Fighting chance
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Randalstown car dealer John Mulholland and his navigator Eamonn Gorman preparing for last weekend’s International Donegal Rally.
THE overwhelming success of a recent mixed martial arts show in Antrim, featuring some of the town's top 'cage fighters', has resulted in a follow-up event slated for August 2.
The second fight night, to be held in Antrim's British Legion, is a result of a sell out show highlighting once again the growing demand for the highly disciplined sport.
The rise in interest from fighters and fans alike across the Province led a local mixed martial arts (MMA) gym to develop their own fight business, using their gym as an already established talent pool.
The newly formed Spartan Promotions works in conjunction with local MMA gym, Red Dragon, to give Antrim based fighters the opportunity to test their skills against top competition from across the UK.
Martin Walker, co-promoter of Spartan Promotions told the Antrim Guardian about their decision to venture into the fight business.
“Interest in the sport is huge now and our gym has developed so much over the last five years we have been able to start our own show and give our own fighters the attention they deserve," he said. "It was easy enough to start up the promotion as the boys in the gym are good enough and were becoming big names in the sport anyway."
Martin explained how he believes the full house in Allen Park, that featured fighters from Scotland and Dublin, will be topped by the upcoming second event.
“You couldn't get moving in the place, the first show was that busy. The British Legion is just slightly bigger but it is better laid out to hold a cage so it should be an even better night."
