Bannon “chuffed” to book home pro debut

TALLAGHT’S Shauna Bannon has booked her first professional mixed martial arts bout for Cage Legacy 15 at St Mark’s GAA Club on April 10.

The Holohan Martial Arts competitor will challenge Kerry Isom for the vacant Cage Legacy Strawweight Championship, making her pro debut in her home town.

“I am chuffed. Originally it was meant to be in the Pillo Hotel again and Paddy [Holohan] was just saying ‘hang on, we’ll see if we can get it closer’,” Bannon told The Echo.

“I’m delighted that we have it. I’ve fought in St Mark’s GAA Club before in kickboxing, so I’d know the hall very well. I went to school literally next door and I grew up in the area.”

With the face-off booked for Springfield, where Bannon grew up, tickets for the event are already being swiftly snapped up.

Before turning professional, the 29-year-old stormed to a gold medal at the 2021 IMMAF World Cup and recorded an impressive TKO victory over Shanelle Dyer at Cage Legacy 14 in December.

On that occasion, Bannon flexed her full range of mixed martial arts ability, perfectly executing another level-changes, ground-and-pound and strikes.

Now, with the move to professional, some of the restrictions on the type of strikes are no longer in place and Bannon is gunning to use her full arsenal.

“I had to change my cardio a bit because with pro it’s five-minute rounds, not three-minutes like the amateur,” she explained.

“You can do elbows and knees to the face now as well. I started to do a bit of it in my last camp, so I’m fine with it now.

“I’m buzzing now that I can elbow and even in the clinch, I’d be flexible enough, so I can knee up to the head. It all works in my favour.

“Kerry is able to take the shots though and she can stand there and go with you as well. She’s a well-rounded fighter but, I think I’m better in every way.”