BACK IN NOVEMBER, we brought you news that the headquarters of Ireland’s most successful MMA team Straight Blast Gym Ireland was moving from the Long Mile Road on Dublin’s southside to a nearby location on the Naas Road.
At the time, the gym’s founder John Kavanagh laid out his ambitious plans to include a number of new additions at the 10,000sq ft premise in the hope of building a state-of-the art facility for all, from beginners to professional athletes, keen to improve their fighting techniques or simply keep fit through MMA.
Six weeks on from getting the keys to his new place, Kavanagh and his team will open their doors for the grand opening this afternoon.
It is sure to be an action-packed day and one not to be missed for fans of the sport as there will be appearances from SBG’s UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Gunnar Nelson as well as Cathal Pendred, Chris Fields and the rest of the team.
Irish rugby international Cian Healy and GAA players Johnny Doyle and Paddy McKeever will be in attendance too while John Connor and Eoin Lacey of the Irish Strength Institute will give a short talk.
Doors open at 10am and the activities go on until 4pm with a short movie about the history of SBG Ireland and a special exhibition bout also on the cards.
While Kavanagh and McGregor were appearing on TV3 yesterday afternoon, we popped down to get a sneak peek at their new home. Here are some of the features:
They have turned their old training cage into the ‘Shoptagon’, where you can buy all your training and fighting gear as well as healthy food and drinks
A large matted area for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes
A gym run by the Irish Strength Institute
Boxing ring
Another matted area for MMA training
Their new full-size Octagon
