This Weekend’s Warriors: Cian Cowley and Ian Cleary

This Weekend’s Warriors

Welcome back to the second edition of ‘This Weekend’s Warriors’, a Severe MMA column focusing on Irish MMA fighters competing around the world. This week, our attention shifts to Brave Combat Federation’s debut show in England. The fights will take place tomorrow night (Thursday 25th July) in front of an invite-only crowd inside London’s Copper Box Arena, in what appears to be a luxury showcase of MMA to a select crowd of celebrities, media outlets, and more. I won’t pretend that I understand or buy into the concept of this particular show, which is why I will simply focus on the Irish fighters competing.

Cian Cowley (2-2) vs Maciek Gierszewski (5-4)
Cian “Warrior” Cowley has quickly become one of the most well-known MMA fighters hailing from Ireland. His profile has risen considerably in the sport since linking up with former UFC double champion, Conor McGregor. McGregor clearly saw Cowley’s potential, and incorporated the former Muay Thai champion heavily in his training camps, most notably the second Diaz camp where many credited Cowley for McGregor’s effective leg kicking game plan.

Cowley is much more than a sparring partner and teammate though. Since transitioning from Muay Thai to MMA, Cowley has amassed a 2-2 professional record. The SBG Ireland man secured a first-round TKO victory over Daniel Olejniczak in his Brave CF debut. Cowley followed up in his next fight with a demolition of Hardeep Rai. Rai was unable to stand after a barrage of leg kicks from Cowley, and it wasn’t long before Cowley secured another TKO finish via ground and pound.

Cowley comes into his co-main event fight versus Gierszewski off the back of his first loss under the Brave CF promotional banner, after losing to John Brewin by split decision. Gierszewski will be looking to do what his teammate, Olejniczak, couldn’t. The Polish born, Northern Ireland based fighter trains out of IFS in Belfast. With all five of ‘Magic Man”s coming via KO, this is set to be a very exciting striking match-up. Will Gierszewski be able to add a sixth stoppage to his record, or will Cowley’s Muay Thai prowess be too much to handle?

We will find out tomorrow night!

Ian Cleary (1-2) vs Gamzat Magomedov (3-1)
Elsewhere on the card, Ian ‘Concrete’ Cleary is set to make his Brave CF debut as he opens the prelims with a bantamweight showdown against the Russian, Gamzat Magomedov.

Cleary trains under the tutelage of Owen Roddy in SBG Charlestown. Despite a dominant pro debut versus Andrew Lofthouse, the former Clan Wars amateur champion is looking to break a two-fight skid going into his contest against Magomedov. Cleary will need to bring his ‘A’ game to the cage tomorrow night as he squares off against a former IMMAF world champion. Magomedov suffered his first taste of professional defeat in his last outing for Brave CF, a loss that will surely give Cleary good reason to believe he can get the job done in London.

Note: Blaine O’Driscoll was also scheduled to fight on the card, however, his opponent Amir Albazi withdrew from the fight, and the contest will not be taking place.

Fans can watch the card tomorrow night on https://www.bravecftv.com/