On Saturday night the UFC returns to Ireland for the fourth time. A lot has changed since their first event on the Emerald Isle over eight years ago. The first batch of Irish fighters scratched the surface of the UFC before the current wave began ‘the takeover’ which has resulted in McGregor being crowned interim-champ.
Right now Irish MMA has had 11 fighters in total grace the Octagon in a combined total of 36 fights. Here is a list of how the small nation has faired in the world’s premier promotion so far.
List of Fighters:
Steven Lynch (0-1) – debut UFC 72, 2007.
Colin Robinson (0-2) – debut UFC 72, 2007.
Tom Egan (0-1) – debut UFC 93, 2009.
Norman Parke (4-2-1) – debut TUF: The Smashes Finale, 2012.
Conor McGregor (6-0) – debut UFC on Fuel TV 9, 2013.
Neil Seery (2-2) – debut UFC Fight Night 37, 2014.
Cathal Pendred (4-1) – debut UFC Fight Night 46, 2014.
Paddy Holohan (3-1) – debut UFC Fight Night 46, 2014.
Aisling Daly (1-1) – debut TUF 20 Finale, 2014.
Paul Redmond (0-2) – debut UFC on FOX 14, 2015.
Joseph Duffy (2-0) – debut UFC 185, 2015.
Records:
Combined fight record of 22 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw
How fights have ended:
22 wins – 7 TKO/KOs, 4 submissions, 11 decisions.
13 losses – 4 TKO/KOs, 1 submission, 8 decisions.
1 draw.
Notable Achievements:
Conor McGregor – UFC Interim Champ
Norman Parke – TUF: The Smashes winner
Conor McGregor – ‘OTN’ bonus x 5
Paddy Holohan – ‘OTN’ bonus x 1
Cathal Pendred – ‘OTN’ bonus x 1
Joseph Duffy – ‘OTN’ bonus x 1
Statistics:
No Irish fighter has been submitted in 33 fights in the UFC. Steven Lynch was submitted in his first and only fight in the UFC.
In the past 30 fights only one Irish fighter (Paul Redmond) has been defeated by TKO/KO.
Only three Irish fighters has won via TKO/KO: McGregor, Parke & Duffy.
Joseph Duffy is the only fighter to have won fights via submission and TKO/KO.
Conor McGregor has the most stoppage wins with 5 in total.
Norman Parke has the most appearances in the UFC with 7 in total.
Over 55% of fights involving an Irish fighter have went the distance.
That number rises to just under 65% if you exclude McGregor.
At last year’s event in Dublin Irish fighters went 5-0. This year there are 6 on the card.
Neil Seery is Ireland’s oldest UFC fighter at 36.
Paddy Holohan is Ireland’ youngest UFC fighter at 27.
Only two Irish fighters are ranked in the top 15 of their respective weight classes: McGregor and Daly.
Duffy is the second Irish fighter to headline a card for the UFC.
The Ultimate Fighter:
Irish MMA has a long history with the reality show stemming back nearly 10 years. Fighters who tried out for the show and nearly made it were Rodney Moore, Paul McVeigh, Ali Maclean, Joseph Duffy, and Paddy Holohan.
Norman Parke was the first Irish fighter to appear in the house and he was followed by Chris Fields, Cathal Pendred, Ais Daly and Artem Lobov who is currently on TUF 22.