 8-year-old in the world that is a fighting you know think I'd stand a chance but uh ragd doll or some [ __ ] Russian Russian kid but uh that's always what appealed to me was fighting the best lad and the best in the sport and that's what I I want to do. So obviously now I'm not yeah I'm not fighting not going to go fight [ __ ] some lad that's 18 and0 and also h that has way more experience than me but that's what I want to get to I want to be fighting the best lads in the world wherever that is that's my goal in the sport to be competing with them to be up there the best in the world and I think that's for me anyways what I want to do the sport. So yeah, definitely uh the amateur career taking them fights. Um yeah, just build builds confidence, you know, that's the best way to build confidence, just doing doing things that scare you and overcoming it. Yeah. >> Yeah. And like that we said, you're essentially undefeated amateur and like that. And if people do take those hard fights and you do lose, do not get down hard because there is things you can gain from them. Like fortunately, you you didn't lose these fights, but there is things you can gain if you do lose. So, it's not be all and end all, especially at amateur for any young amateurs out there that are potentially watching. You talked about experience there. Your next opponent actually, cuz I was just looking there, probably has the most experience you'd face. Obviously, that's going to happen as you go on. Does that fail you in any way or are you just so confident in what you bring in and obviously you trust in Chris and the guy the coaches so much that if they say, "Look, Craig, we think you can do this that you can do it." Like, >> yeah. Yeah. It wouldn't doesn't phase me too much. like it's something to bring into it, you know, like he'll be if he's rocked or something, he's probably been there before. If he's singing down, he's been there in a ring, you know, like it's it's an element to it, but uh I think yeah, as was you were saying there, like I think it's just going to be it'll be skills. I think that mostly do and uh he's good opponent and all, but I think I'm just that bit better than him. Um we find out Saturday, but h yeah, I think I'm better than him. So I think that will be I'm better than everywhere, I think. So I think that's what's at play. Um, yeah. More than anything else. >> Yeah. And like that, like I said, there's week there's there's a week notice on it. Do you look into your opponents much or do you obviously there's not much time to prepare for, but would Chris and the coaches kind of take that kind of pressure off you? Cuz I I've heard in the corner Chris Khabib, GSP, your little code word for I was trying to work out when they say that. I'm watching what you're doing to see what is it they're saying. Um, do do you look into the fighting much or do you let them kind of handle it and and game plan or or what way does it work? >> Um, yeah, I look into it. I don't want to don't like to do too much that you're there stressing waiting for him to do something. Um, and then he might be doing something to people as well. Like not sound cocky or anything, but like people that aren't as great as you. Like if you anyone can look good against someone that great over some [ __ ] MPC Brazilian, but like uh matters like the little differences of how you stand like a calf kick for example might not work great if you stand a certain way or whatever. Um so don't look into it too much but yeah I have looked at a few of his fights and Chris also had a look had like a talk through a game plan. Um, my boxing coach as well, uh, Jordan or you done a good little breakdown for me of your man. Um, so yeah, I have a good idea, but again, not getting too lost in it. Just it's good to have you have an idea. It's not going to be brand new to him if he's moving a certain way. >> Yeah. And like that obviously Chris is the man with the game plan because we seen uh with the leg kicks with with Arman and he said if the coach doesn't watch tape change gyms and it just shows what what Chris is like, Chris is someone I have great respect for. I'm not going to lie. He scares the [ __ ] out. >> Seriously, >> he scares the [ __ ] out. He He sat beside me at your I think maybe. No, I don't know who it was. It was Shane was actually He goes I He sat beside her. I was like, "Oh, [ __ ] Chris." And I say, "Just don't shout too much." He goes, "No, Shane's taking this one. You won't you won't have to hear me." 30 seconds later, he's up out of a seat. But what's it like being around someone like Chris? Cuz I know Chris wants 110% from you, but Chris will give you 200 back. the stories I've heard from him coming back from holidays to corn and everything. What's it like? Not just him, the whole gym. What's it like being around someone like that? >> Yeah. Like, well, Chris a pretty confident guy like the first day. So, like kind of rubs off on you like I've been since I walked into him when I was like 16 15 16 and like yeah Chris my head coach. So like growing up around that kind of seeing his confidence and not just like it's real but confidence like uh he's honest you know he's he'll talk about how he was [ __ ] himself before fights and all like it's real there's no it's not real fake [ __ ] so uh yeah kind of it's a real it's a good person to grow up around and kind of installs the right things in you and as well yeah as you were saying there you see how much effort he puts in like I got this fight originally Wednesday this different story but I originally got the fight Wednesday they accepted the fight. Fight was off Thursday and then Friday the fight was back on and but Chris like a on a week's notice like with wife and kids and [ __ ] was without a doubt like he was right off fly to Finland with you to go have a scrap off lad. So uh yeah like someone being able to will and just do that off the drop of a hat and he's always willing to meet he's always willing to meet you to do that extra bit. Um yeah, he's always making himself available. So you kind of you're going to put makes you want to train harder. You know, if he's there for you, you'll be there for yourself. That sort of thing. >> Yeah. And like that like I said, he's he's a wife and his kids and and stuff like that. And for him to take time away cuz Yeah. It's just it's it's so much like that because obviously you don't want to spend too much time away, but it just shows how much he has a love for you. And that's what I love about him. Patrick Mccaner and De Shannon obviously from Fight Academy, Patty Hulahan are kind of the three loudest kind of coaches I know out there. You've probably heard them yourself at shows. >> Yeah. >> And you can see how animated it gets and some people like is that too much? Not not people that were in MMA cuz they know it but people that were would have been with me and I was like no you know what it is because they know what you've put in and if you're not performing it's kind of frustration on their end and it just shows how much they kind of care about you. You know the sort of way and that's what I love about Chris. He wears his heart and his sleeve and there's no [ __ ] with him. He'll tell you straight up. He's not going to tell you. >> He's not gonna flamm you or tell you [ __ ] to make you feel good. He's going to tell you what's going to make you better. Is that what you found with him that there's there's no [ __ ] It's very black and white with Chris. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Um like you're going to be the first like he'll say it to your face whatever it is and you [ __ ] up. You know the balls of it. You're not really getting away with it. Like you tell you [ __ ] quitting a fight. He's telling you quitting the fight. Like he's not going to try not hurt your feelings. probably go out your way to hurt your feelings if you don't believe if you do well but yeah and kind of as you were saying there you know like this shouting where he's roaring into the cage and stuff I think sometimes it gets lost in people and they're kind of watching in like it's like the fighter has to do that like what he's saying like he's direct rule but it's more kind of something to bounce off like Chris knows we all have our individual styles and stuff we like to do and so it's just kind of it's just advice it's shouting it out there making sure you can hear him hear them and uh yeah like he's not I think people have heard people say he's like a controlling a video game character or something, but it's just like he's there remind you of the calls that you've been training week in week out and also to kind of helpful in there. >> Yeah. And like I said, it's he knows you got your individual style, but if that doesn't work, he's actually shouting what the the next kind of movies or or something that else is available >> that uh [clears throat] >> that you can go to. But look, it's been fantastic talking to you. Like I said, I was going to keep it short because it's fight week. We're going to have a long future. you're someone I've really kind of uh enjoyed watching your amateur career and your pro career and how it's going. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out? Thank you again for your time. It's been an absolute pleasure. >> Cheers, Dad. Um yeah, just a shout out to the the team. Um just like team KF obviously. Shout out to Tom, Chris, and Phil, all the lads Jordan Mo for boxing. Um yeah, everyone, all my teammates put in tournament for me and yeah, thanks man. Cheers out. >> [clears throat] >> Good work. Right. >> Perfect. I will talk to you after the weekend. There's a lot going on this weekend with K's conflict and everything. So, I'll be keeping an eye for your fight. Like I said, it's a pleasure. And I will see you soon, fam. >> Cheers. See you later. See you later, pal.