David Irvine is entering his debut mixed martial arts bout filled with confidence.
Irvine is set to clash with Mikey Bryant on April 15th in the Metrdome in Barnsley a Badmofo 5.
We had the opportunity to talk with the GFTeam representative prior to fight night to discuss his thoughts and feelings.
Interview With David Irvine
One week out from your debut at BMF 5, how are the feelings as we close in on fight night? I imagine it’s a mix of nerves, excitement and anticipation.
One week out from BMF 5, of course, there is a mix of emotions, mainly it’s excitement for the bout. I’ve trained hard for this fight. I’ve prepared appropriately. I’m buzzing to show off all the work I’ve put in. I’m just ready now. I’m ready to show what I can do and come and make a statement and start working my way towards that BMF belt.
Tell the readers how long you’ve been training and why you decided to walk through the doors and begin your martial arts journey.
Initially, I made the choice to start training in martial arts because the area I grew up my whole life it’s a hard area, so you have to adapt to that. You have to be able to defend yourself. The reason I chose this sport is I’ve always been a fan. I’ve always wanted to be apart of it. Now I’m taking that first step to what will be an illustrious career because I have been working, and I will continue to do so until I get to the top where I aspire to be. In terms of previous training in other sports, I’ve dipped my foot in elsewhere and given everything a try, but there wasn’t the love there is for this. This is the purest form of combat, and that’s what draws me to it.
Making your MMA debut is a moment you don’t forget as you progress forward in your career. How did you and your team know the time was right to get matched and go through with it?
I have been preparing and training for a while now. In terms of timing, we saw the BMF 5 is coming up, and the thought was there for the show as we started to feel the time was coming and was right. We saw they needed a fighter in this weight category, we asked about the details of the fight, and we got the details of Mikey. We watched his fight, gathered information, and felt that it was the right opponent, right time and with a show as high-quality as BMF, it’s a great opportunity to be on that show, so everything has lined up perfectly, so yeah it just comes down to that really everything just lined up in an ideal way.
David Irvine Talks Debut
As it’s your debut, we want our readers to get to know you a little bit better. What things does David Irvine like to do outside of fighting?
Outside of fighting, I don’t get up to much. I’m just a normal guy; I go to work, I train, I go home and repeat. Outside of fighting, I usually spend a lot of time with my mates going out and socialising, but since at least the turn of the new year, I’ve been isolated from my friends, mainly only really seeing my close family. I’m just fully focused on fighting. I’ve been doing nothing apart from working towards making my debut. I knew I would be doing it this year and making that step towards starting my career. On April 15th, it will be worth it when I step in the octagon and get my first win, then right back into the gym.
The team at GFTeam Scotland have got a reputation for delivering on BMF. Can we expect you to keep that streak going on April 15th?
I train with some really great guys. I’m lucky to be surrounded by such a high-level team at this stage. It’s ideal we push each other and help grow each other to get ready for our bouts. I love the team and couldn’t ask for a better bunch.
In terms of keeping the streak going, that’s 100% what will be happening. I plan to go to make that walk and get the finish. I plan on keeping not just the streak alive but keeping it burning in a fashionable way by solidifying that finish.
Irvine on Mikey Bryant
Your opponent Mikey Bryant has failed to pick up a victory on his debut. Are you expecting him to have any sort of advantage, having dealt with the nerves and made the walk once before?
No, not really. It’s terms of the nerves he has to bounce back, and he knows he’s coming back off a loss. He will have the same nerves if not more than what he did last time, yeah, he’s made the walk, but knowing he made and lost, I think that adds to him. In terms of myself with, making that walk is something I’ve dreamed about and something I continue it dreams about, so I’m excited about it, but it will be a great night and a great atmosphere.
Did you get the chance to watch Mikey’s debut? If so, what were your overall thoughts?
Yeah, I’ve watched it many times to see if there’s anything I have to keep a lookout for from Mikey, and of course, he has his parts. That’s what makes this bout exciting for me.
In terms of my thoughts about Mikey’s performance, it definitely isn’t what Mikey wanted, that’s for sure, but I think he could have done more with his moments he had in the fight he couldn’t have done more especially the 2nd round which was where momentum changed for a while and if your Mikey In that situation you have to push to keep the momentum and try to turn the fight around.
Yeah, Mikey did come short and couldn’t deliver that night. But he had a few moments in the fight, and he deserves a chance to demonstrate his skills again. To try to put on a show that’s how this is a compelling fight because he’s a man coming from a loss that will want to make a show, and it’s me coming with all intentions to work towards this belt and take over a division, so it is looking like it’s going to be a great fight.
Hat off to his opponent. Tough guy took the fight five days’ notice and went in and won all three rounds. That’s a good performance for him. He is definitely someone I’ll be keeping my eye on.
Fight Night
Lastly, for those travelling down to watch you in action, what can they expect from you on fight night? Sell it to them!
Everyone can prepare to see a finish that’s 100%. I don’t blame for taking a step back. I’m ready to push forward, dismantle Mikey, make him look easy and to have a nice clean dominant performance finish him, and that’s it, a proper finish as well, that’s for sure. I’m prepared for a war if Mikey comes out looking better than last, but I’m ready for anything but. I promise to put a show on for the fans and everyone watching. On April 15th, I start my name as an up-and-coming amateur. Make sure to catch it on PPV if you can.
Featured image credits to BMF
