Barry earns stunning win in MMA debut
By Stephen Leonard
TALLAGHT’S Dean Barry made a sensational start to his MMA career over in the US and believes he has the attributes to go a very long way in the field.
The 25-year-old former Tallaght MA kickboxer made the move to Canada back in April and is based out of Tristar Gym in Montreal where he trains alongside the renowned Georges St-Pierre.
Placed on the main card of the Shamrock FC 294 show in Kansas where he came up against home competitor Thomas Thatcher, he brought an end to proceedings just over two minutes in when he landed some heavy elbows and punches.
He went close to stopping Thatcher even earlier when he caught him with some early strikes, but the American just about managed to weather that barrage.
While he was able to draw on his superb striking skills, honed after years of top-level kickboxing, Barry will also be encouraged by the way in which he applied his newly-acquired skills of Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling in this victory.
Indeed he managed to extricate himself from a hold that Thatcher applied, reversing his opponent and unloading the strikes that forced the referee to step in.
“I’ve adapted really well to MMA” Barry told Echo.ie. “My level of striking is so different to what many fighters in MMA are used to.
“I wanted to really test myself and I felt that in order to do that, I had to step up to the next stage.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my professional MMA career, getting a technical knockout two minutes into my debut on a big show like that.
“I’ve had five or six people looking at me after this win, Shamrock looking to get me on another big show, so I’ve a load of options.
“But I just want to focus on becoming a better fighter and bringing something fresh to Irish MMA” he added.
Barry has won virtually everything possible in the kickboxing field, topping the podium in Junior and Senior World and European Kickboxing Championships, winning six Irish Senior Championship titles and four Irish Open honours.
What’s more, he is no stranger to fighting in the US, having carded previous wins in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Las Vegas.
