There's no denying that the sport of MMA has taken off in Ireland in recent months. While the spotlight is currently shining on the likes of Conor McGregor, Cathal Pendred and Neil Seery, there is also a younger generation of fighters training up and down the country honing their skills and putting in gruelings hours in the gym to perfect their techniques.
One such fighter is Newry native Declan McAleenan. Under the tutelage of Sebastiao Torres (and others, it must be said), McAleenan is firmly part of the next generation of Irish MMA fighters and hopes to make it to the bright lights of the UFC before too long - and one look at the video above will reveal a portrait of extreme determination, talent and skill. Here's hoping we see him inside the Octagon one day.
