Barry in dreamland after welcoming new-born son and penning UFC contract
By Stephen Leonard
LAST Saturday is a day Dean Barry is not likely to ever forget.
Just a couple of hours after the MMA fighter from Tallaght penned a dream multi-fight contract with the UFC, he welcomed into the world his new born son, Jayce.
Dean Barry
Indeed it was a whirlwind day for the former Tallaght Martial Arts champion kickboxer and one he is still struggling to take in.
“To be honest, I’m just so in love with my new-born son Jayce that I haven’t really thought about it [the move to UFC]. He’s all I care about right now” Barry told The Echo.
“This is life-changing and I’m just so happy now, because all I’ve wanted to do is to provide for my family. I just want to be the best role model that I can be for my son.
“I just can’t wait to be out there flying the flag for Ireland in the UFC and making everyone proud” exclaimed the Tallaght man who is expecting to make his UFC debut in early 2021.
Barry’s rise to the top ranks of international MMA has been nothing short of phenomenal given that he made the move into the sport just three years back.
In that period he fought four times and carded three victories- his most spectacular coming back in September when he served up a first-round knockout to the highly-rated Abdulla Al Bousheiri in the UAE Warriors 13 show in Dubai.
Having weathered an early take-down by his 7 and 1 opponent, the Tallaght man produced a demonstration of quality striking that ended with a left to the chin, sending Al Bousheiri to the floor.
“I knew four days after my last fight that I was going to be offered a UFC contract, but I hadn’t heard anything for a while and I was getting a bit stressed out about it.
“I was meant to be fighting in Las Vegas this month, but that had to be halted because of Covid.
“Then last Friday the contract came through on my email and I signed it just a couple of hours before the arrival on my son. I just feel I was destined for this.
“I started in MMA back in 2017 and I said then ‘Give me three years and I’ll be in the UFC.’
“People laughed at me because I made my dreams known, but they didn’t know my background, they didn’t know that I had something different.
“People forget that I’m a multi World and European Kickboxing champion with Tallaght Martials Arts and whenever they wanted that gold for Ireland I was the one they sent out to get it. I’m a ten-time All-Ireland National champion. I’m a life martial artist.
“This has been the quickest rise to the UFC. I’ve had just four fights with three first round knockouts.
“I haven’t stopped training since my last fight and I’m just really looking forward to representing my country in the biggest organisation in the UFC”
The new contact and the arrival of his son marks a hugely uplifting close to the year for Barry who lost his beloved grandmother to a tragic accident back in March.
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