Latest news & videos from SevereMMA--Owen Roddy retires (8th Nov)

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Gunning for 2014: Nelson talks his car crash, his injury, MMA in Iceland and UFC Dublin



This week Peter Carroll caught up with Iceland’s prodigal technician, Gunnar Nelson, who narrowly escaped a potentially fatal car accident last weekend. Having suffered a knee injury in April, Nelson has yet to re-appear in the Octagon where he has impressed thus far with wins over DaMarques Johnson and Jorge Santiago.

Now, with his eyes firmly fixed on 2014, Nelson discussed his return, MMA in Iceland, his hopes for next year, UFC’s Dublin card and the crash that nearly saw him plunge to the bottom of the Pjórsá.

“I’m feeling good,” said Nelson, typically underwhelmed, even by his brush with death. “Thankfully we all escaped, I needed 10 or 11 stitches in my arm and one of my friends hurt his neck, but otherwise we’re good.

“We were going to see a volcano for a bit of an adventure and the road we were driving on seemed to be clear the whole way. We turned halfway up the road because there was a mountain blocking us, but as soon as we did the whole road was covered in ice.

“My friend who was driving tried his best to even it out after losing control, but we went off the side of a hill and rolled the car a few times.”

Fortunately for the welterweight, there was no further damage to the knee that has seen him out of action since February when he claimed a one sided decision over veteran Jorge Santiago. Undergoing MCL surgery in April, Nelson choose not to make haste on his return to combat, instead he took precaution to safe guard his future in the sport.

“My knee is perfect now, I just thought it would be better to take it easy and wait for it to be completely healed before I came back. There was no single incident that led to the injury, so that kind of told me that maybe I had been training too hard, for too long.

“Especially with the meniscus, I’ve seen guys trying to hurry back from the same injury and it just keeps going again and again. I didn’t want to take that chance so I was in no rush.”

“After the surgery I was just doing exercises to build my knee back up, it was about a month before I got back on the mats and started grappling again. Obviously I wasn’t doing as many sessions as I usual, but after that it took me about two months to get back to regular training,” revealed the Icelandic fighter.

Ian Whelan

It looks like he won't fight until next year. Another long wait. On a related topic Eugene Fadiora (who Nelson beat) won in Bellator over the weekend. I always though he was a good fighter.

broders3

“My knee is perfect now, I just thought it would be better to take it easy and wait for it to be completely healed before I came back". It wouldn't do the notorious one any harm to take some heed of that advice! Really hope he doesn't come back too soon and relapse!

Richy06

Two different injuries, but at any rate, Conor won't get back in there until he's fit and ready. Chill, dawgs.

broders3

True but it's the same injury as Dominic Cruz! Got to be a lot of pressure on him to make it back for the Dublin show.

Richy06

Dominic actually did the same injury twice, the second whilst rehabbing the first, I believe. Nobody is stupid enough to push Conor into training before he's ready. It's not like there's a bunch of muppets advising him.

Mellor

Xlami wrote: »

Not really, if he's not back they'll cancel the show and it's no big deal. While there's no doubt they'll be back this year just because they've a venue booked does not mean it's set in stone.

There's a venue booked?

scudzilla

Mellor wrote: »

There's a venue booked?

They'll probably have the O2 already provisionally booked, they'd then have to confirm the booking maybe 3-6 months before the date

Mellor

scudzilla wrote: »

They'll probably have the O2 already provisionally booked, they'd then have to confirm the booking maybe 3-6 months before the date

Well it's obviously gonna be the o2. But what I was getting at was that venue booked, provisionally or otherwise, means a date was set. I didn't realise that it was that far along. Or is it?

scudzilla

Mellor wrote: »

Well it's obviously gonna be the o2. But what I was getting at was that venue booked, provisionally or otherwise, means a date was set. I didn't realise that it was that far along. Or is it?

They work 12months or so in advance, probably even have a couple of dates provisionally booked, Dana said at some point Quarter 3, but more recently he said May/June, if Conor doesn't make it they'll do Berlin and come to Dublin later.

May/June is only 7 months away, it's not like they can try booking the arena 3 months before, could be booked out for every Saturday and whats a lost 20k (a guess) deposit?

SevereMMA

RTE will be showing a scene from our Conor McGregor documentary on The Late Late Show on Friday. Be sure to tune in!

SevereMMA

Owen Roddy Retires – The original SBG trailblazer hangs up his gloves



Just over a minute in and already he was staring the worst case scenario in the face. The lungs of the stadium that once pumped out their hero’s name were now stifled, as if any activity on their part could plunge their protagonist into deeper trouble. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

It’s said that the secret to being a good party guest is knowing when to leave.

*

The battles that “Rowdy” Owen Roddy has been involved in will long be remembered as some of the greatest nights in the history of Irish MMA. His resilience, passion and determination inside the cage have attracted many to the sport, while his humour, honesty and light hearted manner outside of competition have forced people to reconsider their views on it.

Having been out of action since December of last year when he lost to Wilson Reis, a valuable win that would propel the Brazilian to the UFC, Roddy explained why he felt it was time to walk away from MMA competition.

“I just feel like it’s the right time for me to retire. I made my decision at the start of the year, probably two months after I fought Wilson,” he said.

“With the club really taking off and a young a family, it’s just too hard to train for a fight. If I have to put that much focus into a camp both the club and my family suffer, and I just can’t be leaving them every couple of weeks anymore.

LOADS MORE over at SEVERE

SevereMMA

Conor McGregor said on Facebook

"I want to wish my longtime team mate and brother 'Rowdy' Owen Roddy all the best in his retirement from competitive fighting. Without this man in my corner I would not be where I am.
He was the 1st COMPLETE Martial Artist this nation has ever produced. The first 'move in all ways' fighter we've ever had. He taught me so many tricks of this game and has given me so much confidence in my ability. He embodies everything about the warrior spirit.
He has faced adversities in live combat that ALL would have quit from, and came back to WIN. The toughest situations i have ever witnessed and came through. This game is not for the feint hearted. Danger is very real, and witnessing his comeback fights, has changed my whole approach. You will have to take our last breath before we stop moving forward.
He is a hero to me and will be in my corner for life. I wish him all the best with his gym and his family. I love you man you are a TRUE INSPIRATION!!!."

SevereMMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT08AZxlIpE

SevereMMA

Ayo Daly vs Steven Moore, Adam Caffrey vs Comerford and Lawrence vs McFall added to Cage Warriors 63



Three new bouts have been added to Cage Warriors 63 on New Year’s Eve in Dublin, Ireland. Ryoshin welterweight prospect Ayo Daly is set to take on Steven Moore. Daly picked up a first round submission victory last weekend and then called for a shot on the Cage Warriors amateur prelims in our post-fight interview and his wish has been granted by the powers that be.

Adam Caffrey against Kyle Comerford and Paul Lawrence vs Mal McFall have also been added to the preliminary card.

SevereMMA

McGregor eyes July return against top ten opponent; talks UFC Dublin, Cole Miller, New Gym and more

On the road to a full recovery, Irish MMA star Conor McGregor caught up with PETER CARROLL to talk about his rehabilitation, coming home to Dublin and fame. The Irishman also revealed the key role he is playing in the UFC’s selection of a date for their Dublin card, what type of opponent he wants to face on his return and which Irish fighters he believes deserve an opportunity on the world’s biggest MMA stage.

“The Notorious” Conor McGregor became obsessed with martial arts from a young age. From Crumlin Boxing Club to local kickboxing gyms, trading techniques with Ireland’s first UFC competitor and his close personal friend Tom Egan and eventually on to Straight Blast Gym – he was primarily building his combat arsenal, but it also provided him with an outlet that kept him active and out of trouble.


Such was his reliance on the arts that when he spent some time away from John Kavanagh and Co, McGregor’s mother got in contact with the SBG boss to get her son back on the mat.

In August, after putting on a one sided showcase en route to victory over Max Holloway, an anterior cruciate ligament tear to the Dubliner’s knee took him away from his passion again. This time, removed from the physical acts that he repeated in the gym day after day on his ascent, McGregor made sure that his head never left the game.

“I still can’t do everything, but in time I’ll be back grappling,” said McGregor, hell bent on his comeback. “I’ve been able to do a bit of sparring since I’ve come back to Dublin and I’m still fitter and faster than everyone. Earlier on when I had just had surgery I was helpless, but the mind is a powerful thing.

“My mind never stopped thinking about movements and positions. You can’t let what you cannot do affect what you can do. Honestly, it’s like I’ve never been away. I feel like I’ve improved, I’m better than ever.

“I have to go back to LA in February for an agility test. Once they’re happy with what they see I’ll be easing into grappling again and I can’t wait for that. I’ve been thinking about that the same way as I did with my stand-up so I know I’ll be right back into the swing of things when I’m given the green light.”

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