When Caolan Loughran joined The Craic earlier this week, he had no idea his original opponent Yanis Ghemmouri would withdraw from their bantamweight clash only to replaced by one of the most experienced fighters in France, Taylor Lapilus. 

That said, the former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion is brimming with confidence as he took aim at all things French MMA, Sean O’Malley and Chito Vera. Could his debut at UFC Paris be the first step to him becoming the new frontrunner in Irish MMA? “The Don” certainly thinks so. 

Loughran also discusses advice he’s been given from legendary U.K. coach Colin Heron, why he thinks French MMA is inferior and how exciting it is to be in a division that’s championed by O’Malley.