PETER QUEALLY BELIEVES a UFC contract is almost within touching distance and he’ll aim to move a step closer to achieving that goal tonight at Dublin’s 3Arena.
It’s been 18 months since he last fought on Irish soil but Queally is targetting a triumphant homecoming at the expense of Englishman Nathan Jones at BAMMA 24.
The 30-year-old Dungarvan native is adamant that he’ll be the next Irishman to debut in the UFC and his cause has certainly been furthered by his status as one of the most trusted training partners of the biggest star in mixed martial arts today.
In seven days’ time, UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor will face Nate Diaz at UFC 196 in Las Vegas. As he bids to join his Straight Blast Gym team-mate on the biggest stage in MMA, Queally has been working daily with McGregor for the past few months.
“It’s hard to put into words. I’ve been training alongside him for many years but we’ve been training a lot closer together in the last while,” Queally, who’s now based in Dublin where he trains out of SBG, told The42.
“We train a lot on our own now and there’s always periods afterwards where we kind of reflect on what we’ve done. That’s where I’ve picked up the biggest benefits from Conor. He’s amazing to train with but he always points out things I did well, or maybe not so well. I’ll try and do the same for him. He has a great eye for details.
“There’s no one training as hard as we are. There just can’t be. And there’s no secret to it. It’s just hard work, plain and simple. I’m definitely training smarter now. I use my time more intelligently.”
Last month, Queally accompanied McGregor on his trip to Las Vegas to carry out some media duties ahead of UFC 196. It was an eye-opening experience which only served to strengthen his resolve to secure a coveted UFC contract sooner rather than later.
“Yeah, you just see it all,” Queally said. “You’re seeing life through Conor’s eyes when you’re over there and it’s good. It’s really good. That’s definitely motivating. It’s coming for me now. I can see it. I have for a while but especially so lately. There’s lots of little rumblings and I’m hearing stuff about it.”
Queally’s SBG colleague Artem Lobov certainly benefitted from his association with Conor McGregor in 2015 when he was finally handed that elusive opportunity to compete in the UFC. The ‘Conor Connection’ has boosted their chances and SBG’s chasing pack haven’t been shy about admitting as much.
As they see it, if other fighters are making their way to the UFC by padding their records with wins over less-than-credible opponents, receiving some assistance from a high-profile friend and team-mate is a more honest manner of being given a leg-up.
“People can say what they want. Me and Artem have never denied it. Of course it’s an advantage, getting that extra push because you’re Conor’s friend. Fuck everyone else who has a problem with that,” Queally said.
“Other people are being pushed for other reasons but we don’t complain about them. You take what you’re given and you capitalise on it. You’d be stupid not to.”
A win tonight in Dublin would be Queally’s third in succession and it would take his record to 8-2. After a controversial split-decision defeat in South Africa last June, he bounced back by defeating hometown heroes in Poland and Italy in the second half of 2015.
Queally: “There’s a lot of people doing things the wrong way in this sport but I’m doing it right. I don’t pick and choose my fights, I’ll take on anyone and anywhere. And I have been doing that. The moment you get off the plane, you can feel that you’ve been brought there to lose.
“That’s what you’re there for but that builds character, especially when you go out there and get the win. People are starting to see the value in my work and that can’t be denied.”
The team’s recent success has meant that SBG fighters now have a target on their backs at regional level. Having spent so much time in Conor McGregor’s company lately — as evidenced by McGregor’s social media output — Queally perhaps fits into that bracket more than most. Taking down Conor McGregor’s mate would be a nice notch on the belt, particularly for an Englishman coming to Dublin to face an Irishman.
“I know I’m a scalp but I’ve been a good scalp for a while, with a good name and a good record. I welcome that,” Queally insisted. “Opponents have been turning me down for a while so if my relationship with Conor is what changes that, that’s absolutely fine with me because I want those fights.”
The one glaring omission from Peter Queally’s resumé thus far is a victory via stoppage, with all of his previous wins coming by way of decision. He knows it could prove to be detrimental to his future prospects, although the Cage Warriors and EFC veteran believes it’s important for the likes of the UFC to look beyond numbers and statistics when it comes to surveying talent at regional level.
“The fact that I haven’t been getting finishes has been annoying but it’s something that I will rectify. But anyone who has seen my fights will know that they’re not just your average decisions, it’s domination for 15 minutes. I’ve been battering guys. I haven’t been finding those finishes but I have an exciting fight style. It’s important to get those finishes and start changing that.
“But it’s a myth anyway that people only want to see finishes. They want to see exciting fights, whether there’s a stoppage or not. The candidates for ‘Fight of the Year’ are nearly always fights that have gone to a decision, so that tells its own story. It will all be forgotten anyway when I get that one big finish, and it’s coming.”
Once his 10th professional bout is out of the way this evening, Queally will turn his attentions to fights he has booked in Poland and Italy in April and May respectively. He believes a call from the UFC is imminent, but in the meantime he’ll focus on continuing to clock up the wins.
“This is going to be serious on Saturday night. I’ve had huge jumps forward in the last few months. I’m a different man than I was even in my last fight.
“Conor has played a big part in that as well. It’s not just blood, sweat and tears with him. It’s hard training, yes, but it’s clever training. That’s definitely something I’ve picked up off him. It’s important that I get the finish here. And I will, believe me.
“To be honest, I’m prepared for whatever but I think a big performance here could do it. At the very least, I’ll be disappointed if I’m not there by the summer.”
BAMMA 24 takes place this evening at the 3Arena in Dublin. Doors open at 4pm and tickets are available here.
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