Letterkenny kickboxing champion Tommy ‘The Ghost’ Mc Cafferty was in England last week sparring with UFC legend Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley as he kicked off his own preparations for his next title defense.
Tommy alongside UFC legend Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley at a training camp in England last week.
Daley is renowned worldwide in UFC circles for his entertaining style of mixed martial arts combat and for his frightening ferocity.
Daley was on the search for top class sparring opponents to help him prepare as best as possible for his upcoming fights at his intense training camp in Nottingham.
Mc Cafferty’s MMA coach Sensei Martin Mc Laughlin of Torres BJJ sent Daley Mc Cafferty’s impressive credentials which include numerous kickboxing and MMA titles.
Daley impressed by Mc Cafferty’s glowing CV immediately invited him to be part of his training camp.
Tommy traveled over on his own to England and told Donegal Daily “I was on the way to the airport when a friend of mine who was planning on travelling with me rang to say he had come down with the vomiting bug and was unable to go.
“I thought well there’s no point in not going it’s too good an opportunity to turn down.
“I arrived over on Monday night and stayed in the apartment attached to the gym.
“The hard work started that evening with myself and Daley putting in five hard rounds of sparring.
“It was an unbelievable opportunity to get some full sparring with somebody who you have seen fight at the highest level.
“The following night, I got some more pad-work with Daley’s coach and some more technical sparring rounds with him and ultimate fighter finalist Andre Winner.
“It was great to get an insight into how they train and their mental outlook on training and the sport in general.
“I’m a big believer in the philosophy that if you want to be the best you have to train with the best.
I am travelling to train with the best this country and the UK has to offer on a regular basis and have even been as far as Brazil in the last year to train.
Mc Cafferty’s career continues to progress and more success is predicted for the Letterkenny kickboxing champion.
The knowledge Tommy has gained is invaluable and he’s hoping that can help him add another title defense to his record, and help local fighter Brain Crossan pick up his second Irish title over the next couple of months.