This week on the podcast we are joined by Kian McCarton.
Kian is an amateur MMA fighter from Clondalkin, Dublin, pursuing his dream of stepping up into the professional ranks and becoming the best in the World at what he does.
Currently holding the gold medal in his weight division from the IMMAF European Championships, he is currently six weeks out from representing Ireland at the IMMAF World Championship, taking place in Albania.
We spoke to Kian about what got him interested in combat sports growing up, the importance of his family and support network in his growth over the last few years, and some of the challenges and setback he’s faced along the way in life.
It was also very interesting to hear Kian speak about the lack of funding for MMA athletes in Ireland.
We are all about having a big vision for your life, pursuing your goals and dreams with focused effort, and using the challenges and adversities that come along the way as opportunities to become better. Kian embodies that philosophy entirely, and it was great to sit down and chat it up with him.
We hope you enjoy the episode, and if you would like to sponsor Kian to help get him to Albania and fight for his country - you can reach him via email at kian.macker@gmail.com or on Instagram @kianmacker.
All donations are extremely appreciated - regardless of the amount. Every little helps!
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
1:43 Kenny’s Question
3:17 Childhood dreams?
4:35 Best in Europe
5:20 European Championships
6:05 Flyweight or Strawweight?
7:14 It’s not over until it’s over
8:20 Why fighting?
11:30 From Boxing to MMA
12:55 McGregor Inspiration
13:53 Self-belief
15:40 Not About Winning or Losing
17:21 Outwork Your Self Doubt
18:42 School Years
20:24 Getting on the Pro-team at SBG
21:00 Striking a deal with his parents
21:25 His biggest supporters
22:40 Airport Welcoming Party
23:40 Going Down the Wrong Path
25:00 Ignoring The Doubt
26:26 Importance of Humility
27:50 Feeling Sorry for Himself
29:09 Confidence
31:47 Win or Learn
35:17 Meeting John Kavanagh
35:54 Coach John Kavanagh
38:54 Amateur Debut
41:53 Pre-fight nerves
43:25 Paddy Holohan
44:06 Pre-fight superstitions
45:58 Walkout Song
48:55 Patriotic nature of fighting
49:50 Next Fight after Prague
51:03 Dealing with that second loss
52:44 Relationship with father
55:20 Need for tough love?
56:26 Next generation of fighters
57:08 Kiefer Crosbie
58:53 Improving Amateur MMA
1:00:13 Day in the life
1:01:05 Professional lifestyle on amateur wage
1:03:18 IMMAFs
1:04:46 Ireland’s top talents
1:05:18 5 Year Trial
1:06:07 No supporter amateur fighters
1:08:14 Going pro
1:09:58 When is the right time to go pro?
1:12:20 Money or legacy?
1:12:58 Losing nanny
1:15:36 Knee injury
1:18:39 Upcoming world championships
1:20: Importance of sponsorship
1:24:59 Kian’s question
