LEADING EUROPEAN MMA promotion BAMMA makes its first visit to Dublin this weekend. BAMMA 22 takes place at the 3Arena on Saturday evening and here’s why it’s worth a look…
Breeding ground…
Since its first event in 2009, BAMMA has established itself as one of the most reliable platforms in Europe for fighters with aspirations of making it to the UFC. Among the many fighters who have been signed by MMA’s elite organisation after competing for BAMMA are Gunnar Nelson, Alan Omer, Jimi Manuwa, Erik Perez and Leon Edwards.
Introducing Tom Duquesnoy…
He only turned 22 in June but BAMMA’s featherweight champion Tom Duquesnoy is already one of the most highly-regarded prospects competing outside the UFC. Training under the legendary Greg Jackson, Duquesnoy takes on one-time UFC fighter Brendan Loughnane in Saturday night’s main event. The athletic Frenchman is the full package and, based on his previous outings, will be worth the admission price on his own. It might the first time you’ve seen him but it certainly won’t be the last. However, the durable Loughnane should provide Duquesnoy with his toughest test yet.
The best of British…
Saturday’s show will be BAMMA’s first outside the UK but they’re still bringing some of the best talent from across the Irish Sea with them. Regis Sugden, Marc Diakiese, Tim Wilde and Kane Mousah are all ones to watch, while the lightweight meeting of English pair Jack McGann and Jack Grant will be a strong ‘Fight of the Night’ contender.
Video: Cage Warriors
Ireland’s next UFC representative…
Currently featuring on The Ultimate Fighter, Artem Lobov may be in pole position to become the next Irishman to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. However, several Irish fighters will be looking to further their claims for a UFC call-up on Saturday. Damien Rooney and Alan Philpott both have the ability to compete at the highest level but will need to return to winning ways.
Light-heavyweight Karl Moore can move a step closer by extending his undefeated run. And can veteran middleweight Chris Fields make a late run for the big show by reproducing the kind of form that saw him win the Cage Warriors title in 2012?
Value for money…
Top-quality production and some of Europe’s best up-and-coming fighters in a superb venue like the 3Arena, and tickets are still available from just €35. With 20 fights in total on the bill, BAMMA 22 is a bargain.
Video: BAMMA
But most of all, this…
There are some extremely promising young Irish professionals coming through the ranks at the moment and two of them are set to meet on Saturday. The clash of Darren O’Gorman and Frans Mlambo will be one of the first fights on the bill so make sure you’re in your seat early when the doors at the 3Arena open at 4pm. You won’t regret it. Mlambo is a regular sparring partner of Conor McGregor’s at SBG in Dublin and will be making his professional debut, having won gold at the IMMAF Amateur World Championships in Las Vegas back in July. Undefeated Cork native O’Gorman has already got three professional bouts under his belt and it’s been a case of so far, so good. Very good, in fact. Other young stars worth keeping an eye on at BAMMA 22 include Dylan Tuke and Sinéad Kavanagh.
Video: Severe MMA
BAMMA 22
Tom Duquesnoy vs. Brendan Loughnane
Chris Fields vs. Christopher Jacquelin
Alan Philpott vs. Regis Sugden
Marc Diakiese vs. Rick Selvajarah
Catherine Costigan vs. Celine Haga
Jack Grant vs. Jack McGann
Damien Rooney vs. Manel Kape
Karl Moore vs. Paul Craig
Kane Mousah vs. Myles Price
Conor Cooke vs. Paul Byrne
Tim Wilde vs. Luka Jelcic
Sean Tobin vs. Mark Andrew
Johnny Dargan vs. Lukasz Parobiec
Arnaud Dos Santos vs. Keith Coady
Adam Caffrey vs. Dylan Tuke
Sinéad Kavanagh vs. Hatice Oyzurt
Frans Mlambo vs. Darren O’Gorman
Gerard Gilmore vs. Alexander Leite
Patrick Wixted vs. Connor Dillon
John Redmond vs. Rhys McKee
For more information on BAMMA 22, click here.
