Lone’er Kavanagh is set to make a splash in his UFC debut this coming Saturday, but HIS journey to MMA’s elite wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
The 25-year-old prodigy from GB Top Team in Mitcham might’ve questioned his future in the sport when he was on the losing end of his first amateur scrap, getting edged out by Festus Ahorlu at Fury MMA 9 back in September 2013. He was merely a youngster then, just grappling with his dreams and aspirations.
It took him a couple of solid years of sharpening those cage fighting skills before stepping up against Jawany Scott at Rise Of Champions in October 2015 where, despite high spirits, he was forced to concede defeat once again – this time succumbing to a tight rear-naked choke in round two.
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With an amateur history that stood at a less than stellar 0-2, it wouldn’t have been much of a shocker if Kavanagh had chucked in the towel right there. After all, the limelight and accolades usually shy away from those who’ve made pals with the losing corner. But Kavanagh wasn’t having any of that defeatist chatter.
Instead, he kept his grind on, notching a clear-cut win over Myles Richards at BCMMA in May 2017, reports the Irish Star. He then navigated a couple of stalemates with Omar Sargent and Nik Bagley, before putting Mudhin Abubakar in his rear-view mirror the next year. With that, he waved goodbye to the amateur leagues and said hello to the pro game.
In a candid chat with the Irish Star, Kavanagh spilled the beans on his early days slugging it out. He said: “I had my first-ever amateur fight when I was like 14-years-old and obviously building myself up through the ranks, making mistakes and learning from them I feel like have made me the fighter that I am today.
(Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“For me, you have to make mistakes in order to learn. Through my amateur career, I made a couple mistakes, getting into the pro ranks… I feel like I’ve just tried to refine myself through my team-mates and through everything else, through my coaches, and just keep getting better and better every time.”
He also confessed: “Of course losing sucks, but me going through those losses made me realise that I never want to lose again. I do whatever I can, I train my a*** off. I do whatever I can to make sure I never feel those feelings again.” While Kavanagh’s amateur record could be dubbed as hit-and-miss, his professional game stands in stark contrast.
The flyweight talent boasts a flawless record of seven wins, no losses, breezing through the ranks of Cage Warriors without breaking a sweat. Kavanagh catapulted to internet stardom back in August when he bagged a coveted UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in epic style.
This hotspot for rising stars sees the creme de la creme of hopeful fighters throw down in Las Vegas for the ultimate audition, while UFC boss White plays kingmaker, deciding who gets a shot at the big leagues. London’s own MMA sensation Kavanagh left White absolutely gobsmacked with a jaw-dropping first-round knockout against the undefeated An Tuan Ho at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, scheduled on August 13.
(Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The fighter came out swinging, showcasing top-notch agility and a killer combo of strikes. Midway through the round, Kavanagh unleashed a fierce left hook and a swift right cross that floored Ho, knocking him out cold. White was caught on camera dropping a “holy s***” in sheer disbelief at the stunning display.
Speaking on the win, Kavanagh explained: “To be honest, it was so surreal. Being in the situation that I was in and getting that finish was amazing. I felt on top of the world. But with me I’m always like, ‘okay, sweet. I’m so thankful for that happening, but what’s next? ‘ And luckily I’ve been given the opportunity to fight on UFC Macau.”
Kavanagh is currently is gearing up for his official UFC debut this Saturday in Macau, China, where he’ll throw down with fellow newcomer Jose Ochoa (also boasting a 7-0 record) at the Galaxy Arena. The event is headlined by ex-bantamweight champs Petr Yan and Davison Figueireido and features a stellar line-up of Chinese fighting talent.
(Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
A formidable knockout specialist with a growing reputation for his grappling skills, Peru’s Ochoa boasts an impressive record, having never gone the distance in seven professional fights – with six devastating knockouts and a slick anaconda submission in his last outing. When quizzed about his thoughts on his formidable opponent ahead of Saturday’s clash, Kavanagh confessed: “To be honest with you, I don’t watch too much of my opponents just because you end up obsessing over them and stuff like that.
“So I leave it more down to my coaches to do their research, and then I listen to what my coaches say. But from what I’ve seen of him, obviously he’s good. He’s in the UFC for a reason, he’s 7-0 for a reason. I know he’s a good fighter, but I do believe that I’m better.”