10 Questions with:
Paul McLaughlin - IFSNI - Antrim
1. How long have u been involved in MMA?
We crossed into the competitive MMA circuit with the IFS Fight team in Jan 09.
2. When was the first time you heard about MMA?
Again its another score for the good old bootleg UFC tapes back in 1997
3. In hindsight how do you rate your ability when you were fighting?
Before we set up the IFS fight team we did not compete in MMA, our training is through Urban Krav Maga which uses techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Judo, Boxing and BJJ for the streets incoperating defences against guns and knives for example.The system crosses over extremely well to MMA when you take out the NHB aspect of the krav training. I must admit I always enjoy the ground work the most and with Leo Negao as the head BJJ instructor for the club the fight teams ground game is always evolving.
4. What's the furthest u have travelled to fight?
We have taken the team to Bolton for the Fight Ikon show.
5. Who do u think are the main players in Irish MMA today
There is alot of talent in Ireland at the minute but the pioneers of Irish MMA in my opinion are the clubs like EFR. They have some of the best fighters in the UK at present. Saying that theres alot of other clubs with excellent talent like SBG, Ryano and so many new clubs developing with excellent up and coming fighters.
6. What is your martial arts back ground?
My background is in Urban Krav Maga under Head Instructor Stewart McGill and 4 times World BJJ Champion Leo Negao. This unquie style of Krav Maga incoperates more MMA and BJJ style training which is the centre point for the IFS fight team MMA competition training.
7. How would you describe your club/teaching style?
Our club prides itself on a no ego attitude, under the UKM HQ rules each student is vetted with a background check before they can join to prevent teaching techniques to someone who may use it for the wrong purposes, this keeps a friendly atmosphere with hard working students.
The teaching style is through Urban Krav Maga which is a mix of Muay thai, boxing, wrestling and BJJ, we also have a specialised Muay Thai and Muay Boran IFS coach to further the teams striking with Kru Colin Dunn from Nai Muay Thai Bangor. Colin was a professional Muay thai fighter in Thailand, Australia and the USA with an impressive fight record. He is also 3rd Dan Ryoku Kempo ...2nd Dan Kodokan Jitsu and 2nd Dan Wado Ryu.
8. How do you see Irish MMA evolving in the next few years?
I guess I will be the first coach to go against the grain on this one. I personally feel Irish MMA is flourishing. The reason we ourselves started Clan Wars was because of the interest of traditional martial arts club to get involved with professional shows that would move away from the olden days stigma protrayed by the uneducated about Mixed Martial Arts.
Our first show was designed for beginners from MMA clubs and Traditional martial arts clubs who had interests in getting involved with MMA to come together and build their MMA career from there which worked fantastically!
We had fighters on the first show such as Merv Muholland and Andy Bell from Juku Ryu Ju Jitsu and Dave Brown from Cobra Martial Arts - look where these guys are now! They are more than holding there own on the Irish MMA circuit. We also had Andy Young debuting in Clan Wars 2 coming from Frames Tia Jutsu, he is another great fighter coming through. We ourselves have had alot of success with IFS fighter Stephen Owens flying over to Fight Ikon Bolton to claim victory over a very tough fighter from Salford Fight Factory and with other talented fighters like Joe Frey (2-0) and Jon Morrison (1-0), the IFS fighters are doing very well for a newly formed fight team.
There is so much talent out there coming from both MMA and cross over martial arts and street defence clubs that the sport is growing strong in my opinion in a professional manor.
With big shows such as Cage Wars and the smaller shows like Cage Contender, Ulitmate Conflict, Clan Wars to name a few the interest is spreading further a field to clubs and fighters from the UK/Europe and the USA - This is a great thing in my opinion for Irish MMA as a sport and of course the fighters.
9. Your funniest memory in Irish MMA?
Well I am sure alot of you guys have seen this clip already but its a masterpiece initiation from Paul Cowzer and the Rush guys, this memory sticks in my head as one of the funniest things in Irish MMA......classic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%20YmY7JQYBMAs
10. We ask everyone to leave us with one bit of scandal! What u got for us?
LOL Nice try, I see no evil,hear no evil
Interesting Facts
No piece of normal-size paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.
80% of all pictures on the internet are of naked women
During good sex, endorphines are released, which are powerful painkillers. So headaches are in fact a bad excuse not to have sex
The shrimp's heart is in its head
It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open
The skin of the average woman weighs 3 kilograms, while that of the average man weighs 5 kilograms
Dutch, on average are the tallest people
Kissing is healthier than shaking hands
Rumour Mill
Which popular Belfast coach is currently sunning himself in the Algarve?
Pictures Of The Week
Jokes
A little boy asked his mother:
- Mummy, why are you white and I am black?
- Don’t even ask me that, when I remember that party..., you are lucky that you don’t bark.
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One woman stops a taxi.
- To the airport, please.
After ten minutes the taxi driver, watching the woman in the mirror, says:
- You are third pregnant woman that I have driven to the airport today.
- Are you kidding me, I am not pregnant.
- Well, you haven’t arrived to the airport yet neither.
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Two friends:
- Tonight I am going to organize a group sex session in my apartment. Do you want to come?
- Of course! How many people are coming?
- Three, if you bring your girlfriend.
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Pinocchio talks to Gepetto:
- Daddy my dick is all jagged and crooked so I have no success with girls.
- You know, my son, I didn’t care too much about that detail, but that should not be a problem. Go to the shop, take a sandpaper and fix it.
After some time, Gepetto asks Pinocchio:
- Well, did you resolve the problem with the girls?
- Daddy, since I got the sandpaper who needs the girls anymore.
