FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER; Liam Shannon talks about Paul Hughes fight & Ryan Curtis injury || Ep.119

Liam Shannon is the owner and head coach at Fight Academy Ireland. He sits down with us fresh off the back of doing Paul Hughes' PFL world title fight. Liam talks about the controversy surrounding the decision and how the camp went. He then walks us through his personal MMA journey and details how he got started in the game. He began by watching UFC DVDs and jotting down notes, then taught himself to sign up for a class on the other side of the city. He eventually opened his own gym and became a professional MMA fighter himself. Liam had a fight career before becoming Belfast's number-one MMA coach. He talks about the ups and downs of the fight game. He tells us about the difference in making weight when fighting compared to today's fighters. Since retiring from his career, Liam has built FAI from strength to strength. The gym is now home to world champions, professional fighters, and people who want to stay fit. It has become a pillar of the community. In 2024, a freak accident during a training session left pro-Ryan Curtis paralyzed from the neck down. Liam talks about the day it happened and how he felt. Although it looked as if there was only a tiny chance of Ryan making a recovery, it was enough for Liam to believe in. He knew that Ryan's mindset was different from most people's and kept the faith. Today, Ryan Curtis is back on his feet and able to walk again. Even though Liam has been retired for several years, he continues to train to stay in fighting shape. Liam Shannon's story is about hard work, perseverance, and belief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices