The Story So Far From SBG Coach John Kavanagh
Head coach at SBG, Straight Blast Gym Ireland John Kavanagh brings us on a trip down memory lane, as he reflects on his and the story of SBG gym so far. A black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and having had his own professional MMA career. Kavanagh is the most successful mixed martial arts coach to ever come out of Ireland.
With a stable of past and present titleholders including Cathal Pendred, Chris Fields, Aisling Daly, top UFC welterweight Gunnar Nelson. And of course most famously of all, the UFC double champion The Notorious Conor McGregor. Making him one of the most sought after mixed martial arts coaches this side of the pond.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Kavanagh who hadn’t initially seen himself being involved in mixed martial arts. But over time as he became involved, fighting at a number of small regional shows. Then later going on to acquire his Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he finally decided to go all-in and establish his own club in Dublin. Starting out in what can only be described as a local shed. And as the sport became more and more popular, so did his name as one of the go-to coaches in the city.
The Notorious Conor McGregor in SBG
As he stable of fighters grew, it wouldn’t be too long before the Ultimate Fighting Championships came knocking. As first Tom Egan, then a series of his fighters joined the ranks of the worlds premier MMA promotion. And one of those fighters would be the one and only Conor McGregor. A fighter who has gone on, not just to be one of the most famous MMA fighters on the planet, but one of the most famous sports stars.
It’s a telling interview with a man who has had to build everything he has from the ground up. And who now reaps the rewards as one of the most respected coaches in the sport today. So let us listen in on what the coach from SBG had to say about both his and his fighters journey to where they find themselves today.