Adil Sajjad previews WCMMA 24 with Dave O’Donnell in the first of an exclusive two-part interview.
Dave O’Donnell is a busy man. Sat in an otherwise non-descript office, he is surrounded by elements of his work. A composition of large A1 posters are plastered behind him for the upcoming UCMMA 47 and are framed by photos of loved ones, and calendars and seating arrangements for the even more imminent WCMMA 24. Two worlds, judging by the space they take in his office, that are evidently dear to him. A plain black shirt is a departure from the slick, charcoal suits that we’re used to seeing on fight-nights but the gold chains and rings persist.
“True innit?” He starts, grinning, after catching me momentarily stunned by one of his responses, “I do talk my mind but at the end of the day, it’s true!”
He’s right, it often is. It’s difficult to separate O’Donnell the man from the promoter. Perhaps a sign of how long he’s been in the sport. “Too f****** long,” he jokingly mutters. But with this longevity comes a refined vision of what sells in mixed-martial-arts. ‘Lights, cameras and all action’ is the tag-line. Add to that the blaring party-like music and the readily available alcohol and it’s easy to see that O’Donnell has crafted a very particular type of MMA organisation.
He utters mock disbelief at my first question: “Why should people pay? You have probably not been to enough events to realise that WCMMA is bigger than most pro events in the country.” It’s been said that all a good promoter really needs is a cue, and O’Donnell is up and running. “And you get the most exciting fights there… When two fighters are so hungry to prove themselves at Warrior Challenge, they’re swinging for the fences sometimes. You’re on your feet! You can’t believe the excitement you’re getting!”
Warriors
Animated in every word, O’Donnell exudes a natural sense of anticipation when he sells his product. It is a product that delivers excitement, after all.
“We actually keep the seats a bit cheaper for Warrior Challenge because its semi-pro,” he says before adding vigorously and with a smile, “but really I should be doubling the prices, bruv!”
It is, he reminds me, a follow-up to ‘Cage Rage: Contenders’ after all. Semi-pro rules. None of that amateur stuff where there aren’t any headshots to a downed opponent. Go and “play in a jiu-jitsu match somewhere because that’s not fighting”, says O’Donnell. WCMMA is there to get fighters ready for the big show. If they ever want to make it to the big show, then they’ll need to fight with the same rules.
And some have made it to the big show. Some may make it to even bigger shows. Do not underestimate the reach of Warrior Challenge. If an example was needed of how far it can reach, a look at the main event for WCMMA 24 proves the point: Shane Nolan vs Harry Davies.
Both came fresh off their stint on the Born to Fight reality show commissioned by O’Donnell. Neither fighter had a background in martial arts prior to filming yet now find themselves in the main event of the ‘B’ show. If another example is required of the potential route through the sport, Modestas Bukauskas paid a trip to New Mexico to train at the extremely prestigious Jackson-Winkeljohn gym alongside the likes of world recognised stars Jon Jones and Holly Holm. There are levels to this.
“It was a great match-up [to make],” O’Donnell enthuses about Davies-Nolan. “Both of these guys have got serious knockout ability. Both of these guys are just warriors. I mean, I’m really good mates with both of them now and I don’t want to see either of them lose but it was a great match-up.
“We had a little incident when we were out [In Bulgaria]. They both flew with us and for some unknown reason next minute Harry and Shane are going at it. They weren’t fighting with each other, they were fighting other guys but they were both so…”
He gestured with his hands out in front of him and his palms facing each other, “And that’s what people don’t realise; a fighter’s mental attitude, what they have to go through. They’re laughing and joking but really, they know that in a couple of hours they’ve got to be in a cage and that’s why wives find it so hard sometimes. They’ve got to deal with their husbands’ aggression, not eating, starving themselves to make weight etc.
“I’m really looking forward to that one.”
- WCMMA is at 18:30 on March 18th at The Troxy.