http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8FGgaeSOnw&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8FGgaeSOnw&feature=youtu.be)
James Gallagher started training in Mixed Martial Arts at 12/13. It became apparent that he had a natural talent and at age 16 he now lives and trains full time (away from his family) in Dublin training under one of the most acclaimed MMA coaches in the world at Straight Blast Gym.
This guy has all the tools and the dedication to be a champ.
Let's see if he's a day-cent minor before we go giving him the All-Star.
Video opens with "MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world". Are there stats to back this up?
I never really looked for stats on it tbh. I know it is increasing in popularity all over the world. It's on TV everywhere. I know that all the major TV networks have signed deals to broadcast it - FOX, Viacom, BT Sports in the UK. I know the fighters pay has increased exponentially over the past 10 years to the point where the top guys were earning $100,000 per year to $1 million a fight. Jon Jones is the current LHW champion, sponsored by Gatorade and Nike - he has a line of shoes named after him and he competes in a sport that competes barefoot....
This SBG gym in Dublin is top notch. Our own Geezer trains there. It produces the best local talent on the UK and Irish MMA scene and has now received global recognition.
there are MMA gyms in most major cities all over Ireland.
Not saying all of this proves its the fasting growing sport in the world but it certainly has attention and momentum....
Quote from: The Iceman on November 05, 2013, 10:00:51 PM
I never really looked for stats on it tbh. I know it is increasing in popularity all over the world. It's on TV everywhere. I know that all the major TV networks have signed deals to broadcast it - FOX, Viacom, BT Sports in the UK. I know the fighters pay has increased exponentially over the past 10 years to the point where the top guys were earning $100,000 per year to $1 million a fight. Jon Jones is the current LHW champion, sponsored by Gatorade and Nike - he has a line of shoes named after him and he competes in a sport that competes barefoot....
This SBG gym in Dublin is top notch. Our own Geezer trains there. It produces the best local talent on the UK and Irish MMA scene and has now received global recognition.
there are MMA gyms in most major cities all over Ireland.
Not saying all of this proves its the fasting growing sport in the world but it certainly has attention and momentum....
In MMA, only those at the very top who've started to have cross-over appeal make big money - Jones, Silva, GSP etc.
The fact that UFC is run as "promotion" with contracted fighters like professional wrestling will limit how big the sport can become.
Iceman, what in particular makes you think this young lad has the stuff to be a future champion - that video didn't go into any detail at all and just mentioned that he'd won some grappling competitions. Are there other videos out there?
I seen a couple of video's of him actually being beaten by submission but his technique is phenomenal. He is going in against lads a lot heavier and stronger and doing well. I know what it takes to get to Purple belt and for him to do it in 3-4 years is some achievement. It took me 2 years of graft to get my blue and I think it took Kieran McGeeney 10 years to get his purple. To leave home at 13 and dedicate your life to a sport can only mean big things ahead for his young lad when you add that to his natural athleticism and raw talent and who he is being coached by.
Watch this space.....
Quote from: The Iceman on November 06, 2013, 12:04:11 AM
I seen a couple of video's of him actually being beaten by submission but his technique is phenomenal. He is going in against lads a lot heavier and stronger and doing well. I know what it takes to get to Purple belt and for him to do it in 3-4 years is some achievement. It took me 2 years of graft to get my blue and I think it took Kieran McGeeney 10 years to get his purple. To leave home at 13 and dedicate your life to a sport can only mean big things ahead for his young lad when you add that to his natural athleticism and raw talent and who he is being coached by.
Watch this space.....
This happens the world over in most sports and definitly doesn't mean he'll be a world champion. What's the purple belt in, Ju Jitsu? Was McGeeny doing it during his playing career?
http://strabanechronicle.com/2013/05/19286/ (http://strabanechronicle.com/2013/05/19286/)
Remember mcgeeney against the aussies. Some big had oz had mcgeeney pinned to the ground, then mcgeeney wrestled him and had him.pinned down. He must have been at it then.
Quote from: nrico2006 on November 06, 2013, 08:41:30 AM
http://strabanechronicle.com/2013/05/19286/ (http://strabanechronicle.com/2013/05/19286/)
Looks about 12.
Quote from: The Iceman on November 06, 2013, 12:04:11 AM
I seen a couple of video's of him actually being beaten by submission but his technique is phenomenal. He is going in against lads a lot heavier and stronger and doing well. I know what it takes to get to Purple belt and for him to do it in 3-4 years is some achievement. It took me 2 years of graft to get my blue and I think it took Kieran McGeeney 10 years to get his purple. To leave home at 13 and dedicate your life to a sport can only mean big things ahead for his young lad when you add that to his natural athleticism and raw talent and who he is being coached by.
Watch this space.....
By that rationale every kid that went across the water to an English football club would make it, you are not taking all facts or possibilities in to consideration here. Just because he is local and hard working doesnt mean he is going to make it.
Quote from: NAG1 on November 06, 2013, 01:27:48 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on November 06, 2013, 12:04:11 AM
I seen a couple of video's of him actually being beaten by submission but his technique is phenomenal. He is going in against lads a lot heavier and stronger and doing well. I know what it takes to get to Purple belt and for him to do it in 3-4 years is some achievement. It took me 2 years of graft to get my blue and I think it took Kieran McGeeney 10 years to get his purple. To leave home at 13 and dedicate your life to a sport can only mean big things ahead for his young lad when you add that to his natural athleticism and raw talent and who he is being coached by.
Watch this space.....
By that rationale every kid that went across the water to an English football club would make it, you are not taking all facts or possibilities in to consideration here. Just because he is local and hard working doesnt mean he is going to make it.
Think he is already the european champion though, which is some achievement at his age.
Sounds like a nice levelheaded lad.
I'm just butting into this thread to make a very important announcement:
I have no interest in MMA.
That is all. Carry on.
I think we can be optimistic of his future success the way many people might have been when a young football star emerges like Caolan Mooney. How can people tell he is going to be a star for that sport but not this? To have the success Jamie has had at domestic and European level at his age. To see him fight and grapple and understand his technique he has everything it takes to go all the way.
McGeeney was definitely training when he swept that guy in the International Rules series. It was a joy to watch and a little neck crank at the end for good measure.
I didn't expect Eamonn that you would have any interest in it - but thats ok.
Quote from: The Iceman on November 05, 2013, 10:00:51 PM
I never really looked for stats on it tbh. I know it is increasing in popularity all over the world. It's on TV everywhere. I know that all the major TV networks have signed deals to broadcast it - FOX, Viacom, BT Sports in the UK. I know the fighters pay has increased exponentially over the past 10 years to the point where the top guys were earning $100,000 per year to $1 million a fight. Jon Jones is the current LHW champion, sponsored by Gatorade and Nike - he has a line of shoes named after him and he competes in a sport that competes barefoot....
This SBG gym in Dublin is top notch. Our own Geezer trains there. It produces the best local talent on the UK and Irish MMA scene and has now received global recognition.
there are MMA gyms in most major cities all over Ireland.
Not saying all of this proves its the fasting growing sport in the world but it certainly has attention and momentum....
Are you not based in the states?
Quote from: trileacman on November 06, 2013, 07:37:48 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on November 05, 2013, 10:00:51 PM
I never really looked for stats on it tbh. I know it is increasing in popularity all over the world. It's on TV everywhere. I know that all the major TV networks have signed deals to broadcast it - FOX, Viacom, BT Sports in the UK. I know the fighters pay has increased exponentially over the past 10 years to the point where the top guys were earning $100,000 per year to $1 million a fight. Jon Jones is the current LHW champion, sponsored by Gatorade and Nike - he has a line of shoes named after him and he competes in a sport that competes barefoot....
This SBG gym in Dublin is top notch. Our own Geezer trains there. It produces the best local talent on the UK and Irish MMA scene and has now received global recognition.
there are MMA gyms in most major cities all over Ireland.
Not saying all of this proves its the fasting growing sport in the world but it certainly has attention and momentum....
Are you not based in the states?
Not forever. I only moved here 7 years ago. I've been involved in and followed combat sports a lot longer than that. SBG is also represented in Portland, Oregon.
Quote from: The Iceman on November 06, 2013, 06:51:33 PM
I think we can be optimistic of his future success the way many people might have been when a young football star emerges like Caolan Mooney.
Significantly different. Mooney was a huge fish in small pool. MMA has increasing global appeal. On top of that, people will migrate to it later in life from an amateur boxing or wrestling or judo background.
Quote from: gallsman on November 06, 2013, 09:15:49 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on November 06, 2013, 06:51:33 PM
I think we can be optimistic of his future success the way many people might have been when a young football star emerges like Caolan Mooney.
Significantly different. Mooney was a huge fish in small pool. MMA has increasing global appeal. On top of that, people will migrate to it later in life from an amateur boxing or wrestling or judo background.
then a different example - Wayne Rooney? People looked at him from an early age and thought he had what it takes....there has to be 1000s of examples.
Migrating from a particular background is no guarantee for success in the sport. Today you need to be well rounded and a student of all martial arts and none.
This young lad has won honours at European level. He was unlucky not to win the World Championships recently in California. He will only improve and I still stand by my observation - he will be a champ one day.
Quote from: The Iceman on November 06, 2013, 09:26:09 PM
This young lad has won honours at European level. He was unlucky not to win the World Championships recently in California. He will only improve and I still stand by my observation - he will be a champ one day.
I'm not saying he won't - I'm just advising caution.
Wayne Rooney made it to the top level of professional football at 16 and was a star for England at 18. I'd never heard of him until the goal against Arsenal. The point around people coming in from other backgrounds was to emphasise the size of the talent pool, not to say he'll match up poorly against them. Additionally, in MMA like in any other combat sport, you can get stopped with one strike. JDS is hardly the most rounded of fighters and still managed to be champ my catching Cain with a wild swing.
How can you say he was unlucky not to win the World Championship?! He lost his opening match and would have had to win three consecutively to be champ.
Made an effort to watch this tonight as it was on virgin media, some show live from Dublin on.
Was the standard very poor or are all the fights just hugs on the floor for most of the rounds?