Team Ryano head coach Andy Ryan joined Niall McGrath on this week’s episode of the Talking Brawls Podcast to speak about BAMMA’s return to Ireland and how Cage Warriors returning has put “hunger back into the Irish MMA community.”

“It’s brilliant to see Cage Warriors back. I think they set a new level for Irish MMA when they were here. I think they set the platform for the likes of Redser, Neil Seery, Cathal Pendred, Aisling Daly, Chris Fields and Conor McGregor’s best nights were [with] Cage Warriors.”

“Then it was unbelievable to see BAMMA coming in. BAMMA have done a great job here. They’ve really stepped it up another level and I hope Cage Warriors do the same.”

“The two shows give a bit of hunger back into the Irish MMA community and it gives guys chances to fight on big shows.”

“I think if BAMMA put on their 3 shows, and Cage Warriors put on 3 shows a year, then that’s enough [events] and you might get the odd UFC [event] coming back.”

“The level of show BAMMA put on in Dublin the last time was unbelievable.”

“I was over in London at the BT Sport’s [studio] for Cage Warriors [Unplugged] and it was a great show, so they can do that here in Ireland with the great fighters we have and bring in talent, bring in guys for them to fight.”

The Team Ryano head coach revealed he has retaken his place as Vice President of IMMAA and accepts that it’s a learning curve for the newly formed association.

You can watch the full interview with Andy Ryan from this week’s episode of Talking Brawls:

Ryan invited all Irish clubs who have questioned the decisions of the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAA) in the past to join the association and have their voice heard.

“IMMAA are doing a great job, I was involved, I took a step back, I’m back with them now helping out. The boys put an awful lot of work in for free. We have meetings and we might hire a hotel out and we pay the money between us. People mightn’t see them little things, it might be only 200 quid for a hotel room but it’s 4-5 lads paying out of their own pocket, going to meetings, taking days off work.”

“They do it for nothing, a lot of people complain; well come and join the association, join your club up, get your insurance, get your coaching certs and change what you don’t like. That’s what I think.”

“I’m the Vice President but I had a lot of stuff going on here so I took a step back. Then I saw people were moaning and I didn’t want people thinking I was leaving a sinking ship so I went back to show people I have 100% support for them.”

“And of course we are going to make mistakes and of course we are learning. We’re getting advice of IMMAF, getting advice off SAFE MMA, getting advice off the Sports Council.”

“People come on board, join up and help us out.”

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