The Fight Before Christmas III MMA event Review

December 2010 got off flying start last weekend with the third offering of Barry Oglesby’s ‘The Fight Before Christmas’ MMA event.

By Fergus Ryan

“It really was a great night, I couldn’t be happier,” Oglesby told JOE.ie after the event. “Over 400 people came out in that weather so I was delighted the card lived up to all I’d hoped for. There were some really great fights.”

Oglesby, originally from Santry in Dublin, is head MMA coach at the Informed Performance gym in Glasnevin. His training in the “pyjama sports” began during his college years, reaching a second degree black belt in Taekwondo.

Having fallen in love with the fight game he progressed on to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, recently receiving his purple belt. Long before the rise in MMA’s popularity in Ireland, Oglesby and some friends had a Sunday morning fight club where he noticed sessions didn’t start until he arrived. So, he started coaching.

Oglesby is of the opinion that you never work a day in your life if you’re doing what you love, which for him is coaching, promoting events and running an MMA gym.

One of the largest combat sports facilities in Ireland, Oglesby is constantly looking to attract new talent to the Informed Performance gym. “We’ve had a great few years and now have a very professional feeling set up in the gym,” he says. “We’ve got three pro MMA fighters very active in the Irish circuit and have an exciting program lined up for them in 2011. I’d welcome anyone who’s wants to come down to the gym and see what we have got to offer.”

On the rise in popularity of MMA in Ireland, Oglesby is quiet balanced. Though mainstream acceptance may still be some time off he’d settle for credibility amongst the sporting community. “Fighters deserve credit as hard working, talented athletes not meatheads straight off the street. If that happens, the mainstream coverage will eventually follow.”

‘The Fight Before Christmas’ card featured some seasoned Irish MMA talent with the likes of Paddy Hoolihan, Andreas Lovbrand, Tim Murphy and Paul Cowzer in action.

The fight of the night award went to Rush Fight Academy’s Alan Kerslake and Brendan O’Shea from Midelton Fight Academy for their three-round war. O’Shea used his sharp Muay Thai striking to complement his solid MMA game and he shaded a decision over Kerslake, who came into the show off a win at Battlezone 1 a week prior.

On any other card the main event would have easily been awarded fight of the night honours in which Team Ryano’s Ritchie Edgeworth edged out Grant Carroll from Oglesby’s IPMMA team. After three rounds, the fighters were only separated by one point on the judge’s scorecards. Carroll, an explosive grappler, had takedowns repeatedly stuffed by Edgeworth over the course of the bout. Edgeworth gained in confidence and capitalised with crisp boxing and ground and pound when the fight hit the mat.

Full results from the card

Bantamweight – Ritchie Edgeworth (Team Ryano) defeated Grant Carroll (IPMMA) via Decision

Welterweight – Rab Cooke (PCCB) defeated Przemek Mucha (IPMMA) via Decision

Featherweight – Dee Murphy (PCCB) defeated Glen Mulcahy (IPMMA) via Guillotine choke Round 1

Heavyweight – Karl Moore (PCCB) defeated Kenneth Brett (SBG) via KO Round 2

Luke Corcoran (SBG) defeated Kieran O’Donnell (TDD) via Rear Naked Choke Round 1

Martynas Suslavicius (Leixlip) defeated Giedrius Meksarunas (IPMMA) via KO Round 2

Brendan O’Shea (Cork) defeated Alan Kerslake (Rush Fight Academy) via Decision

Paddy Hoolihan (SBG) defeated Andreas Lovbrand (Hilti) via Kimora Round 1

Tim Murphy (PBS) defeated Paul Cowzer (Rush Fight Academy) via Rear Naked Choke Round 1

Joey Breslin (SBG) defeated Ross Fegan (SW) via Omaplata Round 2

David “The Pole” defeated Sid Allen (PBS) via TKO Round 3