FH: Give us a quick brief why you got into this martial art?

T BOB: I have been competing in Taekwondo from the age of 8, when I moved to Ireland I start kickboxing then for last two years I train in Muay Thai

FH: What kind of training do you do on a regular basis

T BOB: Muay Thai, Boxing , running, the usual stuff

FH: What kind of training have you done for this fight, were did you hear this is for a title, do you train different for a title fight?

T BOB: Just the usual stuff same as always

FH: How excited are you to be fighting on Primal Fighting Championships, to be held in Dublin in the D4 Hotel, one of Ireland’s biggest Pro K1 and kickboxing promotions?

T BOB: I am grateful for the opportunity thank you

FH: Do you know much about your opponent for this fight?

T BOB: Not a lot but I know they will be good

FH: How do you see the fight going? Any predictions?

T BOB: No predictions anything can happen in this type of tournament

FH: When you fight do you go in with a strategy in mind or is a case of just see what happens?

T BOB: I always have a strategy but can change if need to

FH: What’s the most important piece of advice your coaches have given you? Is there any advice you would give to newcomers?

T BOB: Train hard keep working try always to improve

FH: Is there anyone on the Irish kickboxing / K1 / Thai scene you particularly look up to? Is there a particular fight you would really like to be involved in?

T BOB: I would like to see the k1 scene in Ireland grow and fight the best in the country and abroad.

FH: Do you have long term goals in kickboxing /K1 / Thai or is it a case of taking each as it comes?

T BOB: Same answer as above

FH: What would you like to say to your opponent?

T BOB: I hope we have a good fight looking forward to it

EVENT INFO

Click HERE for full event info.

TICKET INFO

Tickets: €25, you will need to be quick. Pre Order now by sending an email to: primalfightingchampionships@hotmail.com or chrisboyne@eircom.net

Q: First off we would like to thank you for taking the time out and talking with us today and how good does “The Man Of War Featherweight Champion” sound?

A: It feels great,best feeling in the world hearing the mc shout that out saturday night.

Q: How and why did you get started in MMA?

A: I had been watching mma for years and always wanted to try it,its the toughest sport in the world and i wanted to see if i could do it,and get to a level were i could fight.

Q: How long have you been training MMA?

A: I’ve been training about a year and a half now so im still a baby in this sport. I came into it with no backround so I started from scratch.

Q: You train at the Boxing Clinic in Cork (Ireland) why did you choose this gym?

A: When I decided to train I didnt really no of many gyms around then I heard on the radio that Chuck Liddell had just been to the boxing clinic so I decided to check the place out. I’m really grateful I was listening to the radio that day because for example i dont think id be a man of war champion after such short space of time if i had gone to another gym.

Q: You took part in the first ever Cage Warriors Irish show back in November, how did that come about?

A: Taking part in the first cage warriors was awesome, I had only been training four months and I got the call on the tuesday of fight week to fill in for an injured fighter.

Q: You lost a very controversial majority decision that night to Warren Mitchell, what was yor thoughts on the event, your fight and did you take anything away from the loss?

A: Yes the judges decision on that fight was a hard pill to swallow, most people there thought I did enough to win. In fairness to Warren he gave me a few words of encouragement after the fight and he was surprised by the decision himself. I look at the positives from the fight, it was my first fight after just four months against a good opponent making his fifth fight and I did ok. Warren has since gone on to show he is one of the top featherweights out there.

Q: You also took part in the Cork Institute of Technology MMA club open competition which took palace in The Boxing Clinic Cork this year and you took the goold in your weight class, again what what was yor thoughts on the event and how did if feel to to get 3 wins in a row?

A: The CIT open was a good day last year, winning the three fights and the gold medal was cool. I think the event is a great way for guys to get some cage experience and judge if there ready for c-class.

Q: You then went on and won your next 4 fights and the Man Of War Featherweight title, what does winning the title mean to you & when will we see you fighing as a Pro?

A: Winning the last four fights has been great and to cap it off with winning the title saturday was class, lifting the belt means alot to me and I look at it as a symbol that I’ve trained really hard and I try my best. Ian cleary was a tough opponent and a big favourite on the internet poll to beat me so to get the first round stoppage was a good feeling. I’m still only 18 months in so im not looking at the pro game just yet, there is so much to learn in this sport so im not going to rush things. There is still some big semi pro fights out there for me.

Q: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

A: Yes of course,id like to thank all my coaches and team mates at the MMA Clinic for all there help, believing in me and of course beating me up every day and to all my family and friends for all there support and following me around the country for my fights it’s a great feeling having them behind me.

Q: What can you tell us about your next fight?

A: My next fight is in March against Tony Keane, it will be the first time I’ll be fighting a guy I consider a friend and Tony is one of the top featherweights out there with a bit more experience than me so it should be interesting. I look forward to the challenge in March in what I think will prove to be my toughest fight to date.

Sean’s next fight will take place at The MMA Clinic Amateur Fight Night 2 which will be held in the Rochestown Park Hotel (Cork) on March 24th (2012) his opponent on the night is Tony Keane. We wish Sean the best of luck in his upcoming fight.

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FH: Give us a quick brief why you got into this martial art?

DC: Well I’ve always had a love for the sport and that, I’m doing it and can’t get enough of it.

FH: What kind of training do you do on a regular basis?

DC: I train 3 days a week with the kickboxing and the same with the gym

FH: What kind of training have you done for this fight, were did you hear this is for a title, do you train different for a title fight?

DC: I train three times a week, keeping fit and going the gym

FH: How excited are you to be fighting on Primal Fighting Championships for a title fight, to be held in Dublin in the D4 Hotel, one of Irelands biggest Pro k1 and kickboxing promotions?

DC: When i found out that, i was fighting for a title i was over the moon with the news the smile still hasn’t left my face ,and to be fighting in a Primal Fighting Championships is just mind blowingW

FH: Do you know much about your opponent for this fight?

DC: No to be honest no , i think its kind of better that way if you don’t know anything about your opponent.

FH: How do you see the fight going? Any predictions?

DC: Well its going to be a good fight, but im hoping for another K.O 

FH: When you fight do you go in with a strategy in mind or is a case of just see what happens?

DC: YES, we have a strategy, but we may have to alternate it during the fight.

FH: What’s the most important piece of advice your coaches have given you? Is there any advice you would give to newcomers?

DC: Well as my coach Chris Boyne always says to me don’t go in brawling stick to the combo you were thought and you should come out on top. For any newcomers that are coming in to the sport listen to your coaches and you should do alright ,that’s the main key is to listen.

FH: Is there anyone on the Irish kickboxing / K1 / Thai scene you particularly look up to? Is there a particular fight you would really like to be involved in?

DC: Well the kickboxing side of things, I would have to say me two coaches Chris Boyne and Damien Crowther, Ive learn’t alot from the two of them , and the k1 side of things, I would have to say Uvals ’Aslan’ Bisayev.

FH: Do you have long term goals in kickboxing /K1 / Thai or is it a case of taking each as it comes?

DC: Short term to be Irish Kickboxing Champion, long term for the future is go on a be a pro k1 fighter.

FH: What would you like to say to your opponent?

DC: Looking forward to a good fight on the night, best of luck bud.

EVENT INFO

Click HERE for full event info.

TICKET INFO

Tickets: €25, you will need to be quick. Pre Order now by sending an email to: primalfightingchampionships@hotmail.com or chrisboyne@eircom.net

FH: Give us a quick brief why you got into this martial arts?

JB: I was always into fighting, my father started me off in the local boxing club when i was a kid and ever since then i stayed training

FH: What kind of training do you do on a regular basis?

JB: Regular basis would be alot of pad work and sparring , and when training for a fight increase it with road work and strenght training and diet

FH: What kind of training have you done for this fight, were did you hear this is for a title, do you train different for a title fight?

JB: I train just as hard for every fight, i dont take a non title fight lightly, i am happy that this is for a title, but eaither way i would be still smashing the training

FH: How excited are you to be fighting on Primal Fighting Championships for a title fight, to be held in Dublin in the D4 Hotel, one of Irelands biggest Pro k1 and kickboxing promotions?

JB: As i said i am happy to fight for a title, and i have heard that this is gonna be a huge show, so its nice to fight on a professiopnal promotion

FH: Do you know much about your opponent for this fight?

JB: A little, but it doesnt matter, i lived in thailand for a year and fought alot of guys i knew absolutely nothing about so its no problem for me

FH: How do you see the fight going? Any predictions?

JB: Lets just say i am feeling stong

FH: When you fight do you go in with a strategy in mind or is a case of just see what happens?

JB: Yes a little, but things can change quickly so you have to learn to adapt

FH: What’s the most important piece of advice your coaches have given you? Is there any advice you would give to newcomers?

JB: My coach paul kelly has never advised me wrong, i have alot of faith and trust in him, what he say’s, i do!

FH: Is there anyone on the Irish kickboxing / K1 / Thai scene you particularly look up to? Is there a particular fight you would really like to be involved in?

JB: There is a few fights in the pipeline, but i am not allowed say, sorry.

FH: Do you have long term goals in kickboxing /K1 / Thai or is it a case of taking each as it comes?

JB: I want to be the best in tis sport as i can possibly be

FH: What would you like to say to your opponent?

JB: Good luck and see you on the 4th

EVENT INFO

Click HERE for full event info.

TICKET INFO

Tickets: €25, you will need to be quick. Pre Order now by sending an email to: primalfightingchampionships@hotmail.com or chrisboyne@eircom.net

FH: Give us a quick brief why you got into this martial art?

AB: I enjoy it.

FH: What kind of training do you do on a regular basis?

AB: Thai-Boxing, kykushinkai Karate, Kickboxing, BJJ, Did little bit free style wrestling.

FH: What kind of training have you done for this fight, we hear this is for a title, do you train different for a title fight?

AB: I train as normal.

FH: How excited are you to be fighting on Primal Fighting Championships for a title fight, to be held in Dublin in the D4 Hotel, one of Irelands biggest Pro k1 and kickboxing promotions?

AB: I am glad to fight in Chris show.

FH: Do you know much about your opponent for this fight?

AB: Not much. Heard they nice lads.

FH: How do you see the fight going? Any predictions?

AB: I always try my best to fight good, Only God knows the result.

FH: When you fight do you go in with a strategy in mind or is a case of just see what happens?

AB: If I know the opponent with strategy, if I do’t build strategy in the fight.

FH: What’s the most important piece of advice your coaches have given you? Is there any advice you would give to newcomers?

AB: That is secret of brigestone

FH: Is there anyone on the Irish kickboxing / K1 / Thai scene you particularly look up to? Is there a particular fight you would really like to be involved in?

AB: Never tought about it.

FH: Do you have long term goals in kickboxing /K1 / Thai or is it a case of taking each as it comes?

AB: My long term plan be productive member of the society and short term plan fight and inspire other youth.

FH: What would you like to say to your opponent?

AB: I wish him good and healthy life, good friends and loyal wife.

EVENT INFO

Click HERE for full event info.

TICKET INFO

Tickets: €25, you will need to be quick. Pre Order now by sending an email to: primalfightingchampionships@hotmail.com or chrisboyne@eircom.net

FH: Give us a quick brief why you got into this martial art?

BF: I’ve been involved in Martial Arts for over 15 years. Started off in Olympic Taekwondo then moved into Kickboxing and Muay Thai, Shotokan Karate, Amateur Boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and most recently, Mixed Martial Arts. I’m going back to my roots for this one.

FH: What kind of training do you do on a regular basis?

BF: I probably train in the same ways as everyone else for the most part, but I tend to mix things up a bit, diversify my training methods by adding some different elements from time to time.

FH: What kind of training have you done for this fight, we hear this is for a title, do you train different for a title fight?

BF: I didn’t have much notice for this fight so we kicked it into gear right from the offset. I’m not going to give away too much but we’re training hard and training a lot.

FH: How excited are you to be fighting on Primal Fighting Championships for a title fight, to be held in Dublin in the D4 Hotel, one of Irelands biggest Pro k1 and kickboxing promotions?

BF: I appreciate the opportunity and am looking forward to the night.

FH: Do you know much about your opponent for this fight?

BF: I know enough.

FH: How do you see the fight going? Any predictions?

BF: No predictions as such, but I think it will be entertaining.

FH: When you fight do you go in with a strategy in mind or is a case of just see what happens?

BF: A strategy is always important but you must be prepared to deviate and adapt if things don’t go to plan.

FH: What’s the most important piece of advice your coaches have given you? Is there any advice you would give to newcomers?

BF: “Don’t over think things”. To newcomers, not only to martial arts, but in every sport or in fact every endevour in life there’s a quote which I find to encourage me – “If you work hard enough you won’t have to chase your dreams, because you’re dreams will chase you.”

FH: Is there anyone on the Irish kickboxing / K1 / Thai scene you particularly look up to? Is there a particular fight you would really like to be involved in?

BF: I don’t look up to anyone in particular but I have respect for most people that step into the ring.

FH: Do you have long term goals in kickboxing /K1 / Thai or is it a case of taking each as it comes?

BF: My goal is only to be content with my performance in every fight that I have. To be honest, Winning and losing don’t mean much to me.

EVENT INFO

Click HERE for full event info.

TICKET INFO

Tickets: €25, you will need to be quick. Pre Order now by sending an email to: primalfightingchampionships@hotmail.com or chrisboyne@eircom.net

“I fucking hate Gaul” - Julius Caesar.

Well at least I think that’s what he might have said when he sat outside a fort in Gaul preparing for his big fight in the midst of winter.

Training in the winter time proverbially SUCKS! It kind of reminds me of Rocky 4 and seeing the heroic Sylvester Stallone striding through a snow encrusted wilderness , sawing wood with frost forming on his awesome beard and pulling sleds knee deep in shit and ice. The funny thing is there is nothing romantic or heroic about it! I’m not Sylvester Stallone, I don’t look as cool with a beard as he does, I’m not allowed take steroids, and most importantly I don’t have his ability to train for a fight by jogging, chopping blocks and doing sit ups without doing any actual fight training. There’s nothing remotely cool about going training and not being able to feel your toes as you step on the mats , or coming out of a grueling session tired hurt and dripping in sweat only to be greeted by icy winds before you start your one hour drive home.

“Where shall we sleep tonight mother……..in father’s grave”  -The Fast Show.

Yes. . . I HATE the darkness, Christmas brightens things up to be fair but it’s a time of excess, and when your preparing for a fight you can’t exactly put your eating pants on and really enjoy it. (yes I have eating pants, as does my training partner Tony Keane. . . Well technically they’re “Dominos” pants but you get the picture). I think that’s why I hate Australians so much and there year round sunny weather. They always look so fucking happy with their shorts on Christmas day, six packs and smug grins. Try looking so happy when you have to drag a 100kg chain up and down an icy car park in mid-December 6 nights a week.

Then when you do manage to get home for awhile to kick back you switch on the TV and all you’ve got to look forward to is X Factor or some other shit program compromised of losers with no discernable talents trying to get famous. . . Which is also a testimony to the age of mediocrity we live in. (By the way if you are male and you actually voluntarily watch said programming then you are secretly hiding a vagina behind your tiny penis and deserve to die)Sometimes you just find yourself putting your head in your hands and asking what your actually doing.

But in fairness as Patton said of war; “God forgive me I love it so”. 

I remember one time as a kid being out shooting with my Dad, we jumped down off a ditch and there was this little Fox standing in front of me just staring at me. . . He must have stayed there for about 3 seconds. . . It was like he knew he was in trouble but just said “fuck you”. Getting into MMA was something similar for me, although this time I didn’t have a shotgun and turning up that first night I was going to be the prey. I think I could have done either of two things. I could have skulked around the gym only choosing to spar when we did stand up, then disappear when we grappled and wrestled only to stalk guys who were not in condition like so many spineless assholes do in gyms. OR, I could have just said “fuck you” like the fox did and swallowed my pride and just put myself in the firing line with the best guys, take my beatings and learn and learn . The gentleman who dished out the majority of those early whippings was a guy called Brian Partridge who is now a very good friend of mine. Brian is about 6 3” and outweighs me by about 60lbs, he also kind of looks like the “bad guy” from an 80’s slasher movie and I’m pretty sure his sweat acts as a kind of mild toxin which disorientates you when it comes into contact with your skin. All that coupled with the fact that he’s a pretty fantastic fighter and it’s easy to see why I’m so humble. Anyway, I chose the latter and it’s what has made me who I am today. We all have egos, that’s human nature, but you have to park that at the door. The guys who come in with Charles Bronson fantasies never last, of course they still strut around wearing the size small Tapout T shirt when they clearly need a large. . . Telling people at every opportunity how they used “do the UFC”.

My hour journey to the gym is a necessary evil, It gives me time to dream, it keeps me honest and lets me think about the sacrifices I make and that I deserve everything thing I get. Before long I pull up to the gym door. And then it’s time to get to work.

That’s all for now guys, I’ve got to run but stay tuned, next week I might actually talk about some stuff that relates to training and fighting and not just my general incoherent ramblings! Plus I’m getting some super cool new training from my new sponsor TOP PRO SPORTS that I will be road testing! (Thank you TPS )

P.s Feel free to tweet me @ShowStopperMMA or find me on Facebook if you have anything in particular you want me to write about or just to tell me that this blog sucked and you are angry that you actually read it.

Peace Out

The Showstopper

Peter is the 10th Legion European Welterweight Champion and fights out of the Urban Legends Gym in London where he is also a coach.

My sincere apologies for leaving fellow Fight Hound, Dave, out of the introduction at the start as I thought he’d be too busy taking pictures to sit down for the actual interview.

Peter is easily one if the nicest guys I’ve met in MMA and it was a pleasure chatting to him.

Fight Hounds wishes Peter the best of luck in his 10th Legion title defense next year.

Peter is also Fighters Only’s resident technical expert so be sure to check out his section on the Fighters Only website.

Audio Interview with Peter Irving

Credit: Alan Keane.

Click HERE to view the Peter Irving Seminar photo gallery.

Peter and 'The Irish hand Grenade' Marcus Davis.

Just a couple of weeks ago, semi-pro up-and-comer Peter ‘The Showstopper’ Queally made the decision to go fully professional, committing his future to the ever evolving beast that is Mixed Martial Arts. Nothing unusual in that you might say. But what you might not know about Peter is that he holds the European record for the fastest EVER knockout with a 3 second head-kick KO of Sean Davitt at Tuff Nut 5 in Wexford earlier this year. According to cagepotato.com the fastest ever KO was Chris Clements’ KO of Lautaro Tucas which also took 3 seconds. So you could say Peter holds an unofficial world record too. With that record under his belt and 3 wins from his other 3 fights this year -including a devastating TKO stoppage of Rob Byrne at Cage Contender X after 49 seconds – Peter is in prime position to make some noise in the Cage Contender lightweight division. We caught up with the man himself ahead of his professioanl debut on February 25th 2012 at Cage Contender XII. Keep an eye out for Peter’s blogs detailing his preparation for that fight which will be coming to Fighthounds.com in the next few weeks.

FH: First of all Peter, tell us about why you decided to turn pro at this point in your career? What factors did you consider when you made the decision?

PQ: I just felt I was ready, plus John Ferguson and his team at Ferguson Sports Group made it a pretty easy decision for me to make and it’s reassuring to know they’re behind me all the way.

FH:  What will be the biggest difference for you personally? Will your training or your lifestyle change?

PQ: The biggest difference will be the publicity stuff, FSG have already sorted some sponsors and an online blog for me. As for training I can’t possibly train any harder than I am right now as it is! I’m just going to keep growing and improving my game day by day. My coaches in Waterford MMA have spoken to John Ferguson about some sparring which he is in the middle of arranging.

FH:  You’re slated to fight Kieran O’ Donnell at Cage Contender 12 in February. Given that it’s technically your ‘debut’ do you feel any extra pressure? How do you see the fight going?

PQ: No I never feel pressure or get nerves preparing for fights and that’s all this is, just another fight and another person in my way. Kieran will be desperate for a takedown that he won’t get, then sooner or later I’ll clip him with something that hurts him and get the finish.

FH:  Will you approach the fight any differently? We know your striking is top notch but will you focus more on the other aspects of your game now?

PQ: I’m always working on improving all areas of my game and I’m confident wherever the fight goes. The only thing I will really be doing differently this fight is not cutting as much weight. I was very disappointed with my last performance. I over did it a little with my weight against Rowan Prenderville and I felt really sluggish and not able to set the pace I usually do.

FH: There is now a much wider field of opponents for you to take on as a pro. Is there anyone you’d like to fight in particular? A lot of people have suggested you and Philip Mulpeter as a great stand-up battle. What do you think?

Peter unleashes a trademark head-kick at Cage Contender XI vs Rowan Prenderville.

PQ: Yeah I think Philip and I would match up well and be a very fan friendly fight! I love watching him fight, he’s really aggressive and always comes out swinging! Which suits me fine! (smiles) Actually…..”The Honey Badger VS The Showstopper” Wow…. There’s a headliner! (laughs)

FH: Norman Parke is Cage Contender’s lightweight champion. How long before you’re looking for a shot at his title? How do you think you would match up with him?

PQ:I’m not worried about that right now, I’m just going to keep beating who they put in front of me and when I deserve a shot I’ll be given one….simple. Norman is a fantastic fighter and looked incredible in his last fight. But I’m The Showstopper…..I’m just trouble for anybody.

FH:  Any predictions on UFC 139 this Saturday? Velasquez or Dos Santos?

PQ: KO by Dos Santos!

FH: Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

PQ: Can I just say a massive thanks to my current sponsors Top Pro Sports for my training gear and Fighters Planet for my supplements. Before my first Fight Hounds blog people can follow me on twitter @ShowStopperMMA.

Stay tuned to fighthounds.com for Peter’s training blogs coming up to his pro debut.

Alan Keane.

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