MMA and UFC, regardless of your opinion of it as a sport, has really captured the imagination of the Irish public. This is predominantly due to the charismatic and unquestionably talented Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise to the top of the ranks within the sport.
Sport has an intrinsic ability to capture the imagination of the younger generations, who can become hugely influenced by characters such as Conor. With influence comes great responsibility, and recently I wrote a piece on the clearly evident level of importance Conor and his coaching team put on his mental fitness and resilience.
On the surface we view Conor as an aggressive physical competitor, but as John Kavanagh, Conor’s coach and subject of this podcast suggests here, the difference between all athletes at this level is not their physical ability, as there is so little between the top guys, it’s their mental ability, their minds.
I feel this is critical to point out to the vast sea of younger generations that are influenced by MMA and UFC. There is a lesson in it. If younger teenagers see the importance MMA fighters put on their mental health, it may help them realise that investing in their minds can allow them excel at their chosen passion.
It may also allow them recognise that the mind can be strengthened, and at the same time the mind can be hostile. The more we have these conversations, the more mental health dialogue is normalised among our youth. Perhaps it may help those not affected by mental health concerns understand that the mind can be both your greatest friend, but at times your greatest enemy, so they can comfort a friend in need, and have greater understanding and empathy to those in distress.