CATHAL PENDRED’S ENTIRE mixed martial arts career has been geared towards this Saturday night.
Or at least that’s how it must feel for the 26-year-old Dubliner.
After beating everything that was put in front of him in the welterweight division of the top European promotion, Cage Warriors, he has been solely focused on one goal — becoming a UFC champion.
‘The Punisher’ earned a place on season 19 of reality television show ‘The Ultimate Fighter’, where he lived with the other contestants in Las Vegas and trained under the guidance of BJ Penn before losing out to eventual winner Eddie Gordon in the semi-final.
The defeat would turn out to be a blessing in disguise, however, as it freed him up to fight on 19 July.
When the event was staged at Dublin’s 02 Arena back in January 2009, Pendred attended with his brother. That night he promised that the next time the UFC returned to Ireland, he would be on the card.
Sure enough, the UFC have come calling and he makes his debut in front of home fans in two days’ time.
“The Irish get behind their athletes,” Pendred said yesterday when asked about the level of support he is expecting.
“You will probably hear it on Saturday, fans always chant ‘You’ll never beat the Irish’. Obviously that’s not true because we sometimes lose in sporting events but I tell you what, you will never beat the Irish when it comes to support.
They are the loudest and most supportive fans hands down. You’ll see on Saturday night — at half 5 the first fight will begin and at half 5 that place will be full to the rafters. I’ve been to UFC events all over the world and you never see that.
“That place will be packed and they will be singing right up until Conor McGregor gets his hand raised.”
He faces a familiar face in American Mike King, who also competed on TUF where he finished runner-up to Gordon. And while Pendred admits the pair struck up a friendship during their time together, that will be irrelevant when they step into the Octagon for the middleweight bout.
“In terms of knowing Mike King, it makes no odds to me,” he adds. “I was a bit disappointed when I heard it was him because we had kept in contact after the show as we get along.
“But I immediately cut off all ties with him. I don’t have any emotions towards him – I don’t dislike him, I don’t like him. He’s just a body in my way and that’s the way I’m looking at it. It’s just the same as every other fight.
“I’m in the perfect place right now. I’ve had a great training camp. I’m around people who are training for the same goal on the same night and you’re going to see the best Cathal Pendred ever. I’m going to make a statement.”
