In this episode of the award-winning Under Construction podcast, Donncha is joined by mixed martial arts (MMA) coach John Kavanagh. Throughout the episode, Coach Kavanagh delves into the crucial role he has played in fostering the growth of MMA in Ireland, including his own journey into the sport, switching career paths from engineering to opening his own MMA gym, Straight Blast, in 2001. Referred to frequently as a pioneer for MMA in Ireland, Coach Kavanagh also discusses his experiences training some of the world’s most successful fighters from their first foray into the sport at Straight Blast to competing in some of the biggest earning pay-per-view MMA events in history.

Donncha and John also discuss the importance of demonstrating resilience in the world of professional sport. Coach Kavanagh believes that dealing with losses can be tough for anyone starting in MMA, and he takes a considered approach for those who are beginning the sport. John encourages beginners to get out of their shells during training sessions which eventually leads to an overall positive attitude, allowing them to win, lose or draw fights and come away having learnt from each experience.