Corks Link To MMA

MMA.
A violent sport with a violent history.
Whether it be UFC, Strikeforce, Or any other promotion, The world of Mixed Martial Arts has only in recent years started to become a major player across the globe. For a long time this sport was limited to primarily to its USA and Japan audience.


Today an announcement hit the media from a Corkman, Graham Boyle, the CEO of
Cage Warriors Fighting Championship, a promotion based in London, England along with the management agency behind it, Warrior Promotions has today told MMAjunkie.com the group has acquired the U.S.-based Fiore MMA.

Marc Fiore

As part of the deal Warrior Promotions Fighter Management (WPFM) will take over its client list. Marc Fiore will remain with the company as a full-time trainer and fighter manager.


With 50-plus fighters competing for the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce and Cage Warriors, Warrior Promotions has continued to prove itself as "a powerhouse in fighter management", Boylan said. "Our fighters now have six gyms in four different countries to train. They also have a clear path to continue careers in training and fighter management once they're done fighting."

Graham Boylan

Being one of Europe's top MMA promotions, Fiore has sent a number of his fighters to compete in Cage Warriors. However Boylan insists that he, Fiore and Cage Warriors executive Patrick Vickers don't plan to shift their top talent solely to Cage Warriors.

"We're a feeder show to the UFC," Boylan said. "We look to develop every one of our guys to feed the UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce. Anyone we take on is with the intention ... of getting them to those organizations. We have clauses and conditions that if the UFC, Bellator or Strikeforce calls, we're happy to let them go. We're a developmental show."

 As it continues to grow however, Boylan's organisation is proving that the world of MMA has a home on this side of the pond with an ever growing audience and more and more demand for shows. The fight company plans to host 10 overseas shows in six countries in 2012. The shows currently air in North America on Fight Now TV (U.S.) and The Fight Network (Canada), Premier Sports (UK), Setanta Sports (Ireland & Africa).

Let us hope that this Corkonian continues to provide us with such news about an ever growing sport and its athletes.

R.I.P. Gary Speed

Today is a sad, sad day for the world of football and all concerned with it.

At 7:08 this morning, Cheshire police were informed of an incident at Aldford Road, Huntington. The news that has since followed from that incident has left the entire football community in absolute shock. 


Gary Speed was the ultimate professional. Never one to live life in the tabloids, he has in recent months turned Welsh football around. The Welsh international team was not one to light up the world. They have not qualified for a major international competition since the 1958 FIFA World Cup, the only time in their long history. Now under the managerial guidance of Speedo, the future looked very bright for Wales football. Though the playing staff remains unchanged, and for this reason one must believe that this future remains a strong possibility. However one must wonder if the passion and cohesiveness that gave them such a drive to win has died along with their manager. Though this of course is only speculation and we will all continue to speculate until the next wales international fixture.

One thing that we need not speculate on is the person that Gary was. I have spent the past several hours listening to tributes pouring into both the BBC and Sky Sports News news-desks and the one thing that continues to ring through is that Gary Speed was the ultimate pro. He was a friend worth having.
Listening to men like Robbie Savage, who in my mind was always one of the toughest men to ever line out in the Premier League, come to tears as he reminisces over the life of his close friend was enough to strike a chill down spine of any person. 

Howard Wilkinson, Former Leeds United manager and the man who gave Speed his Break in football said that Gary was simply a man "with a gift who wanted to share it with the world". Having seen Gary play for Newcastle United and Bolton and Sheffield United, I as a fan can confirm, for those of you unfortunate enough to have never seen him grace the pitch, that Gary was indeed a truly gifted player and was fast showing his gift as a manager. In Wilkinson and Speed's old haunt of Elland Road the Falgs have all being flying at half mast today in a mark of true sorrow and respect.

A true legend in the sport but his is a talent and a person who transcended football as was proved today before the Harlequins and Newcastle Rugby Match. But as for the respect shown in his own sport, the match between Swansea and Aston Villa today showed the greatest of respect. Though many suggested it be called off the match did go ahead just an hour after the very sad news began to break. And perhaps a fitting tribute that the first stadium in the world to pay its  respect on a matchday was one  in Wales and in both teams were members of Speeds wales squad as well as some very close friends such as Shay Given who was seen to shed a tear at the start of that match. The one minute silence, a long standing tradition in Football soon  turned to applause, echoing the tributes paid to the late George Best after his passing.

The Liberty Stadium was not the only one to pay tribute today. A minute silence was impeccably observed in Anfield, where Gary's close friend Craig Bellamy pulled out of the game due to his grief being so very raw. Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who once signed Speed for Newcastle United, brought it all back home when he said " The most important people right now are his wife and kids".

Regardless of how it ended at his own hands, Gary Speed's life and career was nothing short of incredible. A household name throughout Britain, Ireland and beyond. Gary will be missed by all involved in the sport and his was a work ethic that if followed by all then Football would certainly be a much simpler game to be in.

R.I.P. Gary Speed