Bannon has sights set on professional MMA
By Hayden Moore
FIVE-TIME World Champion kickboxer Shauna Bannon has her eyes firmly fixed on a professional turn in mixed martial arts ahead of her first amateur fight in Belfast on Sunday.
Making her debut inside of the octagon, the six-time European Kickboxing champion is set to face Catherine McFadden in the Cavendish Complex, but has hopes of turning professional in 2020.
Tallaght's Shauna Bannon (left)
Speaking to The Echo about her opponent in this Sunday’s competition, she said: “She trains in a Jiu Jitsu gym so her ground game is her strongest point and I am comfortable going to the ground with her.
“I’ve been training two times a day for eight months now with blue belts, brown belts and all so I am comfortable on the ground.
“But my speciality is on the feet so I’m happy to do both.
“I hope to get in a few more fights before the end of the year to get experience because I am planning on turning pro this time next year, that’s my aim, I want to fight in the UFC.”
After winning it all in kickboxing, Bannon switched over to taekwondo in 2017 with the aim of making the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, but felt it was not for her despite qualifying for the World Championships.
While trying out a number of other combat sports she came across a Jiu Jitsu class in Straight Blast Gym Dublin 24, where she met retired MMA fighter Paddy Holohan.
“I used to fight points fighting and full contact for kickboxing for 20 years and I love that, but I just felt like I won all there is to win in that sport. I kind of hit the ceiling with kickboxing.
“When I switched, I was so nervous because I had never left Tallaght Martial Arts, but they were so open and welcomed me in.
“Paddy is so normal, which is mad because he’s been at the highest level there is for MMA, fighting in the UFC and all, but he is so helpful and open with you about everything.
“He’s so experienced and it really helps. The fact he’s so open about it makes you trust him in the gym which is exactly what you want from a coach.
“I was doing the Jiu Jitsu class and after it, Paddy was like ‘hop into the MMA class’. So, I did and that was it, I absolutely fell in love with MMA.”
While also not taking her eye off this weekend’s opponent, the 25-year-old is targeting a place in the IMMAF European and World Championships later on in the year.
