25-06-2025
Richie Smullen gearing up for Oktagon MMA debut
Irish MMA fighter Richie Smullen believes he is in good stead ahead of his upcoming Oktagon MMA debut.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mirror, the Arklow native said: "I'm feeling good, I'm looking forward to the big opportunity to fight in Oktagon in front of a sold out 15,000 seater arena, it's the stuff you dream of doing."
The lightweight fighter explained how his fight prep had been going well in the build-up to facing Vojto Barborík in Hamburg on Saturday.
"Camp's been great, it's been one of the better ones to be honest with you, there was no injuries, great training pattern with the weights being low. Everything fell into place for this camp. It just worked out perfect.
"I pretty much finished up live training Saturday, so this week will just be sweating, light bit of pads, nothing crazy, just getting ready for the cut is all. The training's already been done - if that makes sense - over the past few weeks."
He has been coached throughout his career by John Kavanagh who has coached a wide range of Irish MMA stars including Conor McGregor.
Smullen said: "I actually started in MMA with Jon Kavanagh. I started doing MMA as a whole and then I just ran with Jiu Jitsu and Jon gave me rules.
"I wanted to fight amateur MMA and he said go do some Jiu Jitsu competition experience and do a team called MMA League. So I started competing all the time and then I ended up having loads of Jiu Jitsu tournament matches and competitions and then I made my amateur debut in 2013. It was all like a big rollercoaster."
The 33-year-old spoke on his graduation into professional MMA. He said: "I had a lot of amateur fights. They went pretty well in fairness. I had a good record at amateur and then, I don't know what happened with pro. I was just kind of, on the end, I had a few good wins over some of the better guys in the country. I thought I'd join a bout going pro and I was waiting for you to ask me. So then it happened.
"I was meant to have my pro debut on BAMMA in Dublin, but it got cancelled. I ended up having my pro debut in Liverpool in Shinobi. I wasn't expecting to get this far. I ended up fighting in Bellator, I fought in the UFC, I fought in Brave, I fought in all the big shows and now it's Oktagon.
"At the start I probably didn't think this would ever happen, but now I'm here, I'm doing it. It's hard to explain if that makes sense."
After a solid start in pro MMA he was signed to the Ultimate Fighter, where he fought to compete for a UFC contract, losing in the final to Luis Pena in 2018.
He learned from the experience, saying "Yeah, it was kind of crazy. It's one of those things, you can't really change the past. If I could go back now, it's all down to diet and looking after yourself. If you look at most of my career, it's always been 6 or 7 fights in Bellator as well, Brave. I've been quite lucky from the start to have big fights and big shows.
It's all down to my coach, John. It's down to the opportunities I got as well. There's a lot of people to thank for everything along the way. A lot of really good fighters never get the chance, I've always got the chance and I'm very grateful for that."
It has been nine months like Smullen's last fight but he has spent the time well, recuperating, training and most importantly, getting married.
He said: "I wanted to fight early February but nothing was available. I got married and had holidays booked with the kids. I tried to get a fight in April or May but it just wasn't happening, I was offered this in June so I just took the time to improve and train and get ready to go again."
He is looking forward to the bout this Saturday, and expects to have the edge on his opponent.
He said: "My opponent is quite good. I think where he's good I'm better. It's going to be a fun Saturday night.
"He's a grappler as well. I think it'll be a high level grappling match to be honest with you. It's a big opportunity, this guy I'm fighting has fought for the belt and all before. He's had a lot of fights in Oktagon and a lot of hype behind him. It's given me a big opportunity to take it off him.
"I'm hoping to finish him at the end of the second or early third."
