Rumble fighting championship

Summary

I spoke to Tadhg Coleman the show runner for Rumble fighting championship We discuss why he started the promotion, starting from Rumble in Ringsend to now, how each show has improved and the tournament main event this weekend We speak about the difficulties of running a show…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Rumble the Foreign Championships. Yeah. >> Yeah. The 15th of November. There's some very, very good fights on it. I just wanted to get Taigon because I wanted to learn more about him myself and I want to learn more about the show and K1 because obviously I've done commentary recently and I really really liked it. So, I just wanted to see what else was around the country. I came across this and uh it looks like a fantastic card. So, thank you very much for joining me. How are you today? >> Thanks for having me, Dave. Thank you. >> No problem. Thanks very much. >> How's the prep for the show going? Yeah, it's going good at the moment. Yeah, but stressful stressful the amount of shows now that are on around the country at the moment as well. So, matchmaking, contacting sponsors, contacting all the background team and stuff like that. So, it's not a oneman job, but uh I'm I'm I'm trying to get through it now at the moment, but hopefully the show will go well like I always do, but stressful at the moment. Yeah, especially in the in the weeks leading up to it because I find it mostly most people that watch me know I do mostly MMA, but a lot of the fallouts happen within two weeks of kind of kind of the show and like you said, there's so many things. You've actually had a a venue change as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, what happened with >> Yeah. What happened with the venue change was uh he double booked actually. They actually confirmed our date with us uh through email and uh they confirmed it and stuff like that. So I think I was trying to get rooms for one of our stri the striking company our sponsor for the night. I was going to get rooms for him uh and his family coming over. Uh and I don't know what happened. He got back to me and was saying h just to let you know that the room isn't booked for November 15th even though I had emails stating it was. So, it left me in a bit of a pickle, but uh at least the background team got it sorted for me uh with Rumble and but back to the start now. So, our four show that we ran last year was in Sally Noggin. So, a big shout out to Sally Noggin in for letting us and and and saving the show. >> Yeah, know fair play. There's been a lot of good fight nights there between yourselves has one. We've seen Tom Ko versus Dano. a massive regional Irish fight in the Sally Noggin like that that was huge and now Tom's done >> the atmosphere the atmosphere in that place does be electric like cuz it's so it's like it's not the biggest of venues but the like when everyone's packed in together the atmosphere does be electric it does be >> yeah it looks it's like it's like it's intimate it's like a cauldron it's just like >> it's it's what you imagine going to a fight night be like if you watch movies know the sort of way it's that kind of >> cauldron kind of [ __ ] the whi whistling kettle kind of about to go off atmosphere. But no, fair play to them and fair play to them for for like that saving your show. But with this show coming up, what made you start promoting? Because like you said, there's a lot of work in it and like there isn't a huge return. I know especially monetary wise, right? And I know that's not the reason you're in it, but what what made you want to start your own show? >> So our first show was back in 2015. The first Rumble show was back in 2015 and it was down in Ring's End. It was actually called the the Ring's End Rumble. That's where I'm from is Ring's End. So, uh so yeah, that was back in 2015. But why I got into promoting was uh I lived in Holland at at the time. Uh and I used to come back and forward from Holland to Ireland and stuff and I had me own gym with my father. So, uh, I learned K1 over in Holland when I was living there. I came upon I came upon a gym, the Coliseum gym when I was living over there. It was only literally down the road from me. And I didn't literally know what day one was at the time, you know. I knew of kickboxing, like American kickboxing and stuff, full contact kickboxing and stuff like that. So, I just stumbled upon it, went up, trained, and it was actually the first person that I actually bumped into when I went down into the gym was Jason Wilness. Jason Willness has actually fought and won Alex Pereira in glory if you if if it recalls me there. But yeah, I went down and I haven't looked back since and I brought that style back over with me back to to Ireland and opened up uh and learned my fighters the the Dutch style kickboxing and stuff. But uh getting back into that, what started the promotion was I wanted a platform for me fighters to fight on. And that's when I came upon put me own fight night together and stuff. So it was only literally a small fight night at the start but uh now now I'm getting back into it now it's it's grown and grown. So since last year from the sally noggin in like what I was saying uh we held an event in the Maldin Hotel and it was a big event as well. So and then next year the big 2026 I can't say too much about it but uh it's a big 2026 in the pipeline with a new venue and a big promotion uh jumping on board as well. So, >> so we in 2026 the start of 2026 when you can announce it we'll have to get back on and we can talk we can talk about the future but uh a lot of shows are like that they they a lot of gyms will do it to give their fighters platform. Did you find after the first one like said it was quite a small one that other gyms were like we want on this we was the reception like from the first one? Oh, the fourth one. Yeah, it was a great reception. Like I got involved then with the WTKA and I got involved with WKA as well, the World Kickboxing Organization. Uh, and one thing led to another. Uh, and then the birth of me two kids as well. I couldn't really promote shows at the time. So, I'm literally only getting back into the swing of things now. And then with our own organization as well, Wuko, uh, the World United Combat Organization, which we have clubs over in Holland, we have clubs in China actually. And we have clubs in the US as well. So, uh, with the birth of that, that gave me the boost to put back on the shows cuz I had the manpower. Now, if you get me, you have the manpower and, uh, help I need to put on bigger shows. So, no. >> Yeah. Like you said, you need a good team around you. A lot of people think not that as simple, but the what what were some of the I don't want to say struggles, but what were some of the difficulties uh that you came up against that you weren't kind of expecting uh when you first started trying to run a show or was there any at the start? Like cuz you've been around the scene for a while. >> Yeah. Well, 100%. It's it's delegation, I think. Learning how to delegate the workout. Like I'm a person that if I want something done, I want it done now. if you get me. H and I'd rather do it myself then if it's not done the way I want it done. So that's that's a bit of my downfall and my fault if you get me. But I think delegation, learning how to delegate the work out like giving people jobs to do and stuff. But that's one of my main struggles putting a show on is taking on on all the work uh and learning how to, you know, delegate it. >> Yeah. And I think a lot of people like that because obviously that's your show. That's your baby. You want to make sure you do everything but you can't you can't you need that team like you said you've got a strong team around you. The background team were able to get the Sally Noggin and and it's good. But um you've got a couple of good fights coming up. Obviously you've got Rachel and Julia coming up as well. That's one that really caught my attention. >> How fun is it for you to match make and look at fights that could be made like cuz do you look at as a fan as well and go I >> 100%. Yeah. I look at it like behind the scenes what I have I we have a ranking system our rumble ranking system and it's put down to the athletes records what class they fight in. So uh I'm start starting to implement class systems into K1 now in Ireland. H nobody else is really down at the moment but it's our ranking systems down to record uh class system the fights on and how many fights how many bouts that he had in Rumble. So many losses and many wins they had in Rumble as well. So, uh, looking at that, it's exciting to be able to match up the people in the top 10 and stuff like that. H and then seeing them progress and seeing them, you know, going on to the the big and better stage. Like that's that's all I want is to have Rumble as a stepping stone for the for the amateur athletes to go on and and to further their career basically cuz I don't think like you have the likes of Clam Wars and stuff like that here that like their stepping stones on to say h Cage Warriors and then onto the UFC. You don't really have that that here for K1 and then the likes of you have you have a lot here for M toy as well like you have like shows that are stepping stones onto bigger platforms as well for the for the ammy fighters as well you know so there's not much here in Ireland at the moment for K1 so that's what I basically want Rumble for and I'm not in it for the money I'm not in it for the clout I'm in it for putting the sport up there and progressing the sport because then you do see you do see other uh promotions and stuff just handing out belts like the goodie bags and stuff like what I want is the best of the best fight in Rumble and the best of the best becomes the champion. So that's that's what I want. >> Yeah know and I like that I like the ranking system because I know with K1 and my tie when I was trying to look for people for records and stuff it's really actually hard to to find information on them. Um, I done a thing for Tom Ko yesterday >> and I had to go to people that that knew him. Do you know the sort of way that knew who he fought and where he fought and where he won the titles whereas I think there needs to be a lot more for that because like you said as a promoter you can see who's where. I like the fact you're doing it by yourself and and that you're creating that platform as a as like you said as a stepping stone. Look, Cage Lexi, Sha Bannon, UFC, Paul Hughes, Cage, uh, your ean Madi. Uh, how many shows is there for K1? Because is there one I think there's evolution as well as another show. Um >> h yeah. So we're we're if I think about it like you'd have Damian Darker show, you have Elite Kickboxing. Uh you'd have you'd have Mel show, you'd have the lads up in Straban, you'd have Ratmore Warriors, but it's like you'd have them more up north than you would down south if you get me. Uh, and that's what I want to change. I want to be putting on more shows, more frequent shows down south as well, cuz the lads have a the lads have a good team behind them up north as well with K1 and stuff. So, and they stick together as well, you know. So, that's what I like about her as well, you know, but there's not that many shows down here for K1 at the moment. >> Yeah, it's the same with MMA at the minute as well. I think there's like two shows. Um, that's not that's >> then you have you then you have like the likes of MMA cards uh putting on K1 belts as well. So this is what I just want an old K1 show. All K1 bouts, you know. So that's that's what I want. That's my aim. >> Yeah. Know and like I said, I like because a lot of people come to the MMA shows or they might not want an MMA fight. They might want a K1. So they might ask the show because within the time frame of whenever they're ready to fight, there might not be a show uh running. So obviously there is that gap that you're filling. Um every time you've done a show, uh what was your biggest takeaway positive from it? >> Fans, I think the fans and seeing them getting behind the show basically the fans and the fighters. seeing the amount of support that I got from the last few shows from the fighters to the background team to everything, you know, and like seeing it coming from like from nothing to something if you get me. I don't know whether you you you'd understand that but like from the very beginning down in rings end to being one of the top shows now coming up in Dublin you know so seeing that seeing the support from the fans and the fighters and stuff like that is a big positivity for me taken out of it the last few shows. Yeah. Know I get what you're saying seeing like cuz like there's something that was an idea that was just an idea >> and now like said look where it is. You've got the tournament final coming up. There's some really good uh matchups on it. >> Well that's all down to the fans and the fighters. So >> yeah. >> Yeah. It's going to be a good one. Like I said it's going to be in the Sally Noggin this one. It's going to be 15 November. I would go but I'm actually commentating on an MMA show that night. But it depends if it doesn't clash next year. It's something I definitely look forward to going and trying. >> No, we'll have you on. We'll have you on 100%. You'll have you'll have you there, Dave. >> Yeah. No, 100%. And I appreciate that. But when with the show Go forward, like said, you're looking for a big uh 2026. H you said to people coming on board, and I don't want you to spill any details or anything because obviously you can't, but after the success, like did you think you'd be doing what you're planning to do next year when you first started? Oh yeah. Yeah. That's that's a that's a crazy one to ask me because I literally have a whole draft out of what me plan was uh last year and I still have it dated and everything. It was actually before the show last year what me plan was and what me vision was in one year and I nearly have it nailed down. So hopefully we have it nailed down and I can announce it then in the new year. So, >> and with that sheet, do you keep that close? Cuz I know a lot of people who who do stuff like that and they keep it close and they look at you. Is that something that you look at every day? Is it or is it just to keep the head like the to focus on? >> Yeah. Yeah, it's still in me phone. So, I do look at it and I do be I do be looking and it's a bit surreal if you get me of how is that coming together. And it's not even that I I wouldn't be looking at it every day if you get me. It's just no, it's like snowballed itself if you get me into place. So I had the vision and just everything else just fell into place then. And like some of my students like even showing them like I showed some of the students my students of me plan for a year and some of them are like no no that's not going to happen. That's not going to happen. And to see it now unfold is a great feeling. >> And it is. And what you put that down to succeed and obviously with yourself like you said um people were saying like your student saying, "Oh, that might not happen or it'll be hard to do." What do you like if you said this is what made it? Obviously you did, but what qualities or because it was always going to be there's going to be good times and bad times and stressful times. >> Yeah. >> What was it that that got you to where you are right now? So what fueled me? You mean? >> Yeah. What what kept you going? What kept you motivated? What would be like Yeah. How did you How did you get into this stage when when there was the bad times? When there was the good times? What What got you through all that? >> The haters. The haters fueled me. Yeah. No, 100%. The haters filled me. Like we had some promoters as well that had fallen out with like and stuff, you know. So, I won't get into that, but uh yeah, they fueled me. >> It's I wanted to be bigger and better than them. That's what fueled me. >> That's they're good. They're good motivation as well. Uh because like cuz with Mel, who I'm probably going to talk to in the next few days about her show and what she's got coming up, but that's what she said. A lot of people said you'll never fight MMA. She fought MMA. >> Granted, she she has a losing record, but she fought at 35. if she started fighting, you'll never be able to run a show. You'll never have your own gym. And she's accomplished all these in the past year. Ja sort of way. Um I don't understand. >> It's true grit. You need that. You need that grit and you need that like being able to push forward and and get past the bad times and stuff and just keep moving forward. That's that's all you need to do. Like what I was saying, I didn't think that like writing down all them ideas and and points last year, I didn't think that it'd be just fall in front of me, you know? So, it's just being able to keep going. It's the same as fighting, you know? It's the same as like having a losing record, like don't give up, keep going, you know? So, it's it's the same with running a show or running an organization or running a gym. There's always, like what you said, there's always going to be hard times. It's just not giving up. And I think that's the whole thing about martial arts is to learn uh not to give up and to keep going, you know, and have selfrespect for yourself. Don't put yourself down. Know your worth. >> Yeah, 100%. And and what would you credit to, like you said, the the bad times or the hard times or the times that are stressful? What gets you through those times? >> I think uh me family and your team I think get me through that, you know? So like the misses at home like she does a lot of background work for me as well. Like me dad does a lot of background work. My brother does a lot of background work. Me students like Carl Carl McKver and stuff. Uh he does some of the matchmaking for me. Uh and then like the team like with the organization that I have around me as well like you have the likes of like uh Aaron Bourne, Luke B, Nigel Bone, Willie Kelly, like all of them, all them. There's too many to shout out now at the moment, but uh like you have all the likes of them that give me a hand when I need it, you know. >> Yeah. No, no. I I congratulations on your success so far. I will be keeping an eye on the show even though I won't be able to be there. It's something I'm looking forward to. But like I said, I've taken a great interest in K1 in my thigh recently. Um, I really really like your story of how it came from like that rings end. I know Rings End as well. Rings End Rumble to like you said >> the Compton of Europe, >> the continent of Europe. Well, I live in a place in Nubish called Ross Connell and they call it Ross. It's an absolute two houses beside me burnt out here. But yeah, I can't wait to see how it progresses as well and goes forwards. Um, like with the tournament side, that's one thing we're going to touch on cuz we're going to have another one where we're going to talk about matchups. We're going to release a fight week as well. So, we won't go too heavy into the matchups, but with the tournament, it's a nice touch. It's something I like. It's real old school. What made you bring that? >> I mean, like like what I was saying was like the the old style K1 ruled tournaments and stuff and like my background like tournaments like karate, full contact karate and stuff like that. So, that made me it's like touching back onto me roots if you get me. So, uh, I wanted like a tournament style base like I used to fight in and stuff like that when I was growing up as well. So, I wanted to put it back into the game. Put it back into K1. Put it back into kickboxing. >> Yeah. Cuz the tournaments add like if you see a fight, uh, you just look at fights, but you go, "Oh, a tournament." You know, there's a story going to lead either it could be two ways. It could be either >> the same day or it could be one. So, you know, if the two people win, they're going to fight in two months or or whenever the next show is or there's going to be four people fight star night until the end like and I think do you think this story intrigues people who might not be into like not that might not be into sport but it adds that bit extra for people who wouldn't be too familiar with the sport. >> Yeah. Well, exactly like what I I didn't do much this this uh show around because with the venue change and and obstacles in me way, but like media is a big part to play with fight nights and running fight nights and like the last couple of fight nights I put a lot of uh lot of money into with with media and stuff like interviews and stuff like that and like buying equipment for media like drones and stuff like the ah it's it's crazy like like But you're at the same you need to build I think the promoter needs to build a story around that fighters if you get me like a story like understanding where they came from what their obstacles are and for the fans to to relate to them if you get me because there's not enough of that in in shows around like anyone can put up a show where we're at and then just put up like Joe Blogs is fighting someone else like you know you wouldn't know who's do. So that's where I came in the last the last few shows of putting uh big money into the media and stuff and creating a story behind the fighters that are fighting on me show. So the fans know who they are and you know the the team know who they are. So that that was my big thing the last few shows anyway. No. And I like that as well because like you like said I do this because I want to show the people behind the fighter the sacrifices things they don't get to do the discipline it adds to them because I think uh combat sports in general has kind of a bad rep in this country. >> Um some some of them do some of them don't but I just want to show what the benefits are because there's more benefits than there is disadvantages in my opinion. A huge amount. Um, and I like the fact that you want to show that for your fighters because, and I think it is important because like you said, you could have two people, but only people in the know would know Rachel and Julia. Show the sort of way. Whereas if you have that media out there, it's good. These are things that people wouldn't expect that you'd be putting your money into. It's not the sort of a way. >> Yeah, it's Yeah, >> drones aren't cheap, >> you know. Yeah, it's not. No, it's not. But like like you look at some promoters, some promoters just stick on a shower for money. like you know anything that I earn goes straight back into the show or straight back into equipment that I need or products that I need for the show you know and like we we have a big company coming on board with us now at the moment and I'd like to give him a shout out is Leaf is h from the striking company as one of our sponsors and also another sponsor as well uh from day one was uh Paul Harkin that prize guy is another big one uh for me as well so he helped us out a and and seeing the vision that I had for Irish kickboxing as well. So, I want to thank the both of the lads for supporting me. >> You know, Paul Harkin is someone I see everywhere. Cage Warriors, PFL, Cage Conflict. He's he's really put money into into combat sports across the island. And you can't commend him for it because like that >> it's it's a lot of money that he would be spreading out across the way. and he's he's willing to do it for the betterment of the sport. But >> I think I think I'm the only I think I'm the only kickboxing show that he actually sponsors at the moment. So >> you know that's a that's a fun fact for you. >> Well, that's what he does. I think I know he definitely does one MMA, but he has PFL which is pretty big >> and then Cage Warriors, which is pretty big. He he gives out the the bonus, the five grand bonus. >> Uh that comes from him. So yeah. No, it's going to be a really good show on the 15 coming up. I'm going to let you go though. Like I said, we're going to come back and we're going to uh analyze a couple of fights and look at a couple of fights uh in a different interview which we'll we'll release fight week. So for people that are on the show, there is going to be something else coming. Uh thank you very much for your time. Is there anything else you want to say before you go? H and it's been a pleasure to have the the chat. >> Yeah, that's that's brilliant. Thanks Dave and thanks for having me on. I hope you got me good side now. >> I did. Yeah, I hope I I don't have any good side so it doesn't really matter. I just block my face out. But yeah, h like I said, I will talk to you after this. We'll talk about having the next one uh in a couple of days and release that fight week. But best of luck with the show and uh I'll do like I said, just give me a shout if you ever need anything or you need something shared or whatever. I'll give you uh I'll do whatever you need. All right. >> Brilliant. Thanks, Dave. Thanks for having me on. >> No problem. My pleasure. And have a good evening, bro. All right.